weekend update

[gilana]

I spent shabbos over at the Hawke's, since hawkegirl was planning to do castor oil to try to get the baby going, and I didn't want to have to ride in a car on shabbos to yet another of her births. :) It was nice to have a chance to hang out with everyone and meet purpleminute, but I felt really bad that hawkegirl suffered through the castor oil with no labor.



Went home Saturday night and went to bed early, just in case. Which turned out to be a good idea, because at 5:44 am the phone that I had left next to my bed rang and a voice said, "I'm in labor!" Called miss_chance who miraculously answered instantly and alertly, and showed up minutes later to take me to the birth. She even stopped for coffee, which I'm convinced is all that got me through the day.

When I first got to the house, only hawkegirl and the midwife were up, but pretty soon sandhawke and the kids woke up, roozle and talia and then purpleminute and rosiewoodboat arrived, and the curtain went up on the three ring circus.

Most of the day was spent trying to keep the kids occupied, quiet, and out of the way. They seemed mostly fine with the birth activity; Boudicca and Gregorian had a few questions, but I was able to answer them in ways that seemed to help them feel ok.

This is the first time I've really spent any extended time with Boudicca, and it was good to get to know her better. She's really sweet, but VERY strong willed. It was interesting learning how to deal with her without getting into a battle of the wills, which I'm sure she'd win. Tiring, but rewarding.

Just after lunch we got the word to be ready to come up soon. When the call came, we grabbed the kids, hustled up to the bathroom, and managed to fit all 10 of us around the bathtub in time to see Cassia make her entrance into the world. There just aren't words for the emotions of that moment -- I'm tearing up just thinking about it.


Welcome to the world, Cassia Aowyn. You couldn't have picked a better family.

And congratulations to hawkegirl who NEVER HAS TO DO THAT AGAIN!