Marilyn Olivia Dante

Marilyn Olivia Dante (Mod) was born March 17th, 2009 at 8:05 pm. She weighed 9 lbs. 2oz. and was 21 1/2 inches long.
This last Sunday I finally had "feeling" that she would be a girl and that she would be ornery and come on the 17th because that's how long I gave her... what do you know.
I started having contractions worth 'counting' at 2:45 pm and they were about 8-10 minutes apart until 4:30. I called my midwives and my friend Jessie and made biscuits to go with the soup for dinner. Being up and moving around brought the contractions a little closer together. After dinner at about 6 pm we went for a walk around the block with all the kiddos, I didn't think I would make it all the way around, contractions were about 5 minutes apart and much more painful. We got back to the house about 6:50 (it took us that long to get around the block because I had to stop every time I had a contraction). My midwife Jennifer showed up at 7pm and checked me said I was just fine to lay in bed where I was...she went out to call Pat (my other midwife) and I stayed in bed and contractions came every 3-5 minutes. At about 7:50 pm I felt like I had to go to the bathroom so I went and sat on the toilet and my whole body just started pushing...my water broke and I yelled for help and Jennifer came running to find that baby's head was crowning. She asked if I wanted to have the baby on the toilet and I said, "No" so she helped me to the bed and I called for Erik (who had just finished putting the other kiddos to bed) and he came in. He was very shocked to walk in and see a head crowning. I breathed through two contractions and my body did all the work and Marilyn Olivia was born. It was absolutely amazing to have a labor go so quickly and amazing that I didn't have to actively push. Jessie made it through the front door about the same time Mod was born and Pat made it about 30 minutes later. Erik went and got Hannah out of bed, she was very excited to meet her new sister. Ivan had already fallen asleep so he got to meet Mod the next morning. It was very sweet he sat by her and stroked her head for about 10 minutes. Clayton hasn't shown much interest in Mod yet, but yesterday after his nap he came in my room every 10 minutes to look at me, I guess he was just checking in on me.
Thank you Rolana for taking the kiddos yesterday and this morning. The oldest three are with Erik's parents for a few days and I am enjoying the rest and pampering.

Frustrated

I'm getting tired of false alarms. Last evening I had great contractions about 10 minutes apart. They were "stop knitting and take notice" kind of contractions but then again I decided to go to bed, they stopped almost immediately and I slept really well. I'm grateful for the good sleep I've been getting but it's really hard to not wake up in a grumpy attitude because I'm so comfortable and I don't want to be! Who knew I would be so desperate for the pain of childbirth!
I've already played the nintendo wii this morning and got a few contractions going, I'm encouraged that they might be starting in the morning as opposed to night when I get worn out but I'm trying not to get my hopes up only to be disappointed again. This baby has got to come out sometime!

Do I Really Look Like That? 'Fraid So

Tonight Hannah was running around with a large rubber ball under her shirt so she could be a mommy too. I asked if she had any names picked out. If it was a girl it would be Leah and if it was a boy it would be Bill but if it was Bill he needed to be a pastor. She then said that "the baby will come out after this night" and I asked her how she knew, she said, "God told me." I asked if she meant her baby or my baby and she said "her baby". I was slightly disappointed, I thought maybe she had a word from God for me. Needless to say her "baby" came out first. I'm praying for patience.

Getting Closer

My assistant mid-wife Jennifer came and spent the night last night. I started having contractions about 5pm yesterday and they came about every 10 minutes until about 9 and then the baby was very active (like private dance party in my belly-active) and it was painful because it's dropped low enough and then on top of that when I finally tried to go to bed and relax I felt all shaky and panicky, it was a really weird feeling. So Jennifer came over about 11:45 pm and took my blood-pressure and pulse and we listened to the baby and everything was good; it was very reassuring. She then slept in the guest room and I tried to sleep. The contractions died down about 1:45 or 2am and I was able to sleep. Jennifer went home this morning but hopefully I can call her back today sometime if the contractions get going again. Now I'm going to try and take a nap if the kiddos cooperate.

No Baby Yet...

So today is March 4. My "new" official due date but so far nothing much is happening. I've had on and off contractions for about a week but nothing that sticks around. I know the contractions are doing something and helping my body get ready...but I am ready, at least mentally and emotionally. I'm trying to have patience...I'm just not doing a very good job. And for those of you that were taking "bets" about when I'd go...you're all wrong, all the dates have passed, does this mean you get to start over and bet again? : )