He's here!

This morning, May 2, 2009, our baby boy was born at home, welcomed by lots of loving arms and faces. He arrived 1 week early. We've been so anxious to meet him!

He didn't make it by Friday night, but that turned out to be a very good thing. He was patiently waiting on everyone who needed to be present for the birth. Zig was traveling and supposed to be home Friday evening. At about 1:45am I started tossing and turning in bed after feeling what felt like a contraction. I laid there for a few minutes and had the same feeling again. When I got up to check the clock, I noticed Zig was not in bed. I called him to see if he had missed his flight. He had in fact missed the flight, been shuttled to another airport in San Francisco, and made one of the last flights back. He had just touched down in Seattle and was on the tarmac when he picked up the phone. I told him I might be having a baby in the next 24 hours, and I think he was quite surprised. The amazing thing is I had my first contraction at about the exact moment he hit Seattle. By the time he walked in the front door, I had tracked the progress for an hour and there was certainly a pattern. I was definitely in labor. I had spoken to the midwife and told her I'd call her when things got going a bit more.

I started "nesting" real quick. I'm not a big planner, obviously. I tend to work better under pressure. But I had really planned to be more ready for this moment than I was!

Find the towels. Get the birth kit. Plug in all the cameras to charge. Find the yoga mat, the birthing ball, the candles, the music, and the energy drinks. Receiving blankets and newborn hat. Make the bed in the sheets I want to sleep in after baby is born and then cover it with a plastic sheet. Put the pillow inserts in a plastic bag and then put the pillow cases on. I had most of this done by 4:30am. I felt a bit of excitement and a twinge of anxiety as I got everything ready. Zig was exhausted and fell right to sleep when he got home. The house was totally quiet while I was busily preparing. I tried to keep moving and was often stopping to lean against the wall or counter during contractions.

I thought about waking mom, but I waited when I peeked in her room and could tell she was deep asleep. She had just arrived from Texas that afternoon and hadn't slept much the night before. Around 5:30 am I started to really feel some pain so I opened the guest room door and whispered "today's the day." She was up like lightening. She helped me sterilize the birthing ball because Rollin had it out in the yard all week. I called the midwife at about 6am. At this point (pain-wise) I was already at the birth center with Rollin 3 years ago. I could tell she was timing me and listening to my voice as a cue to how close I was. I mentioned to her that I don't really get loud or make noise when I labor so it may sound easy but really, things are feeling pretty intense right now. She said, "that's very good to know." She said she and another midwife would be to our home at 7:15. I think by the time they both arrived, it was 7:40.

Meanwhile, I walked around the yard and tried to keep things progressing.

7:30am trying to relax

Tiffany asked if I wanted her to check me to see if I was dilated. I was very curious at this point. It could have been 1 or 2 centimeters, or it could be 7. I had no idea. I think we were both suprised, especially Tiffany, when I was fully dilated and the baby was low and ready to be born. I found Mom and Zig and let them know that the baby was definitely coming this morning.

I had to get 1 dose of antibiotic intravenously for strep b, and then we decided to break my water. It was up to me, but my water never breaks on its own and I usually spend a couple hours not progressing with my water bag intact, and in that time I get very tired. I didn't want to waste any energy so Cari broke my water. I took a few contractions to gather my strength and thoughts, and I decided to try the birthing stool and give it my all for several pushes.

Mom brought the kids in after two pushes and they were there for about 10 minutes until the baby was born. It was quite intense but quick and at 9am I had our precious baby in my arms.

whew, glad that part's over :)


he felt pretty chubby and had tons of "lotion"

After nursing like a little pro, Tiffany weighed the baby and gently checked him out. He weighed 8 lbs 9 ounces and was 20.5 inches long.


8 lbs 9 ounces!

gentle newborn exam



Cari and Tiffany, my two wonderful naturopath-midwives

What are you thinking, sweet Rollin?

Snuggles for the rest of the day.

Love from Mom




Having a home birth was absolutely wonderful and everything was just so calm. The midwives were there to support us in every way. The kids were in and out and had different levels of interest and concern for Mommy. Rollin's first question after seeing the baby born was, can I go finish my dino movie now? I could smell yummy pancakes cooking while I was laboring down the hall, and with my Mom here, I knew everything was taken care of.

Best of all, I was able to crawl right in my own bed after the birth. Nobody poked and prodded me or the baby. And there was no hurry for anything. I think Tiffany and Cari were on their way by 11am. I didn't know them as well as the other midwives, but they turned out to be fantastic. Midwives are amazing and I am so grateful I was in their care. When they left, I was able to enjoy some delicious homemade mango pancakes from Mom. I don't think anything ever tasted so good. I was starving!

And now we are a family of six. This is an experience I will treasure.

*The name of our baby is still a matter of intense discussion!*

Bring on the Raspberry Tea!

Well, things have sure taken a turn for the worse this week.

Prior to Monday I was definitely feeling very pregnant, but I had lots of good, busy days followed by slower more low key days to recuperate. But on Monday Rollin dropped a big, full Pellegrino bottle on his foot and really hurt his toe. It is all blue and purple and swollen. He cried off and on all day in pain and I'm sure it was the throbbing that was killing him. I carried him a lot more than normal, and after a couple days of being baffled at why my body is now KILLING me, I think maybe lifting him in and out of the crib (his new preferred place to sleep) in my 8 or so attempts to try and get him to just rest may have something to do with the fact that I can't get out of bed now.

I am walking like a hunchback old lady when I do make the attempt.

I was so exhausted at my midwife appointment on Tuesday that I cried. Just saying the words "I'm absolutely exhausted" brought the tears. I felt silly, but sleep deprivation does some strange things! This is my fourth baby, and here I am crying :) Being exhausted from the flu when I had Rollin was very hard and I guess the experience hasn't totally left my memory. All I want is a little bit of energy for this birth.

Today Nina was gone all day at Miko's. They had a field trip to the Seattle Children's Theater and then she just went home to play with Kiera all day. Lots of people offered to take Rollin. But he didn't want to go anywhere and he has a little cold so I wasn't comfortable sending him. He was my little buddy all day while I laid in bed. He was so good and so sweet and kept me entertained with dinosaur fights and tricks and lots and lots of cuddling. He kept telling me all day long " I love you so, so much Mama!" He also said "This is the best day ever!" That made me feel better and definitely made me smile. He was enjoying the time together. And the thought occurred to me that if this is the best day ever, I may need to slow down and just be present a bit more.

Anyway, it was sure to be one of our last long days together before the baby comes and even though my body isn't cooperating, I feel it was a gift in many ways. I can't even express how much I adore my little Rollin.

I am going to try and see the chiropractor this week and get an adjustment before the baby comes. I guess that would mean I need to get in early Friday. I desperately want this baby to come on Friday, which Zig thinks is pretty funny. I sent him out for some special tea that I drank when I needed Sela to be born on a Saturday because of Zig's travel schedule. It worked then, although I know it probably had little to do with the tea. It was also her due date.

The reason I'm hoping for Friday is that my favorite midwife won't be on call again for ten days, and as much as I love her, I wouldn't want to be late just to have her. So, I thought I'd throw my hopes out to the universe and maybe I'll get lucky on Friday evening. It would need to be after mom arrives and after Zig gets back from the bay area. So around 6 pm . Early Saturday morning a new midwife is on, and though I like her, I really had my heart set on the other two. So Friday, early evening. That's all I'm asking. Let's hear it for getting specific!

And aside from feeling like a total cripple, nothing new is going on around here. The kids are making cereal and sandwiches an awful lot and I can't wait to be able to cook them a good meal sometime soon. Lots of hot baths that begin alone and end with one big body and three little ones and the jets on high. It's actually easier than bathing them all right now so it's all good.

And now I'm back to bed. Cross your fingers for Friday!