Life around our house has changed so much and yet still managed to remain so much the same. Days are filled with the things they were before Cullen but now with extra space for him in it. There are a few more cuddle times, a few more chances to practice patience, and a lot of laundry.Finnley and Iain love to have their chance to hold him and to give him hugs and kisses before school and bed, though they do sometimes grow short on patience when they have to wait for me. Cullen is a breast-feeding champ and we have settled into his eating pattern rather comfortably now. Life in general is quite sweet and slow right now which I am very happy to enjoy.
Cullen's birth story...
Pregnancy was very easy on a whole this time around. It is however amazing how much you can forget in 5 years, I still cannot believe it has been nearly 6 years since Iain was born. Health issues did make some change in pregnancy however. I suffered from DVT almost 2 years ago and had to take special precautions throughout pregnancy and continuing still. I was on a daily shot regimen to prevent blood clots which influenced birthing choices dramatically. During my 38 week appointment with the doctor I was officially 1 cm dilated and thrilled to be on my way, hoping everything would happen naturally during that week. The concern was after I had taken a shot I would be unable to get an epidural for any reason until 12 hours after, meaning if there was an emergency of any kind resulting in c-section I would have to be put under completely, something I was in dread of. The 39 week appointment came and the doctor scheduled me for induction in order to plan my shots accordingly. I was 3 cm dilated very uncomfortable and despite having to go for induction still excited to know my baby would be in my arms the next day.
The morning of the induction the hospital calls to confirm your place in case they have a lot of birthing going on at one time. I received my call at 6am and was confirmed for 8am. Calls were made and the kids were quickly readied for the day. Finnley had been very hard to get to sleep the night before she was so excited about being able to see her brother born. Though that is not how it worked out, I received another call at 6.30am to inform me that the maternity unit was being closed because of the flu epidemic, meaning I would be allowed 2 people in the maternity ward with me and only 2 people during my entire stay and no one under 12 was allowed at all, Robert and my mother would be the only 2 allowed in. Heartbreak followed, I was so excited for Finn and I knew she was so excited. She was so grown up and took the news so well, I was so proud of her even through my blubbering.
Everything at the hospital was just as expected i.v. given and pitocin started at 8am. I didn't begin to feel contractions until around 9 at which time I had my water broken. Labour progressed as planned, contractions were not unbearable but began to increase in strength and length, at 11.30am the nurse called for the anesthesiologist for an epidural which my doctor recommended. Everything from there went very quickly, the doctor came and did the epidural which did not even have a chance of working, the nurse checked me at 11.45 and I was 7-8cm she went from the room and came back again at noon and I told her I was having intense pressure she checked me again and I was 10cm. I went from 7 to 10 cm in less than 20 minutes and the nurse was able to see Cullen's hair he was so low. My doctor came in everything was prepared, and I pushed-once, and there was Cullen, so little and sweet and peeing on the doctor.
It is hard to explain but with every child there is a different connection, it is every bit as intense but different for each one. They laid him on my chest and he was too tiny and his little voice so quiet, I was hopelessly in love. Kisses from Robert and hugs and passing him to his father followed. I was in perfect condition no blood issues and because the epidural came so late and I was so much faster than they expected I wasn't even numb. All went as best as possible and in the end I had the most perfect 6lb 9oz baby boy in my arms. His weight was shocking to all of us, I had had an ultrasound a week before and he was estimated at 7lb 4oz, Finnley was 8lb 2oz, and Iain was 8lb, completely breaking with the tradition that each subsequent baby is heavier than the last.
All in all I cannot complain about any of it because no matter how it happened Cullen is here and I wouldn't change a thing.
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