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Post by Joelle on Aug 16, 2019 13:37:28 GMT -8
(OOC: Have to postdate this because I'm pretty sure I have a newsletter due that week.)
September 10 (later 11), 2019
It is 6 PM and the family has just finished dinner. Celine has been feeling some stomach discomfort over the past few days, but she's read that women with spinal injuries T6 and above sometimes don't feel the first stages of labor and may experience some different symptoms than other women- but Celine's back is starting to hurt, a symptom probably common to most labors. Her scalp has been tingling too, though, an unusual symptom she has been told she might expect. She has felt a little clingy lately, which she supposes is related to the possibility of being alone when labor starts. It will be the next day before the baby comes, most likely- she already knows this. But she senses that something is beginning.
She doesn't want to frighten the kids, but she does need to lie down. She's already had her nap today, and is starting to be in enough discomfort not to sleep again, but she's tensing and she knows it, and being in her wheelchair seems to make it worse. She won't be able to make it to her room alone because the tension she feels in her back and shoulders is starting to hurt. She already knows the pain may become what she considers unbearable more quickly because she won't physically be able to get in as many positions during labor to relieve it- but it's not unbearable yet.
"Theo, could you help me, please? I need to lie down."
Finn jumps to his feet, making the silverware clang against the plates as he leaves the table. "Do you want Verity and me to get Aunt Trishelle?"
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Post by MarieEliz (Mayor) on Aug 22, 2019 9:45:33 GMT -8
Theo's heart starts to race but he keeps a straight face. He helps his wife to the bedroom. "Can you tell me what's happening?"
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Post by Joelle on Aug 22, 2019 10:34:12 GMT -8
"It just hurts..." She tries to face him, the way she had at their wedding, reaching out for his hands. She is slightly pale. "I feel...tense, in my back and shoulders, and have some stomach discomfort." She startles a bit and squeezes his hands as the pain of whatever is happening starts to take her breath away. "When it really hurts..." she says when it has passed,"I feel like I can't breathe. No water breaking...yet. But... feel the tightening at the top of my belly." He will be able to feel that much of it. "My scalp is also tingling like crazy- they said that might be a sign of labor, too."
Finn knocks on the bedroom door, concerned when he hears what he thinks is his mom struggling to breathe. He has decided he wants to watch when the baby is born, but he's also always been unusually sensitive to people's distress. "Is this when we call 911, Daddy?" He's trying to be brave. However, Celine hears the note of concern in his voice.
Celine manages a proud smile. "Our sensitive boy, like your father. And you." They have raised their children well. She always knows it, but times like this are some of the strongest proof.This is the first contraction Celine has honestly felt, though who knows, because of her spinal injury? There could have been more before it, but probably not.
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Post by MarieEliz (Mayor) on Aug 22, 2019 21:04:56 GMT -8
"Mommymommymommymommy," Verity whines as she enters the room. Younger and cut from a different cloth, Verity is not so concerned with everyone else. "I'm huuuuuunnnnggggrrrrryyyyy."
Theo holds his wife and rubs her back. He felt no apprehension about this day's imminence, but now he feels lost. He never was in this particular position before. He delivered his brother, yes, and he witnessed his children's births and several of his siblings' but he was never the comforter. He wasn't the doula. Even with Tanner, he only did what his mother told him.
"Finn, let's call 911 first, then call Auntie Trish. Then please make your sister a peanut butter sandwich. I'm counting on you, bud. Let's be men today. "
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Post by Joelle on Aug 23, 2019 6:43:02 GMT -8
Despite her pain and tension, Celine's eyes are laughing. "We just had dinner, Verity. I think you want dessert. And I don't think we need to call 911. I mean- that's what the birthing center is for, this time. The baby will be born there, unless things go differently. If they need to call 911 for the hospital, they will, but I don't need to go there." Yet, she thinks to herself. She is aware that this birth may not go as planned, however, she's trying to be positive.
"Call Auntie Trish, then tell her to call Grandma Robin and Grandma Fiona. Aunt Claire and Aunt Amy are both working late." Celine is well aware that the call to her own mother will be bittersweet- it always is, when a child of hers is in labor, when Fiona had never given birth herself. But she'd been there with Claire when Lindsay was born.
Suddenly, there is a knock at the front door, and Celine startles again- not from a contraction this time. They hadn't been expecting anyone, or at least not that she remembers.
Finn feels a little bit like he is watching this happen from outside his own body. "Okay. Then should Verity and I go stay there after we call Auntie Trish?" He means should they go to 7 Ravine Court, where some of Theo's siblings live.
Celine is grateful some of their family lives close enough to them to come quickly if needed, but she feels like there's someone she's been forgetting. "We might need to call Uncle Tyce and Aunt Cassie too- in case things don't go as planned. Aunt Aislara will be there since she's the midwife's assistant, but she's never seen one of her sisters have a baby before. I know she's nervous- especially because it's me."
Celine is trying to think of others in spite of trying to remember how to keep breathing. "In case I don't get to tell you guys later, I love you."
Before she is consumed by another contraction, her last coherent thought is that her heart is breaking because Finn looks so bewildered. She's also worried about Verity, because she doesn't want to scare her, either. She grits her teeth, even though they told her not to in childbirth class. They said it could cause a headache- which it is- but it's the only way she knows not to scream or moan, other than biting her lip until it bleeds, which she doesn't want to do.
If she were to tell Theo anything she thinks would help, it would be that he's doing exactly what she needs him to right now and to stay close. That Aislara's article about a partner's touch relieving pain- somewhat, anyway- is right. Even- if he wants to know- that she was just days away from being seventeen when Lindsay was born. Even though Dawn and Amy were the other sisters who had given birth, Celine and Carmen were the ones Claire had wanted with her, perhaps due to their shared faith in Christ. This is how she is somehow able to be calm in between contractions. The pain is intense and frightens her because it is intense, but when not in pain, she's excited.
The problem is, she's in too much pain to be able to tell him.
Finn doesn't know what 'in case things don't go as planned' means. But he isn't sure he wants to find out. "I'm gonna get the door first. Maybe they can help." He takes a deep breath before he leaves. He sure hopes someone can help. "Do you want to come with me, Verity?" he asks.
The knock at the door comes again. When Finn gets there, he finds that the person who has been knocking is...
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Post by MarieEliz (Mayor) on Aug 24, 2019 17:24:40 GMT -8
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Post by Joelle on Aug 24, 2019 18:27:48 GMT -8
(OOC: Bahaha! That's great.  ) While Finn was on the phone with Trishelle, Celine's water had broken- well, sort of. Sort of meaning not a full break- more like a trickle. "Yes, we should go. It'll be uncomfortable in the chair, but...I'll try to sit if I can." She smiles way more bravely than she feels. "Just remember, Theo, two words. Abide and bouquet- for when it's the absolute worst and I need help remembering how to breathe." Finn takes a deep breath, trying to think of something to distract both himself and his mom. "At the door were some Mormons. Verity told them we already know Jesus and that the baby was coming so you couldn't come to the door, so they left." Celine is nervous- the pain is building again. But she wants to laugh.
"Then I called Auntie Trish like you said and told her to call Grandma Robin and Grandma Fiona. to come to the center. I think she may come over though- 'cause you need help with the chair, but also 'cause I got scared a little. I didn't mean to, though. Did I do okay?" Finn asks Theo. He only wants to help, but he feels overwhelmed, even if he doesn't know that word yet.
Celine isn't sure how long it has been since the last contraction, though she'd had it when Finn was on the phone, but she needs towels before they leave for the center or the bed and chair will be a mess. The bed sheets can be washed, obviously. but the wheelchair covers can only be wiped.
"Could you and Verity get some towels, please, for the chair? Then we'll go."
"Okay."
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Post by MarieEliz (Mayor) on Aug 25, 2019 16:18:46 GMT -8
"Good man," Theo compliments. "Hon, are you sure we shouldn't have an ambulance take you?"
"Wee ooo!" Verity interjects.
Trishelle bustles into the room, having used her key. She is texting with Robin and Fiona. "What's the plan?" She asks. She actually could deliver this baby herself, if needed, though complications apply here.
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Post by Joelle on Aug 25, 2019 17:05:32 GMT -8
"I don't know," Celine admits."I do know I haven't been in an ambulance since we lost Anastasia and I fainted." She sighs. "Of all the times to be thinking of memories I'd rather not." She's trying to keep her voice steady, but she has a feeling she's going to cry regardless. He's right though, they do need to do something. She does have to smile at Verity's imitation of an ambulance. Celine wishes she had her daughter's seeming excitement over that part.
"I guess we don't always get to choose which fears we face and when," she observes. "You're right, just... it was more than I was prepared for. God help me. Surely I've reached the limit of my human bravery for one day."
Or am I coming to the end of myself? she thinks as another wave of pain overtakes her.
Celine smiles as bravely as she can when Trishelle arrives, though she's aware that she probably looks horrible to Trishelle. Also, the smile is hiding her sadness- to a degree- at the memories riding in an ambulance will no doubt bring. "Um...the plan is Theo and I are waiting on the ambulance. You and the kids get to follow it to the birthing center in the car, with the chair, so that I have it with me. Then either you or my mom can stay with the kids here while...while we're not sure how long this will take. We'll call you when we're sure it's close."
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Post by MarieEliz (Mayor) on Aug 25, 2019 22:04:26 GMT -8
Theo massages her shoulders. He never knows how to help with the loss of their babies. He is definitely sad about it, but he takes comfort in knowing they are with Jesus. Perhaps closure is the right word. Theo feels closure that Celine doesn't seem to have. He hopes this baby will bring her peace instead of opening wounds.
"So we do need to call 911. I texted Tyce and he's on duty today. We need to go through dispatch, though. I'll call. "
He places the call calmly and helps Celine toward the door to wait.
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Post by Joelle on Aug 26, 2019 8:47:09 GMT -8
"Oh praise God!" Celine has a real smile then. She's still not feeling as brave as she'd like, but it won't be so bad with Tyce there, too. "I'm still dreading it- somewhat," she admits after a minute to really think. "But you're right- I couldn't think of another solution. And it may be what I need. The missing piece- to find..." Unknowingly, she uses the word he had been thinking of. "Closure. That was a painful memory to look back on. This will be an exciting one."
When the ambulance arrives...
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Post by MarieEliz (Mayor) on Aug 30, 2019 10:42:31 GMT -8
Theo is comforted to see his older brother. He didn't realize how tense he was becoming until he felt like he could leave it in his brother's hands. The fire truck carrying Tyce arrives first, as standard, but the ambulance is close behind. Lights flash but everyone moves casually. Theo waves easily at the neighbors peeking out their windows and doors with concern. Celine is managing impressively and the ambulance is just a formality for her comfort. Tyce insists the birthing center will help get Celine to her room but he loads Celine's chair into their van for Trishelle to bring later. Finn and Verity kiss their parents and eagerly join their aunt for activities in the house. Theo joins Celine in the ambulance and they prepare to meet their daughter. berkshireglen.freeforums.net/thread/452/little-hummingbird-elizabeth-birth-noble?page=1&scrollTo=18637 |
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2 new BG babies! (for real)
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