This week we celebrate the birth of Iris Jane. It is shocking how fast time flies.
During one of the most hectic weeks of our lives, I found out I was pregnant. It was actually a great surprise. Not only were we certain we were done growing our family, but we had a million other things going on which made that news seem awfully surreal.
We had already gotten rid of all our baby gear! I had sold the cribs, car seats, strollers, backpacks even a set of cloth diapers. There were no more sippy-cups or bottles. The swing, bouncer and play pen were all gone! With the other kids, they were all born within 3 years - and this time around we had a four year gap, it felt like we were starting over, completely from scratch. Fortunately, after you've had a few kids, you realize how little you really need to bring a baby into your home.
The great part about my last pregnancy, is how sentimental it all felt. Every little movement and growing pain seemed really important and I felt like I was really taking it all in this time. Maybe because I wasn't chasing around a one year old? or because it wasn't my first pregnancy - where you're so impatient for it to be over, you forget to stop and pay attention to how amazing it is that someone is growing inside you? it was probably also because we went through a huge life event in the middle of this pregnancy, one that sort of shook my world - and I needed this baby to focus on? And that was awesome. I nested with a vengeance! This house was conquered, repeatedly in those months leading up to her birth. I recovered furniture, remade curtains, blankets, bags, diaper covers, baby wipes, baby bum cleaning solution, rearranged furniture, mopped the floor a bazillion times, decluttered the house, rearranged photos on the walls and knit itty bitty baby things. There was a lot of flurry around here. Ella decided early on, her name would be Rainbow Joy - she told everyone about that - and I was worried she would be so disappointed when we decided against it. But we soon learned that Iris meant rainbow - so she felt like she named her either way!
Up until the day she was born, I would say the pregnancy had been uneventful. I had the usual braxton-hicks contractions, frequently (just like with all my other pregnancies). I was taking it easy when I could and napping with the kids in the afternoons. In that last week, the mid-wife was concerned about how my blood-pressure had spiked. They made a big fuss about it, monitored me in the hospital for an afternoon and sent me home to rest. I really thought nothing of it. I felt fine and continued on my routine. Monday I cut the girls' hair for spring - Tuesday I cleaned the house and mopped the floors again - Wednesday I had another prenatal appointment. When I arrived for my appointment, they assured me I had the date / time wrong, that the appointment had been rescheduled because my mid-wife was having surgery that day. I argued with a secretary about the schedule, and since I had driven from another county, and had been observed the previous week - I demanded that someone please check my blood-pressure. Ella and I waited as patiently as possible in the waiting room - when a nurse came to talk to me in the lobby. I explained again that I would just like someone to take my blood-pressure, then we would certainly reschedule this appointment for another day. She took my BP... then she went out to the hallway, and brought in a machine, which took it again. It was completely off-the-charts-high. Another mid-wife came in and checked it again, and then they escorted me across the parking lot to a birthing room in the hospital! This was unexpected and a bit startling. Iris was not due for another three weeks. I had Ella with me, and the other kids were at school. Dave was in meetings and I was having trouble getting a hold of him at work. By the time I got through to him, I was saying, "They've already put an IV in my arm, Ella's sitting on the bed with me, and they're discussing inducing labor and giving birth by evening, so... get here soon!" In the meantime, I'm texting people to pick up our kids from school - and Gram and Gramps to come pick up Ella from the hospital, so she doesn't have to be in the middle of all this. The way I was understanding all this, my blood pressure was so high, they were concerned for my safety. So, they induced labor that afternoon. Without my mid-wife (who was having surgery on another floor of the hospital) and three weeks before baby girl was due to arrive.
It was all pretty hectic, Dave and I were focusing on the fact that we'd get to hold our baby girl by night time and while it was not ideal or what we had planned, we were going to safe and healthy.
By nine o'clock, we were holding our teeniest Schramlet!
Iris Jane - named for both my Grandmothers (Trilby Iris and Patricia Jane). She weighed in at 6 pounds 9 ounces! They had warned us she may be lethargic because of the IV I was on for my blood-pressure, but she was alert and beautiful!
We stayed in the hospital for two days - and it was so great to come home!
Big Brother and Big Sisters were still in school and Dave got two weeks off work, so it was really helpful. We were able to spend time remembering how to do this newborn thing all over again. It came back pretty quickly, I had worried I wouldn't remember how it all works.
This is Gracie documenting every little moment with her baby sister!
Luckily, the kids were out of school only a week and a half after Iris was born, so we could ease into a new schedule with four kids!
She looks a LOT like the rest of the kids - but she was the only Schramlet to boycott a pacifier and she didn't like being swaddled for bedtime. But she followed their lead for sleeping through the night and eating like a champ!
With four children, you hear things like 'you must have your hands full' or 'a busy mom' or 'when do you find time to....[fill in the blank]?' - Really, life is full, but only of the things we choose it to be full of. I don't always get things done around the house, like I'd love to, but I do make time for these little ones.
Iris has a great personality and I love her interactions with the older Schramlets.
They all have their own ways of making her smile or laugh. She loves to pull the girls' hair! She's working on her animal noises, and her standing. When we are alone together in the morning, she genuinely searches for Daddy, Gracie, Peter and Ella around the house. She even waves for them. When we get in the car to get kids from school, she squeals and dances!
Today she's been picking up papers from the floor, and instead of sticking them in her mouth (which is her usual trick), she holds them up to me and says her version of 'thank you' - it sounds a lot like 'tay tuh' in her little sing song voice!
I'm sure her second year will bring increased mobility and a lot more babbling. We are ready for both and her brother and sisters are excited about teaching her all the animal noises.
Happy Birthday Iris Jane! May your second year be filled with rainbows!
