I am 5 days postpartum and have been trying to write this post ever since I got home: Pepper’s birth story. Currently I have one kid strapped to my chest, one kid plugged into the TV, and one kid corralled in a Pack N’ Play. Pretty much, if this post is going to happen, I am just going to have to make it happen.

We arrived at Woman’s Hospital at 5:00 a.m. on June 7, 2013 for my scheduled induction. I was a nervous wreck, but the hospital was quiet — peaceful, even — and that became the theme of the day. Tranquility. The birth of my third child was the most tranquil birth experience I could have hoped for.

My “birth experience” is kind of a blur, probably because I was so deep in my safe place. Like, deep. When I find myself in situations like childbirth, I check out. I couldn’t read, I couldn’t watch TV, I couldn’t hold a normal conversation. All I could do was sit and wait for the inevitable to happen and try not to freak the freak out. When I was in labor with Maverick in 2008, my nurse called me “stoic,” but actually, I’m just a check-outer. So on Friday, I literally spaced out for 7 hours and tried not to throw up.

The whole experience was just weird, but if you want details, I’ll give them to you: I was 3 centimeters dilated when we arrived that morning. By 6:30, I was hooked up to antibiotics for Group B Strep and the pitocin drip was on. By 9:30 I was ready for the epidural, because OMG … pitocin contractions are no joke. NO. JOKE.

By 10:30, the full round of antibiotics was complete and Dr. Boudreaux said it was fine to have the baby now, so they kicked the pitocin up again. At 1:00 I started to feel pressure, like a baby was literally about to fall out of my vagina and into the hospital bed, and at 1:35 p.m. after three pushes, my daughter was born.

May I introduce to you … Penelope Rose Hobbs. Our 7 pound, 6 ounce miracle.

Getting her first bath.

Her arrival into the world was peaceful, and she is just the sweetest baby. Penelope means “weaver of dreams,” and it fits her perfectly. She is so alert and calm, the nurses kept commenting on it. I hope she keeps it up, because I’m liking her disposition a lot.

Really looking at each other for the first time.

Mama and baby.

Daddy is over the MOON.

I spent my time at the hospital RESTING. I think I got more rest during my stay there than I have in months. My recovery has been a breeze — I only had to take one Percocet after she was born, and other than that, just Motrin and Tylenol. I kept thinking to myself, “this has been so easy.” Then we came home and the boys have been awesome. I feel like I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop, for real life to kick in, for my uterus to fall out … SOMETHING.

But so far, life has blessed us beyond what I can put into words. Right now, I have everything.
 

Back to the older brothers. People keep asking how they are adjusting, and so far, it’s kind of scary how well they’ve done. Asher points at her and says “Pepper!” and tries to bring me things when she is crying. Maverick is my big helper — he has deemed himself Protector of Pepper and is taking that role very seriously. 

I am so proud of my boys, and so proud of my daughter, and even though I know the next few months are going to be tough …

It’s worth it.

She has dimples!

First trip to the pediatrician was SUCH a snooze fest.

Beautiful gift from my mother-in-law on the day of Pepper’s birth.