She’s HERE!

It’s been a long time, friends!

Last time I checked in, I was pregnant, and now, well, I am not. (“Collect call from Mrs. HadaBaby It’sAGirl.”)

Clara Joy joined our family (aka “the crazy bunch”) on December 28 at 10:19 PM.

For those of you who were keeping track, my original “due date” was January 17. We were assuming she’d come early (since her sister and brother did), but she surprised us a bit and came earlier than anyone thought! (At 37 weeks!) 

I had gone in that morning for a doctor’s appointment and found out I was 2 cm dilated. Nothing super unusual for 37 weeks, but once home I just didn’t feel right. I decided to keep track of my Braxton Hicks contractions and began timing them. In my other pregnancies I had painful contractions, but they didn’t really intensify until my water broke (so I just assumed they were those pesky Braxton Hicks, not actual LABOR). Since kiddo #2 came in 45 minutes after my water broke, I was anxious to make sure I made it to the hospital for kiddo #3! 

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Let’s pause for a quick minute.

Remember how right above I told you that each time I just assumed the contractions were Braxton Hicks? Well, with kiddo #2 (son) I actually drove to my 38 week appointment, only to be told I was about 5 cm dilated and had to be admitted. Um, say what?!

People ask: “Weren’t you in pain? Didn’t you know you were in labor?”

My response? “I was 9 months pregnant! Of COURSE I was in pain!” Ha!

In hindsight, that was the only appointment I had to pace around the waiting room for….  ahem.

Ok. Back to Clara…..

My doctor’s office had closed early for the day, so we decided to head to the hospital to get rechecked. (The doctor on call that I spoke to said this “wasn’t my first rodeo, so I could definitely come in to get checked if I wanted.” Bless her. I was completely convinced I would end up being sent home, but thought it would ease my anxious-very-pregnant-self so I could relax for the weekend (this was Friday and just a few days before New Year’s).

Well, I didn’t get sent home! In fact, I was holding sweet Clara Joy several hours later.

I’m SO glad we went ahead and headed to the hospital. You know how a lot of mamas have a “birth plan” these days? I think that’s wonderful (I am a planner by nature after all!). MY birth plan, however, included this: NOT having the baby delivered by my 9 year old. (We homeschool and all, but that’s NOT really one of my curriculum choices for 4th grade. Ha! 

We are doing well and are all smitten with this new little blessing. Clara Joy, you are loved so much already! 

Thank you for all of the sweet comments and good wishes. And thanks to all of you who were praying for us during my pregnancy! It meant so much and was such a blessing.

My mom said it felt like I was pregnant for two years. Yep, that seems about right!

We are just so thankful she is here. This family of five is beyond blessed.