Sarah's Birth Day

Or, How I Accidentally Became a "Blue Ribbon Birther".

A B.R.B. is someone who gives birth 'naturally' or without the miracle of modern pharmaceuticals. With Jay,  I was induced on a Wednesday evening.  We had 3 DVDs rented, mood music selected, hard candies packed.  The pit drip started at 6 a.m., hard contractions starting at noon, drugs at 1, epidural at 3:30, baby boy at 5:09 p.m.  The epidural progressed my labor from 3 cm dilated to complete and ready to push.  It was a wonderful birth and there was no time to be anxious.  With Sarah's birth, I was hoping to experience going into labor on my own, and I sure got my wish!

I began to feel mild labor pains sporadically beginning Wednesday.  I got Jay's leftover stomach bug Thursday, which I really thought was early labor.  By Saturday, I was having a contraction about once an hour.  I tutored for a few hours, did regular Saturday chores.  I had that last nesting impulse and we got all Sarah's princess pictures hung at 8 p.m. and we turned in at 10.  I was thinking to myself that I wished I had gone to bed earlier because labor seemed around the corner.  By midnight, I knew it would be a sleepless night.  I hemmed and hawed about calling our friends from Sunday School, who offered to watch Jay due to the hospital's ban of kids under 17 visiting because of  the H1N1 paranoia.  But I really didn't think we'd actually be dropping off the wild man around 2:30 in the morning, very much awake.  They have two young children and have earned extra jewels in their crowns in my eyes!

So, we gas up the mini-van on E at 2:45 a.m., and walk (hobble) into the hospital.  Now, we had pre-registered, but still had to sit in the dumb waiting chairs for 20 minutes reiterating the same information.  Don't you think a lady who says she's in labor deserves to be wheeled back and the paperwork handled bedside?  I do.

Thankfully, I seem to get very self-controlled in extreme times.  The nurse that examined me said she thought that we'd be sent home because I wasn't acting like a raving woman.  Because when I got into my hospital gown, I was already 8 cm dilated!  I was moved to the labor room (still without a wheelchair) and got all the needed personnel and supplies order 'cause the baby was a-comin'.  Now, since I had a great experience with an epidural, I was hesitant to go without one this time, though I knew that I was so close to delivery.  Sure enough, I was about 30 seconds away from the big shot when my water broke.  Alex could hear me moaning outside the room and was a little scared to come in.  His exact words were, "I wanted to cry."  Right before my body took over and my fear crept in, I reminded him with humor, "I want diamonds."  Girlfriend don't do natural labor for nothin'.

It was go time.  The kicker was that my doctor wasn't at the hospital. Meaning I was expected to "hold it".  Mmm, hmm.  Telling that to a laboring woman is like telling her to be a blue elephant.  I can sure try, but it ain't gonna happen.  I held on for maybe 2 contractions, and then Ms. Sarah decided she was tired of waiting.  I got the "go" to push because her head had already made its entrance.  I gave a half-hearted push, and out she came, caught by the sweet nurses. 

I AM WOMAN.

I never thought I would say this, but in the words of many a B.R.B., a woman's body is designed to give birth.  You can do it!  Now, I would never dissuade someone from availing herself of pain relief.  I had both experiences and both were wonderful.  But, I definitely had a very demonstrative and heartfelt worship session when Sarah was born. And didn't look stoned.   It is probably the closest thing to an out-of-body experience I'll have.

 That's my labor story.  A wild and hairy day.  A best day.

Look what the LORD has done!

His Banner Over Me...

Is Love.

That's what was in my mind after delivering Sarah.  So much to say, but that will suffice for now.

Here's a link to her baby pictues, taken about 6 hours after her arrival!

http://www.bellababyphotography.com/

password: 0117sarahanne

Mama and Her Firstborn

Meeting up with G-Gma and AJ

                                                                    

At Bass Pro Shop in Macon.  I love his coy smile and that mop of hair.

Jay and his baby girl

Manny!

                           

Mischief!

Magnets!

Day-in-Review

Jay and I played a game-  he runs and falls into my arms.  We "colored".  He spilled my drink on his shirt.  He knows where all snack items are kept.  His big boy bed is put together.  I took his baby pictures out of the nursery and hung a pink valence on the window.  We went to Sonny's and he ate fried okra.  He will only say 'Mommy' once in a blue moon.  But he takes after my love of okra.   10 days 'til baby Sarah is due. 

I'm in the push-pull of saying good-bye to Jay's babyhood and embracing his becoming a bigger boy.  He loves to say 'baby' and hug my belly.  He goes straight for Sarah's baby dolls if he can break into the room where her things are waiting to be put away.

The crib is being raised tomorrow and toddler bed experiments begin.  Change is a-comin'!

Cheese ball!

I have two New Year's food traditions: Black Eye Peas and a Cheese Ball.

Here's the recipe I used for the cheese ball from Paula Deen's The Lady and Sons Cookbook.

Strawberry Cheese Ring

16 oz. sharp Cheddar cheese, grated

One 3 oz. package cream cheese, softened

3/4 cup mayonnaise

1 small onion, chopped

1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts

1/2 tsp. garlic salt or powder

Cayenne pepper to taste (omitted)

1 cup strawberry preserves

Ritz crackers

Combine all ingredients except preserves and crackers in a food processor or electric mixer. Mix thoroughly and refrigerate for 2-3 hours. Scoop mixture onto a platter and mold into a ring formation (place a sheet of wax paper between your hands and the mixture to prevent melting and stickiness). Spread strawberry preserves into the center of the ring and serve with crackers.
 
Sooo good!  I started making it last NYE.  If you like pimento cheese, you will like the spread.  It is easy to over indulge on this one!

 If you've never made black eye peas, it is extremely simple.  Buy a one pound bag and soak the dry peas overnight.  Drain and rinse peas.  Over with 6-8 cups of hot water and bring to a simmer.  I simmer it all day, adding more water.  I add boneless pork chops that have been cut into cubes about halfway through the day.  Add salt and pepper to taste.  This is NOT a good crock pot recipe; best to use the stove top.  Serve with cornbread and butter.  The peas and pork form a stew and I like to top with chopped, raw onion.  The stew is even better the next day.  The stew thickens in the fridge and is delicious reheated.

My mamasita taught us this recipe and it's a favorite for me and sis.  xxoo Mommie!