You came into this world in your own special way. At 4:15am on October 31, 2013 you woke me up by creating a hole in the bag of waters. I honestly thought it was urine leaking so I got up and went to the bathroom. There, I peed, and then went back to bed only to have more liquid exit my body. At that point I woke your Dad up by saying "I think my water broke." He was very calm (actually - overtired as he had only come to bed an hour earlier as he was working so he would be free to trick or treat) and said to me "don't over-react you could be like those ladies that don't go into labor for days after their water breaks" and then he rolled over and went back to bed. More water came out and so I called your Grandma Mary to let her know what was going on. Then I woke your Daddy up and told him that I was sure my water broke and why didn't we just start getting things ready.
Your Daddy got up and started to get his things together and I jumped in the shower. While in the shower my contractions started getting closer together and within minutes I heard your brother waking up (it was about 5am at this point) and so when I got out of the shower he was in my bed playing on the ipad while Daddy was downstairs putting food together for Conor. The contractions were getting really strong at this point so the midwives were called and I was told to head to the hospital. While waiting for Daddy to make sure Big Brother's things were packed (we had just unpacked all his snacks the night before in order to replace the things we felt should be eaten or switched up) Big Brother was helping Mommy to stay calm. He touched my hand and said "Mamma" a few times. He also kept talking about "baby heartbeat" because we had told him the night before that we would be hearing your heartbeat the next day at the doctor's office - and Conor does not forget things!
Daddy finally got everything loaded into the car and got Hunter settled and we drove up to the hospital. Daddy took care of Conor while Mommy focused on getting into the hospital and up to the correct floor. I was admitted immediately (it was once again shift change - both you boys liked to start things at shift change) and we spoke with the midwife who was just getting ready to come off her shift (Jerri). Unfortunately, we had some bad news for her - the midwife who was coming on was one that we had said we did not want to work with and she checked out a few things and ended up staying with us. I felt terrible because I didn't want to be a pain but I could not deliver you with that other woman.
The first thing Jerri did was make sure we were settled and then she checked me. I was 6-7cm dilated which was far more progress on my own than I had ever made with your brother and I was not in pain so I was very hopeful that maybe I wouldn't need any medications and/or wouldn't need them until the end. Grandma was on her way and called because she had gotten lost in town and needed help getting back to the hospital. She finally arrived around 9:30am and was very thankful that she hadn't missed anything!
Before Grandma got there Daddy was focused on caring for Conor but since nothing was really going on with you this was perfectly fine. But, then Grandma got there and it was her job to focus on Conor so Daddy could focus on you and me! Around 10:30am I was checked again and had dilated further (7-8) without the need for medications but the pain in my hip was getting a lot worse. I had been working with a chiropractor issue in my hip that I first discovered when in labor with your brother. I had seen the chiropractor after his birth and things improved but as the time came to deliver you the pain reappeared if I walked too far or was on my feet too much. It was believed that I have a nerve/tendon issue and that is also why the epidurals all fail (more on that in a minute). So, back to the story.
As I was continuing to labor the pain was getting so intense that I was unable to feel you descending and when instructed to give little pushes was not able to isolate the muscles needed to complete this task because the pain in my hip was overpowering. At some point I threw up - just once though - like I did with your brother. I attempted to push on the area where the pain was but, in the end, I had to request the epidural. After an hour we realized that it had not worked. My RIGHT hip was still incredibly painful and I could not focus. At this point I was 10cm dilated but needed to thin out and therefore needed to push a little to help you drop but still couldn't push. A new doctor was called in and a booster of some sort was given and my left leg went completely numb and the pain in my right hip was dulled enough that I could focus on the task at hand - getting you out so that we could meet you!
I was instructed to rest and Daddy went to take Conor for a car ride to give him the chance to nap. Grandma offered to take you but we didn't think he would sleep for her and Daddy knew the area better and so could get back faster. He wasn't gone more than 20 minutes when Jerri came back in and said if I felt ready to push I could. So, Grandma texted Daddy and made him come back. Poor Conor had only just fallen asleep and so Daddy got him all the way into the elevator before he woke up. He was handed to Grandma and Daddy came to my bedside and held my hand while we started pushing.
You were a great partner in this delivery - you let me know when you were ready for the push and when it was time to stop. Once again, I felt that the actual pushing went very quickly. There was a moment when you were crowning that I felt like I was too small for your big head and Jerri wanted me to pause but I simply couldn't because I felt like I was tearing in two. So, two more pushes and your nose was out and then came the rest of you! (Mommy didn't tear in two - she didn't even tear!). You didn't cry right away but you were immediately laid on my chest and the nurse rubbed and rubbed you until you let out a big cry.
You were just perfect and neither Daddy, Grandma or I could get over how much you looked like your brother when he was born. Despite looking like Conor you clearly are a little boy with your own personality. You did not want to nurse right away but you wanted to be held. We waited for the cord to turn white before Daddy was asked to cut the cord. As with your brother he did not want to and so I asked Grandma if she wanted to. Once she was given the scissors Conor wanted to help and so he did. Seeing you there on my chest was just as surreal as it was the first time I laid eyes on your brother. There was an instant bond and a desire to protect you and not let you go - not even to Daddy. It was also very special to me to have your brother there. He was one of the first people to see you and to hold you and I hope that is a bond that the two of you never lose.
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| Conor cutting the cord |
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| Cutting Colin's Cord (Conor and Grandma Mary) |
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| Baby Colin is his own person. |
Colin, you were born at 1:24pm on Halloween Day; my little pumpkin baby. You weighed 9.25 oz and were 20.5inches long (just as long as Conor but 8oz more). While you were bigger than your brother you looked so much smaller. You had a blood sugar imbalance so you were subjected to pricks every few hours so that your blood could be tested. Finally you got 2 tests that were in the appropriate span of time with the appropriate numbers so you could stop being tested. This was a little stressful because Daddy wasn't here when I learned what was going on but we (you and I) made sure that we took care of things!
Why was Daddy not there? Because he took Conor home for dinner and bed while Grandma stayed with us until it was time for her to leave and be with Daddy and Conor. That left just you and I at the hospital (well, until your first visitors arrived). Daddy also didn't stay when Conor was born so it wasn't your brother's fault that he left. I encouraged Daddy to go both times because he's bigger than the couch/bed he would have had to sleep on and I knew you and I would get more sleep without Daddy in the room (which we did!).
Your birthday is a holiday and one that kids love. I made a promise to you before we went to sleep for the night that no matter what your Daddy and I would make the day special for YOU and not just the night we trick-or-treat.
We love you very much little man and your birth has completed our family. Happy Birthday Colin!
xoxo
Mommy
