WoW Time Flies!!!!

I can't believe my last post was so long ago, that we had just found out that the little bundle we were expecting was a boy.

Well This Saturday 6th Jan at 6:36am after 3hrs of Labour little Cowper Mark Clifford entered the world! I'll share the birth story at the end of the post so those who get a bit EWWW about these things don't have to go there LOL. We are all doing great and just so blessed to have another little one in our life. I just forget each time how much I love that newborn smell and how utterly devoted and in love you and this little person can be with each other right from the first second. Oh and Cowper it's pronounced Cooper, it's a family name and is Old English.

So besides makin' babies what else have we been up to?

- Got through 1 year of Home schooling with great results. The kids and I are loving the work we do together. Both girls got really good reports from the work we submitted and are really excited that this year they are Grade 1 & 2.

- Both Holly & Hannah were awarded all their badges for Girls Brigade and the two of them are just flourishing so much for us having Pine Rivers Uniting Church in our lives. The friendships they have made from Sunday School and Girls brigade have been so good for them & the enthusiasm for God has just blossomed. Mitchell just loves the creche there too.

- Scrap of Faith has just grown into the most beautiful little community of Christian Scrappers. It is just so inspiring to see so many people supporting each other, praying for each other & seeing how God is working in their lives all the time. Also the friends that it has bought into my life are just the most wonderful gifts from our Lord.

- Our business has been going well. At times I would get frustrated that it took me away from being a Mum, but this year because of home schooling we really got our lives structured and Mark has really blossomed by taking on more of the workload I now look at ADS as a blessing not a burden as it allows us to support our family financially and both be at home for our children.

- My Dad retired and he and Mum just today arrived home from a 7 week holiday in the UK. First time overseas for the two of them!!! My Sister & her family are living in the UK till July and are having a great time there so was great for Mum and Dad to see them and tour around. I can't wait to hear all the stories. So much better in person than via emails

- Mum also had a Melanoma scare just 2 weeks before they were due to leave!! She had the op within the week of leaving. A Few worried days there but in a fairly simple op all of the melanoma was removed and they were able to go on the trip as planed. So no more Melanoma but one hell of a talking point on her leg!!

- And we all had chicken pox. Well everyone except Mark. We were a little worried about the pregnancy risk, but with so many wonderful people praying for me and bub we got only a really mild case and the whole thing was over and done with in a week!! So healthy bub & healthy family in time for our holidays!

- We had a fantastic summer holiday at the end of the year. We had a week at Maroochydore and then a few days at Mark's Brother's place at Gympie. They have just moved out to 120acres and the kids just love the wide open spaces. We took Mum & Dad's dachshund with us and he was the best "Farm Dog" out of them all. While at the beach the weather was perfect and was wonderful to have the time together as just us without a care in the world.

So that brings us to Cowper's Arrival so those who don't like birth stories best to tune out now.

COWPER'S BIRTH

Well being number 5 you would think that all fear and doubt would be gone by this one, but no it still hangs around. On Thursday the 4th of Jan (his actual due date) I started to get contractions early in the morning. I did the wander the house, and get active to see if it would grow stronger. In the end I went back to bed, burst out crying and said to Mark that I had no idea why but I was really scared about going into labour this time. Mark asked me if he wanted to pray and he prayed for us. I had also put a post on SoF letting the girls there know my fears and asking for prayers and encouragement. I was given heaps!!!

By the afternoon because it had been on and off all day I called my midwife who suggested that I get the kids taken care of now and not wait till I was fully in labour as I may not give myself time. I rang Kym my sister not thinking that anything would happen, but she too suggested that the kids go to her place and it didn't matter for how long, but that Mark and I could probably do with a little rest before the baby came. So on Thursday night the kids went to my sisters and Mark and I went out for a Mexican Dinner. Jo my midwife rang that night to see how things were and I had had a little more, but it fizzled too.

So come Friday morning and nothing happening over night Mark suggested that it be a good day for a baby as kids were taken care of, we had both had a great nights sleep and EVE was in 24hr down time LOL. So we pottered around together all day and just enjoyed being the two of us sharing the last few days of pre baby together. Come Friday night I had had the whole day with not so much as a niggle so I had decided that if no action come Sat lunch I would rescue the my sister from the kids.

So Friday night after some movie watching we finally go to bed around 11:00pm and just as we're falling asleep the rowdy neighbours crank up a party and their electric guitar playing!!! I finally managed to get to sleep only to wake again at around 2:30am (party still going) I tossed and turned for a while and around 3:30am started getting contractions again. At 4:00am I thought I might try to get it going again, but after Thursdays effort wasn't hoping for much. At 4:15 my waters broke & that is a first for me!! So I woke Mark & rang Jo & she told me to stop talking and come in. So Mark and I made the journey to the hospital without having to worry about dropping kids off etc, just had to get the two of us there. When we arrived at the Birth Centre at 5:00am Jo had the room all set up and ready to go for us and I got straight in the shower.

A little while later Jo came in and said that the Team Leader from Birth Suite had been informed that I had arrived & because it was my 5th birth they were worried about the higher risk of hemorrhage and wanted to put a bung in my hand to allow quick access for fluids just in case. I was really hesitant about it. I felt very covered in prayer and at full peace that God was looking after Cowper and I and no harm would come to us. Jo then explained it all to Mark and he came to me and said he would like it if I had it put in. In the end I said I would have it put in. My only reason for not wanting it was worrying about the "interfering" would slow my labour and make me uncomfortable. But I thought Birth Centre midwife's don't usually push for something unless they feel it warranted.

So finally around 6am I finally start to feel the change from transition to pushing & the doctor to put in the drip access still hadn't arrived. So as per usual with the other boys I couldn't get my head into a space of wanting to push so I tried a few things and ended up collapsing on the bean bag and just resting. I also asked Jo to double check that yes I was fully dilated and all was good. She reassured me it was & it was just up to me to when I feel ready. Well as I'm laying there trying to talk myself into getting the desire to try the doctor comes in to do my needle. I had already gotten up as I was wanting to try getting onto the birth stool again to see if that would help with the pushing desire. So now I'm stuck in a doorway between the bathroom and the birth stool and a doctor is trying to shove a needle in my arm while I'm trying to not go with contractions and hold still for her. First she grabs my right hand and I said "No, in my left please" so she changes hands, gives me a little local then sticks the big needle in. She then takes it out and Jo is gripping onto my hand like nobodies business and I asked "Is it in there?" and she said "No Darl she went right through the vein" I then look over and see the doctor coming at me again with another needle and Jo suggesting she try the big vein in the side of my arm, so I have 2 options stand there and let her have another go or jump on the birth stool and push this kid out. I decided on the second one. I just said "I'm sorry no" jumped on the stool and started pushing. (nothing like a botched needle to get you motivated!!)

So as I started to push I could feel him crowning and Jo urging me to slow down and Mark also urging me to slow it down. The only thing I could think that would stop me going so fast was to put my hands on his head. So for the whole crowning and his head coming out he was in my hands. I then kept them on him for the whole remainder of the delivery feeling his shoulders emerge etc and Jo quickly got him as he came right out and passed him straight up to me. That was the most awesome experience having your baby in your hands the whole way out!!! So at 6:36am little Cowper Mark Clifford arrived into the world safe and sound.

It was then that day as Mark and I were hanging out at the Birth Centre with the little Man that Mark revealed to me that since I came into him crying on the Thursday morning he had been scared out of his wits that something was going to go wrong with this delivery. Hence the wanting me to have the bung put in. But if he hadn't told me that I would never have known, the Thursday & Friday & all through the delivery he was strong and supportive and was there for me 200%. All this from a guy who is honest in saying that being at a Birth is the last place on earth he wants to be the whole thing really grosses him out and even after 5 he can't get used to it. Things we do for love :)

Given all was well with Mum & bub and that I was just desperate to be back with all my kids, Mark and I left the hospital the same day at 6:00pm and headed for home.

So my battle scar from the whole event was a silly swollen hand from the doctor trying to stick me. I now have bruised knuckles like I tried to punch someone LOL. So little Cowper has just been a little darling and this time I'm trying really hard to just be a mummy to a new born and not stress about other things. Will have plenty of time to do that in weeks to come. I have also been really blessed with my sister, Chris & Jac bringing us meals that we haven't had to want for anything this week. I think I can honestly say that from days before to days after baby number 5 has been the dream entry into the world. Praise be to God!! All our prayers answered by our Heavenly Father!!