Baby T is here!

After literally days and days of "false" labor, Baby T finally came into the world yesterday. Thursday night was particularly hard night with hours of very hard back labor that eventually fizzled out. I called my midwife, Ilise, Friday morning, and she decided to come over about one o'clock. I made an appointment with my acupuncturist for 11am. After chilling at his office with needles in my legs, hands, and arms - connected to electro-something-or-other stimulation - listening to his Chinese music for an hour, I was much more relaxed. When Ilise came, she gave me something homeopathic - I don't know what it was. Then she checked my cervix and found out that the baby was malpositioned. She moved her around and finally got her into the proper position. When she first touched her head, Theresa punched at her! It was pretty funny. Once Theresa was in position, Ilise put castor oil on my cervix. Then, she made me a "childbirth cocktail" which included castor oil, black and blue cohosh, and a bunch of other herbs. She left and I drank the cocktail around 2. I relaxed and was able to even fall asleep for 30-45 minutes. I woke up and started having contractions at 3:40. They weren't too awful, and I stayed very relaxed for a while until I realized I was having regular contractions, and Ilise had warned me that things would probably take off - FAST. So, I got up and timed them for a while and called Ilise about 20 minutes later. I told her the contractions were regular - every 3 to 4 minutes, but they weren't unbearable yet. I told Trey that he needed to wrap up what he was doing because we were having a baby. 20 minutes later the contractions were very strong, and I told Trey to call Ilise and tell her to come. The contractions had gotten very strong and very fast. Trey timed them for a few minutes, called Ilise back and said, "The contractions are 30 seconds apart." Ilise said, "Oh shit." LOL. She told Trey to be prepared because she might not make it on time. I called my friend Carrie, and she came over to help us. Luckily, she lives very close. I'm really glad she was able to come. She was such an incredible comfort to me. Contractions came fast and hard, and I could feel the urge to push before the midwives arrived, so I stayed horizontal on the bed. Trey was trying to figure out the birth tub liner and get the tub filled. I knew if I got on my hands and knees or got in the birth tub, I would be pushing Theresa out before the midwives got there, and I didn't want that. At one point, I remember yelling, "Where is Ilise?!" Ilise showed up with Yvette behind her by just a few minutes. Just a few minutes after they got here, I got in the tub. I had one or two contractions in the tub, and I knew I was in transition. Then I got a few minutes break which was heaven. On the next contraction, I gave one or two really large pushes, and she was born! The whole thing took about two hours. It was a whirlwind, and I am still a little fuzzy on all the details. She's perfect, and we are in heaven!

Theresa Aaralynn (air-uh-LYNN)
Born May 22, 2009
8 pounds 12 ounces, 20 3/4 inches