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[personal profile] altarflame
We leave in the morning.

Yesterday I had a moment in the afternoon...I was sitting on the floor, talking to my very supportive sister on the phone about the amazing conversation I had with my amazing midwife. Wearing the string bracelet with beads from Kristin, Melanie and Annie, on my wrist. With all these things spread out around me on the floor...a talisman knit by a friend I wish could be there. A sitz bath made by someone from their own garden.

Everything just felt so incredibly right. The surety of faith I felt in this direction, and how weird and hopeless that seemed when I was 30 weeks and everyone was still telling me no, no, no. Now we have an apartment lined up, we have money practically falling out of the sky from various places, such that we might actually make budget (fingers crossed). We have an incredible and supportive midwife lined up and this whole adventure ahead of us. It was one of those days that I can just imagine a baby sliding from my body.

Then in the evening I had one of those terrifying times where it seems impossible that that could actually happen. The really bloody reality with tears, and water everywhere, and pulsing cord and in an apartment? Really? I read this very reassuring article on the infrequency of uterine rupture and, somehow, it made me feel terrified of rupturing, which is not something I've really experienced in the past. By the most absolutely horrifying single study ever done based on people with a whole mess of c-sections, the incidence is 8%. Generally it's more like 1.5 or 3 or something, but there is this one study. And I was trying to reassure myself, like, ok, even if it was 8 - that means there is a 92% chance that your uterus will be just damned fine. Those are certainly "betting odds", and definitely competetive with the risks associated with a 5th cesarean, for me. Not to mention that 8 includes use of pitocin induction and augmentation, which increase rates of rupture and I won't be having, and includes harmless, minor scar separation - not just catastrophic rupture, which is way rarer.

I guess the bottom line is I prayed like crazy, for months. I felt called in a certain direction, even when it wasn't what I wanted, or what seemed possible. I had faith and tried to trust. And a whole lot of stuff has been provided. Now it's time to leap from the cliff, trusting that I'll be caught by loving hands and not, you know, plummet to the rocks below.

I was trying to explain various things to my sister, on the phone. That people (my mother in law, people Grant works with) don't seem to understand that I DO understand there are risks involved with a natural homebirth. There are just also major risks involved with a 5th surgery. That's what THEY don't understand. That everything has risks here. Being pregnant at all for me is probably highly "inadvisable" at this point in time. But here I am. And so I have to make some choices, and they come down to how I want to live my life, if that makes any sense. What I think is best for me as a mortal human being, as a mother, what's best for this baby, what's best for us as a family, all of it. I want my daughter to see this as the norm, I want her to not go through the trauma of me dissapearing from the house for 3-4 days. I want to hold my baby as soon as she's born and not even have to bring her home with me, because we're already there (let alone leave her in an NICU somewhere for hospital related complications).

Anyway...I don't even know if I'm making sense. My brain is fried. I crammed several more chapters of one textbook into my head, so I could take a test, and another chapter of another book, so I could submit an assignment online, today. And I brainstormed and came up with slings and sewed them, before we leave, and got all our hygenic and homeschooling crap packed, and some of my stuff, and helped Grant a little with cleaning up and washed diapers and responded to PATH emails and the day has just been endless. Nobody is getting enough from me, me in particular. There are so many things other than this that I should be doing. It will be such a relief to just be on our way.


DAMA - If you could email me your phone number? And address, I suppose :p

Date: 2007-03-28 08:21 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] florassecret.livejournal.com
damn, dman...
wow, you're going..
I am wishing you all the best.
have fun and we can't wait to hear the good news.
take care.

Date: 2007-03-28 10:20 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] custard-kisses.livejournal.com
The day has finally arrived! How very exciting :)
All the best for the journey Tina, I know you can do this and I'm so excited for you. You'll keep in touch right? Still update and stuff?

Date: 2007-03-28 11:46 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] hollyann.livejournal.com
good luck with your trip and birth and everything!

Date: 2007-03-28 12:14 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] mommydama.livejournal.com
I e-mailed you.

Date: 2007-03-28 12:25 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] forgetfulmuse.livejournal.com
Absolutely amazing. This is getting exciting! Good luck, Tina - I'll be thinking of you. :)

Date: 2007-03-28 01:11 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] http://users.livejournal.com/_delphiki_/
I had a c-section and I want a homebirth when I have another. I admire you more than I could ever ever tell you. I can't wait to read your birth story and see another beautiful baby of yours (and Grant's).

Date: 2007-03-28 03:50 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] moonfisher.livejournal.com
You and your family are in my prayers.

Date: 2007-03-28 03:53 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] erinmdmd.livejournal.com
I'm so excited for you. You know that yu are in my thoughts and prayers.

Date: 2007-03-28 04:03 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] bicrim.livejournal.com
All of my prayers are with you.

Date: 2007-03-28 04:08 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] heavynleigh.livejournal.com
Hopefully you guys are on the road by now. Have a safe drive!

I think you're going to do wonderfully! Keep us updated! I'll light a labor candle for you when you go into labor and I won't put it out until you give birth to your daughter. I'm sure she's going to be beautiful, just like her mama! I'm sending all kinds of good vibes your way. You can so do this.

Date: 2007-03-28 05:39 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] ariellejuliana.livejournal.com
PLEASE find a way to update! Or, even just call Dama and have her update if you need to!

Do you remember that Prayer for Childbirth I sent you WAY back when you were in labor with Jake? I hardly knew you then - I think it was when you were afraid you would go into active labor during a hurricane. I can't believe it's time for another one! I'll try and say it every day until you deliver your baby girl.

I had Eden tucked into her Moby-style wrap all morning, as she slept peacefully with her little hand on my chest while we wandered around the cute part of Durham and everyone stopped to ooh and aah over her. It made me think of you and how you're going to have your own little swetheart with you soon :)

Date: 2007-03-28 07:48 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] brighidh.livejournal.com
I've done this several times. It _is_ a leap of faith and you must listen to your heart and be true to your instincts, yourself, what it is you're hearing in that very spiritual, very primal part of your mind. Do these things and you will navigate any storm.... Good luck. *hugs*

Date: 2007-03-28 09:00 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] psyko-kitty.livejournal.com
Will there be updates over the next few weeks (will you have internet access)? Oh, I do hope so. I am so excited for you. I'm praying for you. I also was chatting with my midwife about you yesterday (she runs our local ICAN chapter) and she said that she will pray for you as well.

in which I sound like a greeting card

Date: 2007-03-29 11:28 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] lost-almost.livejournal.com
I wish you a stress-free journey, a less tyrannical Isaac, interesting sight-seeing, a happy labor and a successful birth.

Date: 2007-03-31 12:32 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] noelove.livejournal.com
can you take my number with you too? I'd love for the first time we talk be you telling me about your girl. :)

805-252-2627

Date: 2007-03-31 12:33 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] noelove.livejournal.com
oh and of course. I pray for you. I pray that you have peace, and are surrounded by love. I pray that the Lord will hold you in His heart and give you confidence in yourself and the body that He gave you.

Date: 2007-03-31 03:06 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] andshedied.livejournal.com
I hope the trip went smoothly and that the rest of your journey is exactly what you need.
You can do this!

Date: 2007-03-31 03:32 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] the-waker.livejournal.com
I'm so excited for you. I totally flaked and Randy closed out an IM where you were talking about coming here on the way home? Hun, we're literally 3 MINUTES from 95. :D You have my phone number right? Call me. My thoughts, prayers and love are with you all!!!

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