Baby Silas

Last Monday we welcomed our third Cr*ven baby into the world. Mom took me to the Doctor at 10am and then we went straight over to the hospital. Once there they quickly (not quickly enough) hooked me up to the IV and dosed me with beloved Stadol. Celia, Paige and Dx showed up bearing food that I was starving for but was not allowed to eat. My favorite: Boudin sandwiches and Jamba Juice. Mom was grateful to be relieved and hurried home to watch my "big" kids. Pam doesn't stay for births because she doesn't like watching her daughters in pain and feeling helpless. I had plenty of doulas though Ellie was missed because she was in Utah visiting her other family.

Yes, I wear makeup while I'm in labor. I'm going to be looking at these pictures for the rest of my life, I better look presentable.

The epidural (and pitocin) came next but only worked on ONE SIDE. It made me so mad. I'd had a bad epidural situation last year with Jude requiring a second one right before delivery. This one numbed me from my armpit to my toes on one side with little pain relief on the other. Once again I had to coax the stinking anesthesiologist to give me more drugs, all the while freaking out because "I can feel this and it hurts!!" I went from a three to a ten in about an hour or less. My sisters and the nurse kept me entertained discussing Elin Woods' predicament. Angie was a great nurse. I know the staff over there by name, they recognize me when I come in.

Paige and Celia: Labor coaches / drug advocates. Also the sisters who chat with the doctor and giggle while I'm pushing out the baby. Hello! Pay attention! I'm giving birth!

Born at 38 weeks, Silas is my smallest baby. 7.12 is little for me!

Finally they rolled me onto my back and viola! The epidural worked! Actually it worked a little too well, I couldn't feel anything at all, not even whether I was pushing or not. I just pretended to push and didn't tell anybody that I had no clue what was going on. I just made a pushing face. Apparently that worked because out came the baby in about 10 minutes. Who are these women who have to push push push for two or three hours? That would be awful. I'm really lucky I'm built like some kind of brood mare.

Video of Celia pushing out my baby. Hilarious. She is available for your next birth if you need help pushing.

Out comes baby and he is covered in vernix. He was the quietest newborn I've ever heard and still is. He was breathing just fine but never bothered to let out a big old wail. He was silent. I'm sure he'll find his voice soon, right now we're just enjoying the little squeaks.

Proud parents with baby Silas

The whole family came pouring in (Phil and Aub bringing a replacement Boudin sandwich). Sadly, no children under 16 were allowed in the hospital because of H1N1 so Mimi and Jude didn't get to meet baby until we came home.

Then began the battle of the names.

Before we went into the hospital Dx and I had determined that we really liked Sky. But my whole entire family didn't like it and they voiced that opinion loud and clear. During the birth Celia read from one of our name lists and mentioned Silas. As soon as she said it I knew that was the kid's name but I also knew that Dx was only so-so on it. I like that Si sounds like Sky and that Silas sounds like Silence, though it means Saver. For those of you who've forgotten, Silas was one of Paul's missionary companions in the NT. I wanted to use Dx as a middle name because we like that name and who knows if we'll ever have another boy.(ps, and in case you didn't know, there is an A between D and X, but I don't write it on my blog because I try to give Dx some internet privacy in case one of his clients google him and find me) Silas Dx sounds euphonious.

Dx came to the hospital the following day and added about ten more new names into the mix, resulting in the strangest list you've ever seen. Everything from Romeo to Isaiah to Cruz to Ulysses was suggested. It was funny to me because I'd already named the baby and had been calling him that from hour 1. I wanted Dx to feel like he'd come to the decision on his own, so when he suggested Dx Silas I jumped at it and quickly signed the papers. Dx tried to call him Dx, but he felt like he was speaking in the third person and switched over to Silas. Name victory!

Silas is an easy newborn thus far. He sleeps, nurses and poops. Sometimes he opens his eyes and looks around. Nursing is hard because I always have trouble getting babies to latch on, but once he's on he's a good eater. He has the cutest little parts, I spend the day eating him up.

My favorite part of this new baby is watching how Mimi and Jude interact with him. They are both in love. Jude was disinterested at first, but now he's very concerned and likes to check on the baby and practice saying his name. Mimi (despite her horrible cold that is giving me panic attacks) loves to cuddle him and watch him nurse.

Jude and Silas. 16 months and three days, respectively.

Mimi (2 years 10 months) and her new baby.

I'm very grateful for everybody who has been helping me with the children. The college kids were in town so they entertained Mimi and Jude and made my life a lot easier. Pam has been giving me plenty of sleeping time and in return I make sure she gets adequate newborn cuddle time. It's a symbiotic relationship. Everybody around here has been taking my kids, bathing them, feeding them, putting them to bed and otherwise being unbelievably helpful. I am eternally grateful.

And, for your entertainment, a video of Mimi meeting her baby for the first time. The unintelligible word near the end is "trampoline."