Obviously we've been slacking a bit on the writing over the last year, but I know Ellen deserves some air time here. We've definitely fallen into the pattern of "second time" parents -- taking a few less pictures and worrying a little less (well, at least Will is...I still do my fair share of analyzing and worrying). There have been no spreadsheets tracking dirty diapers, sleep, or routines this time around. Nursing was easier; sleepless nights were harder (having a toddler running around made it a little more difficult for those midday naps or sleeping in) -- and we're already far enough beyond those phases that I can reminisce about them fondly.
As I was sitting down to write this, I went back to read Anna's birth announcement here. It's amazing how different the birth experiences were for our two girls. Anna was born 11 days late after a scheduled induction; Ellen was born on her due date just minutes after we arrived at the hospital on a gurney in the ER...the craziness of that night/morning still makes me shake my head....
Looking back on it, I can see I was in labor all weekend. I was having reasonably consistent contractions Saturday evening and night, but with our weekend activities, didn't really notice them too much on Sunday. I went to the grocery store, made Halloween cookies with Anna, we carved our pumpkin....although it was the day before Ellen's Halloween due date, I figured I'd have these "minor" contractions for several more days, thinking she would definitely be born late again.
My contractions got stronger again Sunday night, but never met the "5-1-1" criteria to actually go to the hospital. Ever the rule follower, and not wanting to go to the hospital only to be sent home, I stuck it out through the night. Until just before 5am when they were finally so strong I was gripping Will's hand in pain and realized we needed to go to the hospital. Will ran next door to get the neighbor, who we had just lined up the day before to watch Anna for this (lucky we even did that). They spent sometime installing Anna's carseat in her car, I showed her what Anna would want/need for breakfast...I made one last pitstop until Will literally pulled me off the toilet and said we were going (lucky he did that also -- more signs of very active/late labor that didn't even occur to me in the moment). Finally, our neighbor shoo'ed us out the door and I finally realized this was serious.
The memories of that car ride are surprisingly vivid for me...Will ran one red light. He took one wrong exit off the highway, which then meant a left turn over a median. And I remember very CALMLY asking him when he pulled out his iPhone to check a map what he was doing, did he know where he was going? (I thought for sure he was taking an alternate route I didn't know, but that wasn't really the case). After quite a "detour", during which my water broke, and I insisted on the windows being down in the 35 degree weather, we finally arrived at the hospital. I sat in the car while Will tried to wrangle a wheelchair and tried to pull me into it -- I say "pull" because at that point, Ellen's head was already born, and I couldn't really stand up. A woman reporting for work ran over and thankfully took control of the situation -- calling for a gurney and help. People finally realized what was happening and that I wasn't just an overly excited pregnant woman in early labor. My second "push", and Ellen was born. On the gurney, in the hallway of the ER.
I think Will took this picture before the nurses from L&D even got to us.
Ellen Rachel Hinshaw, approx 5:47am, October 31, 2011
The time listed on Ellen's birth certificate was the time the ER staff called L&D to alert them of the situation.
For two serious "planners", I think this was quite the wake up call. I'm pretty sure Ellen is going to keep us on our toes
