100+ Jessa Details I Want to Remember...

Three weeks ago we welcomed Jessa Frances to the family! I started to write her birth story a few weeks ago but it is too wordy to post here so I will save it for her to read later. Instead, here is an abbreviated version (really, it is the short one). The things in quotes is how I remember them being said... and since I was in pain for a lot of it, it may not be exactly what was said...

• Jessa was born on Friday, February 4th.
• She was two weeks early.
• I had contractions both early Tuesday morning and early Thursday morning that went away after a few hours.
• The contractions started again Thursday afternoon while I was teaching 4th period, the last of 4 classes that day.
• I left work shortly after that.
• Brynn helped me time the contractions once she got home from school.
• Yes, they make an app for that.
• Around 10pm Doug told me I needed to go to the hospital. I disagreed but went with him anyway once my mom got to the house.
• I only had 3 contractions during the hour ride to Richmond.
• I didn't want to go into the hospital yet so we went to the only place open, Walmart.
• I didn't want to get out of the car so we went to a hotel even though the contractions were starting again.
• We stayed at the hotel from 11:30pm until 1:15. We both slept. When the pain got worse we went to the hospital.
• There is a water machine outside the Kroger near the hospital in case you really need something to drink at 1:30am.

• Doug knew the person at the front desk of the hospital. They talked for a a while.
• I was unable to sign the paperwork so Doug did it for me.
• I refused to ride in a wheelchair. I think the walk to L&D was a mile long.
• During that walk I cussed the hypnosis tracks I had listed to while pregnant that called labor pains "birthing waves." The script must have been written by someone who never gave birth.
• I do think that the tracks helped me relax during early labor.
• I was trying to avoid an epidural... I love epidurals but I hate the catheter and IV that comes with them.
• The lady who was going to check me asked if I wanted an epidural. I told her if she told me I was 2cm then yes.
• I was 8 cm.
• She said no epidural.
• I still had to get the IV though they just put a lock in.
• I felt stupid a few days later complaining my arm still hurt where I had the IV until a bruise the size of a small planet appeared on my arm.
• I still had to get the catheter after the birth was all done. Ugh.

• No one in labor should have to answer a million questions.
• At one point I told Doug during a contraction that I wanted to bite his shoulder but that I wouldn't.
• I found out later this was not that odd when a friend of mine said she actually did bit her husband's shoulder during labor.
• They asked me if I wanted to take a shower. I said yes. The nurse said she would make sure it was okay with the doctor. I never got a shower.
• The doctor checked me and broke my water.
• This was the doctor on call, not my OB. He didn't make it on time. So he has only delivered one of my six children.
• I remember thinking that I needed to tell my mom that House was on the TV in the delivery room knowing she likes that show. She said I should be happy that the doctor on the show wasn't my doctor.
• They asked me if I wanted a birthing ball. I said maybe. I never saw one. Doug said they couldn't find it.
• Doug tells me there was a third medical person in the room.. I don't remember that.
• He also tells me I kept apologizing because I thought I was yelling. He says I wasn't but he might just be saying that.
• I was standing the whole time so far because I still did not want to sit or get in the bed.
• I felt the urge to push soon after that.
• The nurse told me I had to get in the bed or the baby "would land on the floor."
• It took everything I had to get into that bed. My legs weight a ton, each.
• Doug says the doctor came back in the room a bit panicked for time.
• I remember thinking I need to push. I must have said it outloud. I pushed while someone counted... I heard three and out came the head.

• Jessa was born at 3:14am.
• She weighed 6lbs, 14 oz.
• She was 19.5 inches long.
• Right after she arrived either the nurse or doctor said, "You have a perfect baby."
• We agreed.
• When Doug first saw the baby he thought he saw the goods of a boy.
• Before I could ask the sex of the baby someone said, "You have a girl."
• Neither Doug or I fell to the floor in shock though we were both shocked.
• I had had three hints during the pregnancy that the baby might be a girl.
• One was during the ultrasound at 20 weeks where I saw three lines and remembered reading online that three lines meant girl. Of course, I had no idea what body part the technician was looking at at the time.
• Another was when my doctor was listening to the heartbeat and said, "Her heart sounds, I mean, the baby's heartbeat is strong."
• The third time was when I was asked if we wanted the baby circumcised if the baby was a boy. I noticed she hesitated a bit between the start of her question and the end, as if she didn't need to ask. Of course, I was 8 cm dilated so I may have imagined this.

• We decided on a name while the doctor finished up.
• Jessa came from Evan. Evan and I were looking at a baby name site two weeks prior and were making fun of all the silly names. He said, "How about Jessa? I like it." I did too.
• Frances is Doug's mom's middle name.
• When Doug sent a message out to friends that her name was Jessa, the automatic spell checker changed her name to Jenna and he sent it before he noticed the error.
• The pediatrician said Jessa is perfect.
• We agreed.
• She has a very strong urge to suck.
• I sent her back to the nursery the first night so I could sleep and told the nurse she keeps wanting to nurse. She said maybe the ride back to the nursery will calm her.
• She came back a while later with a pacifier. Guess she wasn't impressed by the ride.
• She LOVES the hospital pacifiers. There is only one other type she tolerates. The pacifier covers half her face.

• Doug and I still are amazed she is a girl.
• We both told others that we wanted a boy because for us boys are easier.
• That was only half the truth.
• I had concerns about what some others might say if we had a girl.
• A few have told us, "So you finally got your girl."
• But we already have two. Sigh... I know what they are trying to say but I hope the girls never hear someone say that.
• Caleb told someone her hair is "blackish blonde."
• I think it is brown.
• I texted Caleb early Friday morning and said, "Congratulations on being a big brother, again, to another sister."
• He texted back and asked how I knew.
• Doug told the rest of the kids at breakfast that morning.
• They thought it was wrong that they still had to go to school.
• Brynn came to visit later that day first.
• The other kids came later that night.
• Evan saw me nurse first and said, "That is just weird."
• Evan asked me two days later if I was still feeding the baby that same way.
• Brynn told a visitor all the things my backless gown revealed.
• I didn't even get bothered by this because I am so used to her lack-of-a filter.

• The kids fight over who gets to hold Jessa.
• Caleb holds her however he happens to be sitting; he will not move for her comfort.
• Evan holds her and carries her like she is a football.
• Brynn and Nyah hold her for a minute and then are done.
• Price holds her in a way that wouldn't panic the grandparents.
• No one seems to be reacting to having a new sibling in anything but a positive way.
• Nyah loves to help and will do so without even being asked.
• Jessa likes to be held.
• I love to hold her.
• She was back up to 6lbs 13oz six days after her birth.

• She is not a sound sleeper which made taking pictures of her in cute baby poses challenging.
• The noise of her siblings probably didn't help.
• She was welcomed home to the typical chaos of the house... construction being done on the new office off the living room (siding, painting, sheet rock sanding), the installation of a new microwave when ours died, and a snow day with all the siblings home.
• We both love my new baby sling.
• The new baby sling embarrasses Caleb.
• I still wear it.
• Caleb is worried about me nursing in public.
• I told him I would not do that (though I wouldn't have anyway).
• The wrinkles on Jessa's forehead are much cuter than the wrinkles on mine.
• So far, she hardly ever cries.
• She is noisy though.
• She is beautiful.
• Even when she snorts.
• She has an outie.
• Nyah keeps telling me, "Jessa is crying like a baby" when she makes baby noises.
• She also tells me daily that, "Jessa has no teeth."
• If her siblings had their way, Jessa would have a pacifier in her mouth 24/7.
• Everyone says she looks like her brothers.
• Everyone names a different brother.
• I think she looks most like Evan (when she doesn't have the pink bow in her hair).

• I am much more relaxed with her than I was with the others.
• Doug is very proud of the fact he is now making the kids' lunches to help me out. I think he will still be talking about it when Jessa reads this list to her own child.
• We feel blessed to have her in our family and we feel blessed by all the support we have received from our friends and family.
• Life is very, very good!
• Now I have to remember how to update the header of the blog to fit one more in!