How Kid 5 came to be

After being told time and time again that I should write a book about Jacqueline, otherwise known as "Kid 5," I decided to do the next best thing and write a blog.  I believe that this will give everyone a better picture of what it is really like to live a day in the life with Kid 5! 

Let me tell you a little bit about how Kid 5  came to be so you can get a clear picture of her personality.  I had recently had a miscarriage when I found out I was pregnant with Kid 5 and I was beside myself with happiness while scared to death at the same time.  I knew this was going to be my last child, so I savored every moment.  After a rough time with Kid 4, every precaution was being taken and every little thing was being monitored.  Things were going relatively well until approximately 26 weeks.  As I was trying to catch my bus to get home from work, I suddenly felt something not quite right.  Fortunatley I had a doctor's appoinment the following day.

"The baby has dropped," was my doctor's pronouncement.  Holy cow.  Strict bed rest was the prescription.  "Can I sit in my rocker?"  The answer, of course, was no - in bed; flat, on my back or side.  I could go to the bathroom and that was the extent of my allowed excursions.  To make matters worse, I was put on a pump of medication to stop contractions that started soon after.  And, I had to home monitor any contractions twice daily and send the results to some nurse in cyberspace.  This was before smartphones, and I did not have wireless internet, so it was me, my books, yarn and a crochet hook, and the Food Network.  I must have watched every Rachel Ray episode known to cable.

At 35 weeks, the insurance company pulled the plug on the pump and home monitoring.  Subsequently, I ended up in Labor and Delivery seven times in the next three weeks, during which each time they stopped the contractions and sent me home. I was told I could not deliver until 38 weeks.  Thirty-eight weeks came, and Kid 5 decided, that after all of my effort at keeping her in, she was happy where she was and did not want leave the warm, cozy, comforts of my uterus after all.  No contractions, no labor - nothing.  I cried and begged my doctor to induce.  He gave me one more week.  I could not believe that after all we did to keep her in, now she didn't want to come out.

Well, she changed her mind and in a big way.  I finally went into real labor, one in which they did not stop.  In typical Kid 5 fashion, once she decided to come out, come out she did.  I was at the hospital for one hour before she made her appearance.  My doctor did not even get there in time.  I had no time for an epidural, and because we all thought I was going to get one, no pain medication either.  I remember when I pushed, I thought, "Oh my god, I have to get her out NOW!" 

So now I have a girl who was in hurry to get out, decided to stay, then changed her mind again and came out in hurry.  This is the story of Kid 5 - in a hurry, making her own rules, doing what she wants, and too sweet for words.