Greta Paige

It's a girl!!  Greta Paige Geurink was born at 7:30pm on Friday, November 25.  She was 7 lbs 9 oz and 18.75" long.

I was 38 weeks and 1 day--woohoo!  It was perfect timing.  It worked out great that I had about 2 weeks to run errands (while only taking 2 kids with me!) after being on bedrest, she didn't come on Thanksgiving so I was able to enjoy our family get togethers, and yet I'm glad she didn't wait too long to come out as the week before she came I gained lots of weight in fluid that was in legs and feet and made it very uncomfortable to walk and very difficult to bend my legs (along with other normal pregnancy woes).  I had had a doctors appointment on Tuesday and right away he noticed my significant weight gain (I don't know how much b/c I'm not sure what I was the week before--I like to not pay attention to how much weight I'm gaining:D) but also right away could see by looking at my feet what had caused it.  At that appointment I was dilated to almost a 3 and 70% effaced I think.  My doctor had said he would induce the following Tuesday, Wednesday or Friday if I wanted to, which I've never really wanted to be induced (and it wasn't an issue ever in past pregnancies), so it worked out well that I didn't have to make that decision.  We are so thankfuly though that we made it to full term and could take her home from the hospital with us!  We appreciate all the prayers that were sent up for Greta!

For my own record (and anyone else interested), here's her birth story (thanks to Joe's great notes, I still remember the details:D):

The Tuesday before I had her I had had an appointment.  It was going to be on Wednesday, but my dr had me move it up a day so that in case I was having steady contractions and they were dilating me enough, he could then break my water.  With Thanksgiving being on Wednesday and my doctor being out of town Wednesday night until Thursday night, I didn't really want to go into labor then (although if it had happened that way, I'm sure it would have worked out okay too).  But on Tuesday I was only at a 2 1/2 and I can't remember how effaced...70% or something?  Maybe 80%?  It was just a bit more dilated and effaced than I had been the week before. 

Friday morning I had been having contractions every 5ish (I didn't time them) minutes.  I didn't think anything of it because I've had this other times this pregnancy and they've always gone away when I went to bed and they really didn't hurt that bad--uncomfortable, but totally tolerable.  Joe had the day off since it was Black Friday and was then going to take Layla over to his parents' house to fix a leak on one of the tires on our Tahoe.  I went to the bathroom quick before I was going to do Layla's hair and then they were going to head out.  I then suddenly had quite a bit of bleeding, so I called the after hours number for my doctor's office.  I never heard back from the doctor so Joe called his dad to quick come over and watch the kids and we decided to just head in thinking that's what they'd tell us to do anyway--and even if it wasn't labor, we'd feel better knowing all was okay with the baby.  We arrived at Zeeland Hospital (each kid has now been born at a different hospital since we keep making it further along with each kid--31, 34 and now 38 weeks) at a little after 1pm.  When they checked me at 1:30 I was at 4cm and 80% effaced and contracting every 3-6 minutes so they said I was staying.  My contractions were stronger, but still not that bad (or maybe it's knowing what they turn into that compared to that, they weren't bad at all--I could still talk).  The nurse called my doctor (who was not on call that weekend but he said he'd come in to deliver which was nice) and she said I could have pain meds whenever I wanted if I chose to have them and that she would just need a decision by 7 or 8 cm.  I had never had an epidural so I wasn't sure if I wanted one or not.  If things were going to go quick, I figured I could make it again even though I swore after having Gibson that I'd never opt out of an epidural again--apparently time makes the pain seem not as bad:).  At 4pm the nurse checked me again and I was only at a 5--this was very different than my other labors as with Layla my water broke at home and when we arrived at the hospital I was at an 8, rushed to a delivery room and then started pushing once we got to the delivery room and with Gibson once the dr broke my water I dilated right away to an 8 (but with him labor took like 6 hours after that so I was stuck at an 8/transition labor until they were able to break a forebag and then he arrived 5 minutes after the forebag broke with 2 pushes). The difference this time seems to be that they didn't break my water b/c my doctor wasn't there.  Anyway, the nurse called my dr after checking me and he said that he wanted to give me Pitocin if that was okay with me.  That was not in my ideal labor situation, but I said that was fine.  Once I was going to get the Pitocin, I figured that if I was going to be given drugs in labor, I might as well have more drugs and just get an epidural too.  Around 5:15 I got my epidural and thought it made my contractions a little better once he administered it.  I could still feel them, but they were similar to what I was having all day, so I figured that with the Pitocin (which tend to make contractions stronger), it must have been working b/c they still weren't too bad.  We were bored--we had just been sitting all afternoon in the hospital watching tv (and football was on about half of the channels so my normal shows weren't on, but still much better than when I was in labor with Gibson and was trying to concentrate on the tv but it was on some dumb informercial and Joe was sleeping so I wasn't able to change the channel--had I had something to throw at him to wake him up I probably would have:D).  At 6:30 the nurse checked me again and put the catheder in and when she did, my water broke.  I wondered at that time why it hurt to get the catheder since she had said I wouldn't feel it b/c of the epidural.  I didn't have time to think about that because instantly my contractions got way worse.  I could definitely feel them and so she told me to push the little button to get a shot of the epidural so I did but it wasn't helping.  She said to give it about 10 mintues and then if it still wasn't working, she'd call anesthesia back.  When she had checked me I was still only at a 5 so she then went to call my dr to tell him that.  When she got back in the room I told her I felt like I needed to push and the contractions were awful so she checked me and I was at a 9.  She then quick went to call my dr to tell him to come in.  They then got the room ready for delivery and checked me again just after 7 and I was fully dilated and REALLY wanted to push so the nurse made me do some silly breathing things to try to hold it off until my dr arrived.  The breathing stuff did help though b/c I was able to put off pushing until my dr got there.  My dr arrived at 7:25 and quick popped his head in the room to tell them that he was there and the nurses told him to quick hurry.  He then came right back in the room so one of the nurses told me I could start pushing (probably not realizing how easily my babies push out:D).  The dr quick put his boot things on, put one glove on and then saw the baby's head so he was holding her head with the one hand and asked the nurse to help put his other glove on, told me to push one more time, and out she was at exactly 7:30.  He put her right on my stomach which was different for me too since otherwise they've had to make sure the baby was breathing fine and such with the Layla and Gibson (I was able to hold Gibson after he was checked out though).  She was placed really low on my stomach since her cord was so short, but then after a bit they took her off and weighed her and then I could actually hold her.  I wasn't surprised that she was a girl, but I don't think I would have been that surprised with a boy either since I really had no idea what she was and obviously figured she was one or the other:).  I am very happy to have another girl though and Joe and Layla both really wanted a girl so it worked out well for them too:).  I am happy for Layla to have a sister since I always loved having a sister growing up.  And they are just under 3 1/2 years apart which isn't much more of a spacing than my sister and me so hopefully they will be good buddies:).  And of course hopefully Gibs is good buddies with them too:).  I have no idea why my epidural didn't work--I'm pretty sure it didn't help at all b/c I felt everything and could walk right away and never had any numbing anywhere.  So, for my final birth I did get to experience having an epidural, it just for some reason didn't work.  But really, this labor was definitely my easiest, so I can't complain.  It was only really bad for an hour--the rest of the labor was pretty boring:).  And actually, after I had my epidural, I was a little sad (as weird as this is) that for my last child birth I wouldn't experience true pain, so I guess in the end it worked out that I could again remember how much it hurts:).  Yet it's worth every second of pain:).

It was so weird to have the "normal" hospital stay this time.  We weren't used to having the baby in the room with us and such.  It was great being able to hold her whenever and not worrying about how many visitors could see her at once.  And of course it was great being able to bring her right home with us! 
Since being home, I will admit she's been held way more than my other kids.  Partly because her big brother tends to be a wild child and I'm afraid he'll accidentally hurt her, but mainly because she is my last baby and that makes me sad:( (but not sad enough that I will change my mind:D).  She's been doing great at home.  The first night she slept terrible!  That was a new experience for us too b/c otherwise our kids have always been on a nice 3 hour schedule when they come home from the hospital and they understand the difference between day and night.  She wanted nothing to do with her crib that night or the next day, but then by the next night, she slept good in her crib.  She was doing one 5-6 hour stretch (she probably would have gone longer, but I woke her up to get enough feeds in since she was so sleepy during the day and not wanting to eat that much) but then the past couple of nights she has woken up on her own to eat--once after 5 hours and then last night after 4.5.  I'm thinking her sleepy stage is starting to wear off.  She went to the ped on Thursday for her first check up and he said we should wake her up after 4-5 hours in the night until her 2 week check up and we know she's gaining weight and such (not that he's concerned with her weight but just to make sure she's eating enough).  She was 7 lbs 9 oz when she was born and then 7 lbs 1 oz when she left the hospital and on Thursday was also 7 lbs 1 oz.  So she probably dipped below 7 lbs 1 oz and is now on her way back up.  She was 19.75" on Thursday and the dr said that normally they only gain about 1/2" in the first week, so she was probably a little longer at birth than what she measured at, but that they tend to be shrunk up when they come out so it's hard to get a good measure and that the dr office measurement was probably more accurate--so she was probably more like 19.25" at birth.  I thought she seemed quite short seeing that cousin Harper (born exactly one week before her!) was born at 34 weeks and was 18.5" (I'll have to do a blog about Harper later).  I had just figured that Greta got her mama's short genes:). I thought it was interesting that her ped noticed the bruising on her eye brows right away (my dr pointed it out when I delivered her too) and asked if she came out quickly. I said "yes" and he said, "like 2 pushes?".  "Yep".  I just didn't realize before that bruising like that apparently comes from being pushed out quickly.  The things you learn:).  I can harldy even see it and he said it'd go away soon. 
For those that like baby name info, had she been a boy, she would have been Jensen Crawford (or possibly Judson Crawford--Judd).  It was Crawford Jensen and then we changed it to Jensen Crawford.  I also liked Bennett and Joe liked Bentley, but we couldn't agree on either of those.  We didn't want a name that ended in and "a" or an "n" like Layla and Gibson or a name that started with an "l" or a "g".  Well, we then decided to just give up our "rules" since we had such a hard time with names this time.  For most of the pregnancy, Greta was Presley Paige but then we started to feel unsettled about that name for different reasons.  We liked Presley with Layla too, but with having a dog named Elvis, that seemed a little too weird--especially because we aren't Elvis Presley fans in the least bit--we just like his names:).  This time we figured that with Elv being older (*sniff sniff*) and having two kids in between that with their names not being linked to "the king" at all, it would be fine, but in the end decided to go with Greta (obviously:D).  I liked Greta long before we had kids but changed my mind while pregnant with Layla.  And the Paige doesn't have any meaning to it--we just liked the name.  I've liked it ever since I was really little and there was a soap star named Paige:).

The kids had fun hanging out with all the grandparents while we were in the hospital.  Joe's dad quickly came over on Friday and then his parents stayed at our house overnight with them and all came to visit us Saturday morning.  Joe's parents said that when they told her that I had the baby she asked if I pushed it out and had an epidural--she likes the baby shows (like A Baby Story) on TLC a little too much:).  When the kids first walked into the hospital room, Layla seemed a little weirded out even though normally she's very excited about hospitals (again, she really loves all things medical b/c of those shows--maybe someday she'll be an OB or a L & D nurse:D).  But then she warmed right up.  Gibs didn't seem phased by any of it--he just liked exploring the hospital room.  Gibs and Layla are definitely very different b/c when he was born, she would visit him and sit nice and quiet in the Special Care Nursery (not for all that long, but for a bit).  He would never just sit still! 
Anyway, Saturday evening, after Gibs' nap, Grandpa and Grandma brought the kids back to the hospital and then Joe brought them to Grampy and Gigi's to spend the night with them.  Saturday night we got our "special" hospital meal and it had been delivered shortly before the kids were dropped back off at the hospital by Joe's parents.  Joe had eaten a bit of his dinner and then quick went down to get the kids and brought them back up to our room as I finished feeding Greta.  Of course then they both wanted parts of our meals and we were trying to make sure Gibs didn't get into too much trouble. Joe then quickly finished his food so he could load them up and bring them to Grampy and Gigi's.  It was just funny b/c it had been so peaceful all day with just Greta (and visitors) and then suddenly Layla and Gibson were there and we were both trying to quick eat, give them part of our food, and keep them entertained and suddenly it was a glimpse into our busy family of five.  It may be busy at times with 3 kids under 3 1/2, yet we both agreed we wouldn't have it any other way:). 
Sunday we were discharged around noon (later than we had hoped since Elvis had stayed home alone that night and we really didn't want to come home to a mess!) and headed home with just Greta.  Grampy and Gigi dropped the kids off a bit later.  It was weird to come home with just a baby--it felt so quiet in the house!  But now it is no longer quiet and that is nice too:).

I know that pictures are much more interesting, so they'll hopefully be coming soon:).