Friday, November 1, 2013

pins & needles

Last night, after we finished folding the last of the teeny preemie clothes and I'd paid every single bill and spent a little while giving our budget the stink eye, we settled back to watch some football. Well, that's a lie. Matt watched football. I gawked over some ridiculous high chairs on Amazon (don't worry, they hold up to THREE HUNDRED POUNDS!! You know, in case your baby is AN ELEPHANT).

It was about 8:45 p.m. My phone rang. It was a number I didn't know. I answered.

It was our birth mom's mother. She wanted to let us know that they had just arrived at the hospital. We just want to have her checked. We're not sure if they'll send us home or let us stay, but the contractions have stayed steady at every five minutes, so we just wanted them to take a look at her. Don't start driving yet-- we'll call you back once we know something!

CUE FREAKOUT.

We frantically throw our last-minute stuff (toiletries, snacks, extra outfits in case there's a major climate change in the next few days (ALWAYS BE PREPARED, that's my motto!)) into our suitcase and the car. We call our parents. We wait.

Around 9:30, she calls back. She's dilated to 2cm, but they aren't sure if they're going to admit her or not. They're going to check her again in an hour. Just sit tight, we'll let you know!

"Um, I just think we're going to start driving, okay? Because...we're kind of far away...and last time her entire labor was only 7 hours and this is her second and it could be even faster and I AM GOING INSANE SITTING HERE WAITING, I WOULD RATHER BE DRIVING!!!"

They very kindly convinced me that I should be less crazy and just WAIT.

Wait? Wait? Like I haven't been waiting my whole life for this already? ANOTHER HOUR OF WAITING MIGHT KILL ME.

More frantic texting with parents, dog sitters, and I packed a few more alternate outfits. Just in case. It's hot in the South, you know? But there could also be a cold front. Or it might rain? Weather can be unpredictable. And hospitals are cold! And what else am I supposed to be doing while I wait to find out if we're going to meet our daughter tonight or not?!?!

We vacuumed. Twice. We repeatedly checked Google Maps to make sure we knew where we were going. We put our stuff in the car. Our next-door-neighbor came over and we frantically analyzed our birth mom's 'labor signs,' our car seat installation, and the relationships between our vagabond outdoor cats and their neighborhood friends.

At 11:30 our birth mom finally calls back. They sent me home. It won't be tonight. It'll probably be this weekend. Get some sleep, I'll call you tomorrow.

"Ooooh...dangit. Yeah. You get some sleep too. Or not. Get some contractions, actually. Get some dilation. Go take a five mile walk."

I didn't actually say all that. I'm not THAT much of a jerk. ;) 

I texted back our parents, dog sitter, and lawyer. Not tonight. Go sleep.

Guess how much I slept.

I'm at work now, but for how long?! We re-packed our bags this morning. Everything's in the car. I guess we've moved to the pattern where we will gladly pack/unpack our stuff every morning and evening if it means that the next time the call comes, we can drop everything and leave RIGHT THEN. 

Let's take a vote. (No time for a legit survey, sorry!) Would you think Matt and I are crazy if we just go ahead and drive to the town where the baby will be delivered tonight? Even if she's not in labor? We could just get a hotel and like...get to know the town...?? AND BE ONLY FIVE MINUTES AWAY FROM THE HOSPITAL. It's a serious consideration right now.

Sooo freeeaking antsy right now.

Just wanted to keep you updated.

Oh- yesterday several of you asked whether the situation with the birth father has had any resolution. To my knowledge, it has not. As I mentioned before, there is nothing he can do one way or the other until after the baby is born. Last I heard (from our lawyers) they had been unable to contact him for several days (and this was a few weeks ago), so I have no idea what his thinking is right now. There's nothing we can do about it anyway. We are moving forward with excitement and the full support of our birth mom and her mother, whom I spoke with several times last night and think I am really going to love once I meet her in person. I am so excited to be gaining all of this new family so that we can all love this baby together. Now all she has to do is be born... COME ON BABY GIRL!!!

PS. You know how I love making fun of people moaning about Daylight Savings Time #worstthingever ?? GO READ THIS BLOG. It is freaking hilarious. The Real Reason We Observe Daylight Savings Time: To Kill Parents.




35 comments:

  1. Come on Ellison!!!!! :) I'm in favor of going to the town tonight!! I will now be on pins and needles this weekend waiting for the confirmation :)

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  2. i totally don't think that it's weird. it's like a mini vacation that just happens to make you super prepared for baby Ellison. :] I can't wait to hear about it when she finally arrives and will be praying about the situation with the birth father.

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  3. I think I would have already been there so I don't think it's crazy at all to head that way!! This is so exciting, can't wait for ya'll to have sweet Ellison in your arms!!

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  4. Bahhh! If she's born before the time change, I might laugh my face off!

    But seriously, leave... work today because you're there, and it's one more day you'll get with her once she's actually here... but after work? Get your booty down there! You will be much safer drivers if you aren't worried about missing the birth! (See what I did there? I made it seem like the responsible thing to do)

    Go meet your daughter!

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  5. Hahahahahahaha "Take a 5-mile walk!" Love it. Seriously, though. This is so very exciting! Can't wait for baby girl to make her arrival. :)

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  6. Soooooo excited for you!!! Come on, baby girl!!!!! (Please excuse the overuse of exclamation points--I kind of think this post deserves them!)

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  7. Yay Ellison!!!! Time to make your debut!!!!.....and no, it isn't strange that you go down there tonight. Creepy, maybe only a little, but totally legit. Who wants to start driving and possibly miss it all?Go girl, go!

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  8. wow wow!!! You are going to be a mom in minutes!!!!! I vote you go to the town where she is. Can't wait, So pumped for you Erika. I love how God is writing your story! yahooo

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  9. I would also go to the town. Just be prepared to have to leave on Sunday without Ellison being born yet. But you know you likely wouldn't get anything productive done around your place this weekend anyway, so just go. Make a mini vacation out of it and have fun!

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  10. Okay, does that high chair seriously advertise that it's adjustable for your child from "6 months to ADULTHOOD!?!?!"

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  11. Holy excitement Batman! You had my heart racing that entire post!

    My guess is November 3rd! Sunday sounds like a good day for a baby girl! Let's go Ellison! ��

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  12. AAAGGHHHHH!!! So excited!!! Go get that hotel! You're going to be antsy so you might as well be antsy and really close to the action! :) Seems like it would be harder to drive if you knew she was in labor, so you may as well start driving before labor really starts. How nice of her to make it the weekend for you. :)

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  13. Ahh! I would TOTALLY drive out (up? down?) there and stay in a hotel! :) So exciting soon to be, mama!

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  14. I would totally drive down! Even if I had to drive home again before she was born. Hey - It will give you something to do, pass the time and keep you sane. ( a little more sane )

    SOOOOOO FREAKING EXCITING!!!

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  15. Holy cow! My heart is racing after reading this...I cannot even imagine how excited YOU guys are if this has ME so amped up! THIS WEEKEND?!? Wow, wow...this is awesome!!

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  16. I legitimately dreamed about reading your blog post with you holding that baby! So excited!

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  17. I read this post so fast. That was some adrenaline- induced reading on my part! I'm excited for you! I would totally drive there to be closer too- not crazy at all! We're on pins and needles, so I can't imagine how excited you are! Can't wait!

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  18. So exciting!!! For what it's worth (considering that you don't know me at all and I'm only your internet lurker!), I'd drive there tonight and stay in a hotel for the weekend. Being at home is going to drive you crazy - not to mention all that vacuuming is going to be bad for your carpets!

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  19. Definitely go tonight! How exciting!!

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  20. I would definitely go tonight so you will be ready. At least it will give you something to do while you wait :) can't wait!!!!!

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  21. So, so exciting!! I'd make the drive and be there...not a crazy move at all. Can't wait for an update!

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  22. AHHHH!!!! So exciting! And the general consensus seems to be... GO! I don't think you'd regret it for one minute going ahead and making the trip. Sleep will probably be next to impossible, but at least might be a little more achievable if you know you're super close to the hospital. Praying for you during this exciting time!!

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  23. Sooo exciting! This makes me want to work specifically with birthmother adoptions again!!! :)

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  24. SO EXCITING!!!! You're having a BABY!! :)

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  25. So excited for you!!!! And I may be partial, but November 2nd is an awesome day to be born (I would know, 31 years ago I made an appearance! Ha!). Many prayers to you all for this awesome experience.

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  26. I say go and have one final "date" weekend as non-parents!

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  27. Ahhhhhhhhhhh I am SO EXCITED RIGHT NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  28. Eeek I really can't believe it's so close!! Can't wait for that little DST baby to arrive!

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  29. Oooh, so exciting!!! I would be with you- drive up now and enjoy some alone time but still be close by!

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  30. So emotional for you and M . . . .oh my. Regardless of where you are have a wonderful weekend.

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  31. I'm with everyone else just go down for your peace of mind. This is so exciting and I look forward to an update soon that has you holding sweet baby girl in your arms.

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  32. I'm reading this 2 days after it was posted...wondering what you guys decided to do (I would have voted drive to the town), and praying everything pans out for you guys! Can't wait to hear little Miss Ellison made her debut!!

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