Part 2 (the Birth:)

So....Michael arrived and....thank goodness... Jonas was happy to see him, and didn't even seem sad to see us go. We loaded up the car, meanwhile, my contractions are getting more and more painful....and the ride down to St Paul seemed like an eternity! I was having contractions every 4 to 5 minutes, and I had to keep focusing on things around me like bulletin boards and lights----we finally got off on the exit and Jason decided to just park in the ER lot, as that was the easiest one to find (St Joe's is right in the heart of St Paul and parking can be a nightmare!) we found a spot right away and I then felt some warm liquid running down my leg.....I thought my water had finally broken, so I got out of the car and waddled quickly into the hospital with Jason trailing behind me with all of our stuff! At first, I wanted to just keep high-tailing it to the Birthing Center, but then the staff said we needed to wait for an escort, so I opted for the wheelchair--- (super uncomfortable while in labor, people!). We waited for almost 15 minutes while I am trying to keep my mouth shut during contractions (I wanted to scream), and I nastily told Jason just to push me there without a stupid escort, but we didn't know how to get there anyway, so finally the receptionist (also annoyed for making this poor laboring woman wait).....also asking me annoying questions like "How far along do you think you are?" and "When did the contractions start?" I was not in the mood for answering questions, and also not in the mood to be stared at by the 15 people waiting in the ER waiting area...finally, the security guard took pity on me and just told Jason to follow him, and he led us to the elevator and up to the correct floor---the world was a bit of a blur to me at that point...I remember getting to the floor, and the nurse looking me in the eye and immediately walking really fast to the room where I somehow got in bed. The first thing she did was check me----this was the part that was simply too hard to believe----she said, "Oh honey....you're already an 8-9!" My reply was "So that means I'm staying, right?" Wow----I think I was a little too concerned about being sent home:) She just laughed at me and said, "Oh my yes!"
My contractions continued, and the nurse hurriedly asked me if I still wanted a water birth---which I did--she looked a bit concerned and told us that it took awhile to fill the tub, so she was going to start that right away. Meanwhile my unbelieving midwife was not even there yet, and the nurse said she was finally on her way and would be there in about 20 minutes. I wasn't in the bed for long, and my contractions were coming almost continuously and as soon as the tub was filled, they wheeled me over to that gloriously, warm, relaxing tub----as soon as I got in, the world seemed a better place although I thought I was going to die of the pressure----it felt like I was going to explode, and I pleaded with the midwife to break my water. She checked with the intention of doing so, and said, "Well, your water already broke my dear, that is the baby's head!" So this was happening! Fast! There's not much you can do with that kind of pressure except squeeze your husband's hand so hard that it nearly breaks his bones! The pressure in my back and legs was the most pain and discomfort I have ever felt in my whole life----with Jonas I had had an epidural, and while I could still feel the pressure, it was NOTHING compared to this---with no drugs---NADA! I kept saying stupid things like, "Will it feel better when the baby comes out?" When you are in that kind of pain, you have to be reassured that it will end. Do those of you that have had babies know what I mean----?? It is the craziest experience--nothing compares. Nothing. The pain is unbearable but you have no choice but to keep pressing on---(or in this case, pushing on:) Anyway, finally, the midwife said she felt the baby's head and Jason felt it too---I pushed about 4 times, and then, with a final push, felt an ENORMOUS release....and Freya surfaced out of the water and they set her on me----cord still attached and all. We sat like that for awhile. She cried nice and hard right away but settled down and seemed content to just catch her breath with Mommy in the tub. (Birth is hard work for baby and for Mom!) It was strange to feel the cord still attached too, but it was nice that they gave us both a break---a little time to just relax and be together before everything else.
Eventually, Jason cut the cord, and she was officially separated from me (actually this was a little bit sad for me--- official separation---after 9 months (10 really) of being connected, it is a little emotional.) I handed Freya (although at this point we hadn't named her yet) over to Jason and I got out of the tub and into the bed for the afterbirth----I got to see and touch the placenta and the midwife even showed me where my water had broken. So cool! The placenta is amazing---the lifeline for your baby---I had never seen it so close, (the first time I was so out of it, that I don't think I cared much) This time was so different---I felt great after the birth---a huge burst of energy came right after Freya was delivered. I felt rejuvenated! After all, it was only 10:00! The night was young! Jason laughed about how incredibly different this all was----we had only been in the hospital for a little over an hour and we already had our baby----he thought we could just go home right then:) However, I wanted to stay a little longer... We took some pictures and just soaked in the experience----the floor was quiet that night, and the whole atmosphere was almost surreal for me. We went back to the room and just had a really special night just the three of us. It was so much better to have more energy!! I couldn't have asked for a better birth experience---it was everything I could have wanted, and Jason was simply overjoyed at the whole thing. The pride he had/has looking at Freya I will never forget---He even thanked her for having such a timely arrival:) The next few days were really wonderful too--full of family and visitors---lots of pictures and sweet times holding our girl and getting to introduce her to her big brother. I am so thankful for those days---it almost felt like life took a pause. I felt strong enough to walk around and take a shower the next day, which was a novelty to me. Jason's parents came with Jonas and he was so enthralled with Freya---wanting to hold her and kiss her:) My parents arrived Thursday night and David and Michael and Bailey also made it for a visit. It didn't matter what was going on in the outside world---my world was just right---right in that room with the people I love most:) When we finally were discharged on Friday afternoon, we had a nearly 2 hour drive in a huge snowstorm----and actually didn't make it home, but stopped at Bethel----Freya heard her first bell choir concert at 2 days old! (Bailey was playing:) I felt like a crazy mom for sure bringing my fresh little one out in public, but we really had no choice---and were glad to at least get somewhere warm safely! Freya is going to be no stranger to snowy weather---already 2 massive snowstorms in her 11 days of life!
Now we're home and life is starting to feel more normal, but I will never forget December 1 (for more than obvious reasons). I think it was one of the best days of my life:) Nursing is a bit of a challenge as I have a little shark on my hands (can any of you relate?), but other than that, we give thanks that she is such a good sleeper---and the perfect addition to our family!