The day began like any other. Isn't that how most important days start? I woke up, showered, than I got all dolled up for my baby shower. My close coworkers and friends were throwing me a shower of sorts. It was actually a shower to show their support and love for what I was doing. It wasn't exactly to get the baby tons of sweet outfits, no diaper cakes for me that day, it was a day that was just for me. I arrived at my friend Kate's home, a spread of unbelievable yummy food was spread out on her dining room table, smiling faces greeted me everywhere. The fun spin on this day was my friend Kate was also pregnant with her second baby, Piper was pregnant with her surrogate baby, and my friend Wendy, yup also pregnant with a surrogate baby. We took the best belly picture that day. All four of us lined up grinning ear to ear.
I received this lovely basket of rich body butters, lotions, and the warmest pink bathrobe I ever owned. I ate lavender cake that was made from scratch from another one of my closest work friends. It was simply a perfect event.
Then I went home, called Michael and Presley to tell them all about my day. No, I said in answer to Presley's question, any labor signs? It had been a pretty quiet day as far as contractions went, I was 39 weeks pregnant and since all my other babies were close to their due date if not over due I felt confident in telling them it could be another week or two even. We hung up the phone, I went about my day. Next thing on my to do list, pick up Sam from school. I had Tom come with me, he was home from work and I wanted his company. That's when the contractions started. They came with a vengence. All the way home (which was all of five minutes) I remember thinking, this can't be real labor. I always need some help getting my babies out. Some sort of interventions are needed. We arrived home, and I told Tom I was going to soak in the tub. He asked if he should call Michael and Presley. No, I responded, I think this may be false labor, let's give it some time. Time was the one thing I didn't have. I got in the tub and the contractions didn't slow down, they got stronger and longer. This I knew well was true labor. Call the guys I said, I hope they can make it! Tom called Presley's cell phone, no answer. He called their home phone, he got their nanny Katherine on the phone. Panic in her voice she said, I'll find him!
I decided not to wait much longer. I could tell I was dilating fast. I told Tom we had to go, and very quickly. Their were minor details like, Tom was waiting for his pizza to be delivered and wanted to wait a bit for it (on his behalf my labors are always long and drawn out, he was just getting himself fueled for an expected long night). The kids were all set, Sam was at a birthday party and Britt was with Tommy getting me a new camara that decided to break at my shower.
Meanwhile Katherine got ahold of Presley who was out entertaining the boys at a Funplex. He than tried to reach Michael who never carries his cell phone. Presley called to check in but I was way to preoccupied to chat. Tom managed all the phone calls. At this point we were getting into the car, on our way to the hospital. I was in the car and could feel that it was only going to be minutes before she arrived. I told Tom to call the hospital (again I knew who was working due to my party) and said to tell them to get a birthing table ready for me and to have my midwife Maggie meet me downstairs. I think at this point Tom realized it was the real thing and he wasn't going to have to wait long. We arrived at the hospital, Maggie met me downstairs in the corridor just in time to have my water break. I didn't think I would make it up to the birthing unit, the elevator ride seemed like an eternity. I was hoping for a water birth so I was put into the magical room 308 where I had delivered all my babies. It seems so amazing to me at the time that out of all the birthing rooms I was lucky enough to have had all five of my biological babies in the same room. The tub didn't happen, I got on the bed and within 15 minutes of getting here I had pushed three times and birthed my/our beautiful baby girl. Rose screamed with a vigor that was unlike the others. She was a beautiful shade of pink and after she calmed down she looked up at me, and then started nursing. The guys were called, they missed it. They would not have made it even if they got in the car and raced the whole way. Labor was an hour and a half. She was my perfect birth.
