Before I forget, I want to write down my labor and delivery story so that someday when you ask "How did it happen" we can look back on this together and tell you EXACTLY how it happened.
It was 4:30 am on December 4th 2008 when I woke up to some contractions. I leaned over to your daddy and said "I think you should time these". I hadn't slept well that night and was having dreams about a television show I watched frequently while being pregnant with you "Jon & Kate + 8". I'm convinced my contractions started earlier that night and that's why I wasn't sleeping as soundly as normal. So yes, 4:30 am I'm up and daddy begins to time the contractions. The contractions were lasting about a minute and were seven minutes apart. Daddy and I looked into each others eyes and knew "this was it!!" we were going to have our little baby today! It took everything in me not to call everyone and let them know "that labor had officially begun". Daddy and I decided we'd wait until 6am to call your grandparents since they'd be up and getting ready for what they thought was going to be a "normal" work day! Daddy and I practiced keeping me relaxed through each contraction and I tried to sip on some water and eat a little so that I could keep up my energy. The contractions were hard, but I tried to rest since I could only imagine this was going to take some time (boy was I right!!)
6 am on the dot, we made our first phone call to your Grandpa and Marmee Marshall. I kind of expected they'd take off right away to come down, but Marmee said why don't you call us when you decide to head to the hospital. We then called Opah and Grandma Stube to share the news. Both sets of grandparents were so excited.
After calling your grandparents, we decided to fill up the tub with hot water and try laboring some in the tub. It seemed to help some, but my contractions were coming harder and harder and were getting closer together. What I didn't realize is, you would be posterior and give me horrible back labor! At some point, I decided to get back out and lay back down and have daddy rub my back. We started calling aunts and uncles, but I realized very quickly into this process, that I couldn't complete the calls because another contraction would begin and I'd need to focus all my attention on relaxing through them. I'd quickly pass the phone off to daddy who would share the news that we were in labor.
At some point in the morning, I decided to get back into the tub because I felt it made it easiest on my back. Around 11:00-11:30, the contractions moved between 3-5 minutes a part and stayed there so we decided it was time to head to the hospital. Daddy called Marmee at work to tell her to head on down to Virginia and then called our friend Maureen Carey-Back (our duela) to tell her we were heading in. He also contacted the hospital to tell them we were on our way shortly. I was very excited to get this show on the road but I had to wait a little longer because we had all our bags packed, but then we had to pack our car! Not such an easy task when contractions were anywhere from three to five minutes a part and STRONG!
We finally got ourselves into the car and headed to the hospital. I had a few rough contractions in the car and it was then that I realized this could take a lot longer than I thought. In the back of my mind up until the car trip, I thought I'd be 7 cm dilated arriving at the hospital. During the car ride, I started to dread that I'd only be 1/2 cm dilated from where I began (and I would be right!). We checked into the hospital and they had me change into a hospital gown and wait for my midwife to come and check me. My contractions were getting harder and harder and closer and closer together so all I wanted was to get in my room and get comfortable again. Wendy (my midwife on call) checked me and gave us the surprising news that I was 1cm dilated (1/2 a cm dilated from my last doctors appt days before) Wendy decided it was best that I stay because of the intensity of my contractions. She then confirmed that I was having back labor. (joy joy!)
We got into our hospital room around the time Maureen showed up. I labored a little while in the bed but asked to get the tub filled up as quickly as possible. I breathed through back to back contractions for several hours. Some right on top of each other making me feel like we were getting some where, but also deciding that I may want to get an epidural. I had once thought that we'd try and go without any help, but I was starting to weakin to the idea of some meds. Around 3:30 my parents arrived and Wendy came in to check my progress. When she confirmed that I had only progressed to 2cm my hope of having a natural childbirth was slipping away. Wendy then suggested that I have an epidural to help me get some rest because the day was shaping up to be a long one and I was going to need all the energy I had to push in the end. I accepted the offer. As the nurses were asking me some basic questions, it was brought to their attention that I had Von Willdebrands. (a blood disorder) Wendy was called into the room because for some reason, she didn't have this information in her records. We figured out that it must have slipped their minds when I first told them when we discovered we were pregnant because their main focus at the time was to get me feeling better since I was extremely sick the first trimester. Along with the epidural, they were also going to start me on a medication through IV to help my blood clot in case I had severe bleeding. I had several more contractions before the anesthesiologist came in to give me the epidural. Of course, when you are getting ready to get an epidural, you have to sit up and lean over so your spine is sticking out which is a big deal when you're trying to relax and breathe through a contraction. It was intense! At the same time, your daddy was reading over the risks that are involved when receiving a epidural and then he was to hand it over to me so that I could sign it and get this game on the road! Well, of course, your daddy (he's always thinking of us and wanting what is best for us) was reading that one of the risks of the epidural was a severe headache a few days after the epidural was in place. He proceeded to ask the anesthesiologist about the headache only to be interrupted by an extremely uncomfortable mommy who yelled "who cares about the stupid headache". Daddy handed over the paper for me to sign and several minutes later, the epidural was in place.
My body and you had a reaction to the epidural and it caused you to start moving around while my body contracted for six minutes. I had no idea what was going on, but I knew something was giving the nurses a scare. Luckily, I couldn't feel too much. I had the nursing staff and my doctors in the room in a matter of moments. One slipped an oxygen mask over my head while two others held my stomach to try and calm you down. Daddy and I were both scared because nobody said a word they just took action. After the contraction ended, the nurses explained that I was having a reaction, and it caused your heart rate to drop, but everything was okay and you were just fine!
The nurses then instructed everyone in the room to leave and let me try and get some rest. Maureen stayed with me while I slept and your dad, Marmee, & Grandpa went to go get some food. Daddy had brought cards along so they played some Euchre while I rested as well! (of course!!) Kevin Phillips (your daddy's boss and a good friend of ours) came in to pray for us an hour or so later and just to see how everything was going. The nurses still wanted me to try and rest, but I was so excited and anxious to meet you that I had a hard time sleeping. If they would have allowed me, I would have probably tried to play a few rounds of Euchre! I also got some good news that Anne (another one of my midwives) was going to be assisting me as well) yay!
From this point on; daddy, Maureen, Marmee, & Grandpa were in the room with me. Daddy and Grandpa watched the contraction and heart monitor and had a ton of fun watching how high on the scale the contractions were. They were constantly saying "here comes another big one". The nurse came in around sixish I believe to check my progress again. I was finally at seven centimeters so they decided to brake my bag of waters. I'm not going to lie, I was really terrified about this process, but as I lay there, I asked when they were going to do it and the doctor told me it was already done!! (so no sweat!) I also got some news that they saw mirconium (you pooped) so they had to stick another tube (I had a catheter after the epidural) to clean out the mirconium. All in all, I had every tube they could possibly stick up me... up me. They also decided to start me on a hormone (pitocin) to help my contractions along.
Around 9pm the nurse midwives came back in to check me again, and I made no progress. Wendy and Anne told me that they were thinking they were going to have to do a c-section but told me they would give me one more hour to see if I made any more progress. She also slipped in "Plus... I don't think your baby is going to fit"!! To me, I just thought that was the most ridiculous comment someone could make. Babies are meant to fit... that's what they do!! My mom left the room to call Jon's parents and some of your aunts and uncles to tell them the news. Five minutes after the midwives left, they were back to tell me that they were going to do a c-section. Your heart rate was dropping and they felt it was time to bring you into this world. Upon my mom's (your Marmees) return, they were getting daddy dressed in his scrubs and wheeling me into the operating room. My mom looked over at me as they wheeled me down the hall and said... "he will be here soon". I looked up at her and said "mom, this is the first you've ever referred to our baby as a boy". And just like that, I was whisped away.
Mommy was alone for a few minutes while they got me ready. I had an awesome guy in the room who shares your birthday. I was very sad that I wasn't going to be able to have you naturally but also relieved that the end was in sight and I was going to meet my baby girl or boy very soon. They started to c-section before your daddy got into the room. He came in a few moments later and sat behind the big blue curtain as we waited what seemed like hours for your first breath. They had already prepped us that they were going to try to keep you from crying until after you airways were cleaned out so the silence was intense! You daddy kept looking over the curtain to see if he could see anything. I lied there with tears of sadness but also joy as I waited to hear your first cry. I couldn't wait to hear the news you were here! My thoughts were flowing from my lips as I asked your daddy: do you think it will be a girl or a boy? do you think it will have lots of hair? I can't wait to hold my baby...
Moments later daddy told me he saw a ton of hair and that you were beautiful. The doctors announced "It's a GIRL!" We were thrilled. Daddy and I both started to cry as joy filled our hearts. You were here!! All of a sudden we heard the most beautiful cry that brought tears to our eyes. I'll never forget that moment. It was the most amazing feeling in the world. I hadn't even held you yet, but I had the most intense love for you. I loved (love) you so much. We knew right away that your name would be Ruthie. We were still thinking about middle names, but from that moment... you were our beautiful baby girl, Ruthie.
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The doctors put you on the scale and told us you were 9lbs .9oz and were 20 inches long and announced your time of birth at 9:59 pm! A big baby! No wonder the midwives made the comment about you not fitting! It all made sense now! The doctors brought you over to me so that I could see you and kiss you on the forhead. You and daddy then left to head towards the nursery and I stayed to get stitched up and taken to the recovery area.
(sorry for the shot Ruthie, but this picture was taken soon after you were born)
A doctor then headed to the visiting area to announce to our family: "you have a 9 lbs baby..... GIRL! Your Grandpa Marshall thought for sure they were getting ready to say boy. :) Soon after, they were able to go look in the nursery at Jon and you.
(if you look behind the picture of your daddy and you... you can see Marmee and Uncle Andrew)
While everyone was getting the news that you were born, I was sitting in the recovery room STARVING and ready to eat and get back to my room so I could be with you and hold you. I mentioned to the nurse that I was hungry and ready to eat and also asked if she'd mind getting me a drink. I was also very thirsty. The nurse felt sorry for me as she gave me the news that I wouldn't be able to have anything to eat or drink until the next morning and once morning, it would be liquid until I passed gas. Ew! I was so bummed. I think the nurse took pity on me and brought me ice chips to help with the empty pit in my stomach. I waited and waited down in recovery wondering how long they would leave me down here. I heard the phone ring and instantly recognized Marmee's voice and heard the nurse give her directions to come see me. I was so excited. I was very lonely sitting by myself. Soon, my mom was there with my laptop and she video chatted Uncle Andrew so I could see inside the nursery. I was able to kind of see you and daddy sitting there together and I cried as waited for the nurse to take me to you.
Soon after, they said it was time to take me back to my room. They wheeled me to the room and I waited for YOU and daddy to walk into the room. What happened next, I'll never forget.
I heard the door knock and there you were. All 9 lbs of you! Daddy brought you right over to me and put you into my arms. I cried with joy as I looked into your beautiful deep blue eyes. A love I'd never felt before taking over entire body. It was the most amazing feeling. Within that moment, I forgot all about the horribly long pregnancy and even labor! (even though the recovery would be hard, it was all worth every moment!)
Now I'm off to try and get some sleep. Apparently I'm supposed to sleep as much as I can when you're sleeping. Right now, all I want to do is look at you.
Oh... after much thought, we named you Ruthie Mackenzie Stube. Really, it has always been Ruthie Mackenzie, but in the moments after you were born, I started thinking maybe Ruthie Mackenzie Elizabeth Stube but decided againist the third middle name. :)
Love you Ruthie. So glad you are here!
Mommy
we had slight spotting and after a trip to the ER discovered I had a kidney stone! (Mommy probably had the kidney stone before you were conceived) They sent mommy on her way… but that wasn’t the end of the precious stone I carried in my kidney while carrying you in my tummy! 
In October, the kidney stone struck again. Of course, I thought I was in labor with you since my back was in a lot of pain– but after 6 hours of horrific pain, daddy took me to the hospital where they told me the stone was causing the problems. Because your mommy has the best of luck, this wasn’t all. I was also having contractions with you because the kidney stone was making you uncomfortable too. (you just thought it was time to meet us) (but we wanted you to stay in my belly a little longer) They gave me some medicine to take away the pain and also have my contractions stop.