Dec 20 2007

To Fluffy

Published by Brillig at 2:49 pm under yup-I'm a mom, Birth stories

Six years ago, I was massively pregnant. And I mean MASSIVELY PREGNANT. I was 19 days—almost three full weeks!—past my due date.

It was the middle of the night, but because sleeping had become… well… impossible, I had given up. I filled the bathtub with hot water and got out a book that I’d been meaning to read. About 300 pages into it, I noticed that I was having contractions. Soon they got closer together and more and more uncomfortable. At about 6:00 a.m., I got out of the bath (a feat in and of itself when you’re that pregnant) and woke hubby up. This was it! I was in labor!

Brian called our fantastic team of midwives (one of whom was my beloved sister!) and they soon arrived, setting up the birthing tub and unpacking and arranging supplies, turning my living room into a birthing center. I was checked and told that I was dilated to 9 cm. This baby was going to be born any second. I settled into the birthing tub and began wrapping my brain around the fact that I was about to be a mommy for the first time!

But seconds turned into minutes, which turned into hours. 13 hours, to be precise, that I was stuck at 9 cm. Heavy, painful, but unproductive contractions came in relentless waves. The problem was that the baby hadn’t dropped yet. Even when I finally had them break my water, nothing was happening.

Finally, some time on a birthing stool gave the baby the room she needed, and it was time to get our show on the road. I jumped back into the birthing tub (and hubby jumped in with me!) and pushed… for 3 hours. I had never known such agony, nor such empowerment. This amazing combination was exhausting and exhilarating.

After a very long day, and a very VERY long pregnancy, my beautiful princess came roaring into the world.

maddieborn.jpg

Immediately after she was born, I began hemorrhaging severely. I had to get out of the tub quickly and lie down on the plastic-lined floor while my fantastic midwives poked, prodded, pushed, pulled, and saved me. In the meantime, Hubby took his brand new baby girl for a walk through the hallways. I could see them walking back and forth through the doorway. He was gently rocking her, staring at her with pure fascination and adoration, and softly singing “Getting to Know You.” I was overwhelmed with this rush of joy and love. Nothing in my life had ever been so powerful as watching the man I loved, loving his baby.

Fluffy has turned into an amazingly strong, intelligent, funny, and beautiful young lady and I just love her more and more. On this, her sixth birthday, I celebrate all the entertainment, hilarity, joy, wonder, and love that she has brought to my world.

Happy Birthday, Princess Fluffy!

fluffybday.jpg

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49 Responses to “To Fluffy”

  1. # BetteJoon 20 Dec 2007 at 3:24 pm

    Oh she looks like a pageant queen - even down to the wave! Happy Birthday Fluffy!

  2. # Maddyon 20 Dec 2007 at 3:43 pm

    Happy birthday indeed. Those December birthdays are always so special.
    Best wishes

  3. # Jackieon 20 Dec 2007 at 3:56 pm

    Happy Birthday to your beautiful little girl!

  4. # Jo Beaufoixon 20 Dec 2007 at 4:11 pm

    Happy Birthday Fluffy.
    Your Mummy just made me cry. But I will forgive her. ;D

  5. # Heffalumpon 20 Dec 2007 at 4:19 pm

    Happy Birthday Fluffy!
    Water births are awesome aren’t they? I had water births for my last three and loved it.

  6. # Smiling Momon 20 Dec 2007 at 4:26 pm

    She is beautiful. :-)

  7. # Kateastropheon 20 Dec 2007 at 4:29 pm

    I love that Fluffy with all my heart. I told you this just yesterday . . . I knew the second I walked into your living room and saw you holding that beautiful baby girl (with her sucking on your pinkie, naturally :D ) that you had found your calling in life. You are an amazing mother and that Fluffers is an amazing little girl.

    I love you both!!

  8. # Annetteon 20 Dec 2007 at 4:52 pm

    Aw . . . what a sweetheart. She’s gorgeous.

    I can’t imagine being 19 days overdue. 8 days was my longest, and it about killed me. (GET IT OUT OF ME!)

  9. # Polliwogon 20 Dec 2007 at 5:08 pm

    Oh my Brillig. You’ve set my tears a’flowin! Happy Birthday to your beautiful little girl and to you beautiful mother. What a wonderful story. I wanted a home and/or water birth, but had hospital births for all six of mine due to complications. You are an amazing woman! My labors were all mercifully short. I, too hemorrhaged (after the very last one), and had to have surgery and stay on bed for a month but reading your story brings that magic all home again. I must go and convince myself now that I truly do not need another one! :-)

  10. # Shellieon 20 Dec 2007 at 5:41 pm

    She’s a doll and you are amazing. Have you had all your kids like that in the tub thing? I did just about every way but that and then quit, so I’ll leave it to the next generation.

  11. # canadianflakeon 20 Dec 2007 at 6:17 pm

    Happy Birthday fluffy…she is beautiful for sure!!!

  12. # patoison 20 Dec 2007 at 6:58 pm

    Both pictures are just full of joy. Happy birthday to all of you.

  13. # Summeron 20 Dec 2007 at 7:18 pm

    Wow, what a birth story!
    Happy Birthday Fluffy!

  14. # Kimberlyon 20 Dec 2007 at 7:19 pm

    Funny how a story like this fills me with the same sort of love you felt as you wrote it. I’m remembering Neil first holding Emma, singing to her in much the same fashion your sweetheart serenaded your little girl. What a wave of love and warmth that brings with it. Thank you for that.

    And Happy Birthday to one of the luckiest little girls I’ve ever met. Lucky to have a mum so full of love, and smart enough to put it into words. Hope it’s been a wonderful day for you all.

  15. # Jen in MIon 20 Dec 2007 at 7:54 pm

    What a beautiful girl and lovely tribute! And the thought of your husband singing to Fluffy is beyond wonderful.

  16. # Janon 20 Dec 2007 at 10:26 pm

    What a story filled with such love….. happy birthday Fluffy.

    Jan

  17. # S.Sailoron 21 Dec 2007 at 12:12 am

    What a cute and smart child.
    Reading your words (and sensing them) just make her look more beautiful and add a warm touch to the posted picture.

    Happy birthday.

  18. # Adriaon 21 Dec 2007 at 1:00 am

    what a fantastic birth story!

  19. # Thalia's Childon 21 Dec 2007 at 2:23 am

    Aw, happy birfday Fluffy!! (It’s Punkin’s boyfriend’s birfday today too, and Punkin’s on Saturday)

  20. # Nanetteon 21 Dec 2007 at 3:19 am

    Happy Birthday Fluffy!

    (Awwww, he sang Getting to Know You, awwww!)

  21. # Annieon 21 Dec 2007 at 6:45 am

    Happy Birthday Fluffy!! How regal you look!

    Great birth story, too. Nice to hear of a fellow long pusher lol! Everyone else just seems to ’squirt’ their babies right out!

  22. # Tonyaon 21 Dec 2007 at 9:35 am

    That is a fabulous picture of your new family in the tub. All the emotion is written on your face. It’s beautiful and I appreciate you sharing it. Happy Birthday Fluffy!!

  23. # Mommasworldon 21 Dec 2007 at 11:38 am

    Happy Birthday Princess Fluffy! Wishing you a year full of excitment and wishes coming true.

  24. # Luisaon 21 Dec 2007 at 4:42 pm

    Fluffy, like her mother, gets more beautiful the better I know her. Happy birthday!

  25. # Worker Mommyon 21 Dec 2007 at 6:13 pm

    Wow, what an incredible birth story.

    Happy birthday to your beautiful baby girl!

  26. # jenn in hollandon 22 Dec 2007 at 1:40 am

    Yup. Tears. Lots of them.
    Gefeliciteerd Brillig! And a warm wish for a happy year to come for darling, darling Fluffy!

  27. # Candace Salimaon 22 Dec 2007 at 2:50 pm

    Great writing, Anne. Tell Fluffy Happy Birthday . . . poignant picture you painted of your husband and your daughter.

  28. # Gunfighteron 22 Dec 2007 at 4:32 pm

    Happy Birthday, Fluffy!

  29. # Soccer Mom in Denialon 23 Dec 2007 at 6:46 pm

    Happy Birthday little lady!!

  30. # miksteron 23 Dec 2007 at 10:03 pm

    I don’t think anything can surpass the happiness a child can provide a parent. Here’s hoping you and your family have a super Christmas!

  31. # Jo Beaufoixon 24 Dec 2007 at 10:53 am

    HAppy Christmas to you and yours Brill.
    Have a wonderful time with your amazing family. Hugs Jo x

  32. # dieselon 24 Dec 2007 at 8:59 pm

    What a beautiful little girl. And what an ordeal! Happy birthday, Princess, and Merry Christmas to you all.

  33. # London dentiston 24 Dec 2007 at 11:22 pm

    Happy birthday Fluffy!and also Merry Christmas to you.

  34. # Candace Salimaon 26 Dec 2007 at 7:39 am

    Hey Brillig - check out my blog today. I announced the LDS Storymakers Writers Conference for 2008. It’s a rockin’ writers conference and where I picked up my publisher for my first three books. Just wanted to give you a heads up.

  35. # Bookmakers UK Online Bettingon 26 Dec 2007 at 1:01 pm

    wow man this is a great post. she is looking like a little angel hey little angel happy birthday to you.

  36. # Apuestason 26 Dec 2007 at 1:28 pm

    ah one day Princess Fluffy will be a mama then she should maybe make post such a like this post isnt it? this is life. its nice happy birthday to Princess Fluffy.

  37. # Free Beton 26 Dec 2007 at 1:51 pm

    oh man she is so cute hi little angel happy birthday to you.

  38. # newnorthon 26 Dec 2007 at 4:53 pm

    shes beautiful! Hope she had a great birthday :)

  39. # Heartgardon 28 Dec 2007 at 12:02 pm

    She is an angel. I wish she will be fine rest of her life.

  40. # Vaporizerson 28 Dec 2007 at 12:05 pm

    Nice post. i like reading this. she is very nice. say happy new year to her.

  41. # Wholly Burbleon 28 Dec 2007 at 12:29 pm

    Happy Belated birthday Princess Fluffy!

    And thank you oh so much for sharing this amazing story of her birth. Precious beyond words.

  42. # Butrfly Gardenon 29 Dec 2007 at 3:58 pm

    (sooooooo late.)

    Hope Miss Fluffy the Princess had a beautiful birthday.

  43. # money detector penson 07 Jan 2008 at 8:58 am

    Happy birthday Fluffy! Very Merry Christmas to you and wishing you have a wonderful 2008 to you and your lovely family!

  44. # dereon comon 08 Jan 2008 at 7:45 pm

    belated happy bday Fluffy. Your so beautiful. :-)

  45. # sweet text messageson 08 Jan 2008 at 7:46 pm

    belated happy bday to you fluffy. happy new year and God Bless to your family.

  46. # exercise equipmenton 09 Jan 2008 at 3:04 am

    Birthday is always a special day to me, i am really happy to see that you enjoys your birthday. Anyway belated happy birthday and thanks for sharing such cool photo.

  47. # Its Crazy Deliciouson 09 Jan 2008 at 2:49 pm

    Wow what a story…happy birthday!!!

  48. # Toronto Flowerson 11 Jan 2008 at 7:33 am

    Happy birthday Fluffy! wish your good luck.
    Thanks.

  49. # John Benjaminon 22 Jan 2008 at 3:44 am

    Happy birth day U beautiful angel……… wish u all the best.

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