Andie's Birth Story

As it has been WELL over a year that I've blogged.

 Its been on my mind.

 I enjoy it. 

Now that I'm home more and want to remember this time in my life despite the crazy that it is, 

This blog is going to come back to life! 

Even if I'm the only one that will look back at this and read it :) Lets start with the most important thing I want to blog about...Andie's Birth Story! 

This pregnancy was a huge blessing. When we decided we were ready add another child to our family we had no idea what we were in for. With Calvin I got pregnant that first month, so I had no clue that it would take as long as it did. It took a year and a half for this babe to stick in my belly. That was the longest time of my life. I was sad, confused, angry, and hopeful all at the same time. I started meeting with my OB after a year and we started discussing different options I never thought I would have to. I did more ovulations tests than I can remember. Nothing was happening. I had a slight imbalance in my hormones that could have an impact on my failure to get pregnant. So I went on medication for a month to regulate that. No baby. It was getting serious and we discussed starting clomid. I had the prescription paper in my hand bummed because I was already on my period when I got it so I had to wait until the following month to fill it and start the medication. Low and behold a few days before my follow up apt with my OB I had the idea to take a pregnancy test even though I dreaded seeing another negative, it turned out Positive! I cried, I smiled bigger than I had in awhile, and had a slight panic attack of disbelief. The Dr. confirmed it..My due date was January 8, 2016. I never believed that I would actually make it to this day seeing as how Calvin was barely 3 weeks early. I was told to see a specialist along with my regular dr appointments throughout my pregnancy to see if we can catch any signs of preterm labor that I had with Calvin that I was unaware of. I had several ultrasounds and starting at 28 wks I went weekly to the specialist to have a NST ( non-stress test) to check on the baby. While it sure was a hassle going so often to the dr, (twice a week) it was also really nice to be able to see my baby so often and be reassured she was still growing healthy and strong. but sure enough, the week before Christmas at my weekly Dr. appointment I started to dilate at 37 wks.  I was only a 1/2 but with how fast my labor was with Calvin and hearing stories of following babies being born just as fast if not quicker I was anxious when it would happen. Christmas Eve was my next apt and while I was about a 3 with little effacement I had a feeling this baby was coming that weekend. I just knew it. I was having contractions on and off already and some being painful, it was frustrating. the nurse practitioner gave me the option to strip my membranes that appointment to get things going more steady if I wanted. Heck yes! I wanted to meet my baby girl! As the day progressed the contractions came on and then went away. I was worried that I would go into labor and miss christmas morning with Calvin so we decided to do presents with the family that night since we were staying at my parents house to be closer to the hospital I was delivering at. I could feel my belly contracting and getting uncomfortable during presents but it just wasnt doing anything more like I wanted. We went for a walk that night to see if that would speed things up. it sure did bring on super painful contractions that were close enough apart that I thought it was it. (ALSO side note: I tested positive for group b strep and was SO worried about getting antibiotics in before the baby came so she wouldn't get sick.) I got my things and we headed to the hospital. Its a weird feeling driving to the hospital, you just sit there in silence (and pain) thinking about meeting this baby you've prayed and hoped for, for so long. We check in and I get dressed down into the gown starting to not be in as much pain as before, but still feeling the contractions. I thought..."no, no, no, dont you go away." Sure enough after some monitoring my contractions weren't strong enough and started to get further apart again. I was sent home. You better believe I balled my eyes out the whole way home with such frustration. Christmas morning we opened stockings and spent time with our family. It was a pretty quiet day. I was still bitter about the contractions not coming again. I was getting desperate and people were saying try castor oil. That is the one thing I vowed NEVER to do. well that went out the window that day. Late morning I went to the nearest store open and grabbed that bottle, mixed it with some OJ and chugged it. We waited. I got a little crampy, but nothing. Steven and I went to an afternoon movie together with my parents to let time pass. still nothing. My mom insisted I needed to take another TB to make it really work. The thought of that made me gag, but like I said I was over it. Chugged it. this time the cramping was worse and I made quite a few more bathroom trips than normal. it sucked. but I was definitely cleaned out! the contractions came again more painful. We waited to see if they would go away again. I tried to go to bed and get some rest before the next day because I had a feeling it was really going to happen the next day. It was like 1 or 2 in the morning and the contractions were so strong I couldn't lay down anymore. I tried to get up and walk around the room to see if they would subside. nope. I woke up my mom, who didnt believe me when I said I think we need to go to the hospital. She made me walk around some more in her room. LOL It got to a point that I would hunch over gripping onto the bed when the contractions came and she finally agreed I wasnt joking. I woke up Steven again, because I had woken him up so many times before, poor guy, and we headed back to the hospital. The nurses weren't too excited to see me because they told me the first time that it was too early for this baby to come, even though I was 38 wks that next day. They got me all hooked up and said I was definitely staying and started the antibiotics. The contractions started to get worse as time went on but I was still at a 3.5/4 in dilation. are you kidding me this is gonna take forever I thought. My anesthesiologist finally came in when I was able to get my epidural and hes telling this story about how he might have broken his thumb because it smashed in the door or something? I'm thinking really? you're going to tell me this story as you're about to stick me with a fatty needle, now I'm worried it will be off because of his thumb. haha He took what seemed like forever and is still talking then asks me if I have scoliosis. my response was "um...no?" Well apparently I was wrong, he said "mom look at this, she definitley has scoliosis look at this curve in her spine. So just to let you know, sometimes people with scoliosis dont take the epidural well, meaning it may not spread evenly on both sides, but he would do his best" REALLY? broken thumb and now a crooked back that may leave the chance of me still being in pain? Definitely wasn't thrilled, but luckily the pain did go away and I was a happy camper. I thought ok, now things are going seeing as how after my epidural with Calvin it sped things up a bit. a few hrs passed and I was only a 6. It was probably about 10 am the day after Christmas. They wouldn't break my water because they wanted to get 2 full bags of antibiotics in me. Pretty sure that's what slowed things down...I felt bad for my mom, and poor husband who were beyond tired as well. I was starting to get so hungry and those ice chips were crap. I was SLOWLY progressing. about 12:30 I was at a 8/9. My OB finally shows up and walks in saying " alright, whats going on here, whats taking so long?" to the nurses. She explained my group b strep and he asked if I had at least one bag done, and before she could finish her sentence of saying yes, he said "Ok I'm gonna break your water,  lets get things going, My family wants to see Star Wars today" We all laughed and perked up some more because he said exactly what I wanted to hear! He broke my water, boy was that a huge gush of water. Within 40 minutes of this happening it was time to push! ( gosh dang if only he got there earlier! ) I pushed for about 15-20 minutes. I was so exhausted at this point that it felt A LOT longer! at 1:53 pm my Andie Ann Crosby was here and placed on my chest. PURE bliss! That skin to skin time we had after was all I dreamed and hoped for because I never got that with Calvin. It was still so surreal holding my baby that I wanted to badly. Watching Steven bathe her and comb her hair with a smile on his face was priceless. From the moment she came into this world she has been a complete Joy in our lives and still is to this day almost a year later! Love you to pieces my sweet little princess. 

XOxo