She happened.
Quite seriously, I thought I’d be pregnant for the rest of my life.
It didn’t matter that the due date wasn’t here yet.
I just was this crankyuncomfortable baby-house, lumbering up stairs, halfheartedly considering Christmas, signing heavily.
So Saturday afternoon, when the contractions started coming every four minutes, I was eager to make my dash to the hospital. But at only two centimeters, they sent me home. The labor and delivery floor was crowded with other babies and they weren’t sure I was ready for a room.
Even though every four minutes I’d have to stop what I was doing so I could get through another contraction, James and I still thought we still might make our dinner reservations at Tra Vigne.
See, my parents came to visit from Wisconsin this weekend and free babysitting was a bonus.
But later Saturday night, (early Sunday morning, December 6) we could no longer ignore the glorious signals coming from my uterus
“Pay attention! You’re having a baby!”
We made it to the labor and delivery ward, I had a contraction on the spot where their doorbell was, so at one am, I set off the doorbell.
Over, and over again.
For an entire two minutes.
(I was pretty involved in the birthing process, so I didn’t notice.)
The nurse, the doctor, the husband and the sister all circled up as I went from a joking winker to a grunting animal in two short hours. I did it again without drugs. I did it the old-fashioned way.
More grunting,
swaying,
hollering,
going outside myself and
just a little bit of panic and
I pushed her out at three am.
Upon her emergence, my sister yelled, “It’s a boy!” and I was so high from hormones and the effort of pushing out a life, that sounded just fine to me.
The doctor kindly remarked, “Please reconsider.”
Clare reconsidered.
The yells of “It’s a girl!” caused hugs and high fives all around.
And just like that, we had a baby girl.
A sister.
Dorothy “Dottie” Jane Hearn.
7 pounds, 14 ounces, 19.5 inches long.
She’s named after my mom’s sister Dorothy (the infamous Aunt Pat, the lounge singer from Miami), my mom’s sister Jane and my dad’s sister Dorothy.
Family all around.
One dimple on her right cheek like her sister,
her hair is a crazy mass of blonde, red and brunette,
her face is still a little beaten up due to her speedy ejection from my body,
we’re still getting to know her.
We’re having a lot of fun getting to know her.
She’s hiccuping here next to me in her clear plastic box.
We slept for six hours in a row last night.
As a luxurious bonus, my parents are still babysitting Nora Lea.
What a load off my brain that is — what a special holiday gift.
Dottie is a very polite girl, to have arrived when she did.
She got to meet her grandparents yesterday.
She can’t wait to meet her many friends.
Due to the H1N1, no one under 16 who is not a patient is not allowed into the hospital.
So I’ve had some alone time here with Dottie.
I’ll let you know about the awesome that is introducing one’s 17 month old to a newborn.
In the meantime, I have some cuddling to do.
Tags: "dottie hearn" "birth story" "happy happy happy"
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Congratulations, Helen Jane!
Yay! Congrats, she is beautiful.
Hooray! She’s beauteous.
Congratulations Hearns! I love her name as well.
Congrats! She’s adorable! And no drugs? You’re a rock star, seriously.
P.S. Also, Tra Vigne? YUM. I nearly died upon the sheer mention of that glorious restaurant! I need to go back!
Oh my. Dinner at Tra Vigne AND a new baby! You hit the jackpot this weekend!
LOVE the name (Dorothy was my beloved grandmother’s name, too.) She’s adorable. Congrats to all.
Yay! Congrats to you all! And, cuddle up
Yay! Congratulations!
Congratulations, Hearn family. You’re a fearsome foursome now (minus the four legged children). Yay!
Congratulations! Wonderful news. I love the name – of course, I love both of your daughters’ names (my daughter’s name is Jane Norah, after all).
Congratulations! What a cutie.
Very, very sweet.
She’s beautiful. Congratulations on the newest addition to your lovely family. <3
What a great story. You’re a warrior.
You are AMAZING, she is beautiful and hooray for little girls. I am so happy for you all. Cuddle for me as well. I miss me some baby girl and I bet Dottie is delicious.
Congratulations! I am surely biased, but sisters really are the best.
Congratulations!! She is gorgeous. Enjoy your precious new wee one & introducing her to Nora Lea.
congratulations! i did it the old-fashioned way too, back in october. what an accomplishment! hope you are all doing well and are happy as clams.
She’s a beauty. Can’t wait to see the multi-colored hair! Congratulations…
So happy for you – enjoy, and congratulations!
Yay! She is beautiful.
Mashallah!
BIG hugs and congratulations to you and your family, mama!
Yea for the new addition to the Hearn family and for Helen getting to let go of her big belly!!! Congratulations! I miss you all a lot….extra hugs and kisses to Nora Lea.
Dear helejane and James, So happy to hear about your new baby girl, Dorothy Jane. Talked to her Uncle Paul today and she just missed coming into the world on his birthday by 3 hours! Maybe next time! If she had come on December 6, you would have had to name her Paula Jane! We are so happy for you and Norah Lea. You are so blessed to have your beautiful family. How wonderful that that your parents were there too, helenjane! Congratulations to you all. Have a happy Christmas together. Take good care of each other.
Love, Liz and Robert Rack
she’s beautiful…your writing is beautiful…you and your family are beautiful…i so wish you all lived closer…no, i so wish i lived in california where i wouldn’t be up to my neck in snow! lots of love to the four of you! annie
Congrats! Welcome to the world Dottie!
I am so happy for you! I wandered from facebook to your page to find out if you had that little baby. And you did! Blessings and all to you and yours.