Boote Ranch: Jace's Arrival...

Being 38 years old and on my third pregnancy...one would think that you would know when you were in labor but...this wasn't the case! Jade and Jory were both induced and so that is the only way I knew!

The arrival of Jace McCoy goes as follows: I had a doctor's appointment last Thursday morning and headed to Jamestown by myself (Jade & Jory had the flu, so Alan stayed home with them) for one last final check up before my scheduled induction Saturday AM. After my appointment I stopped at Walmart and the grocery store for a few last minute things and then headed for home by way of a stop at the High School in Glenfield, a stop at the Elementary school in Binford to sign a few checks and then finally to the post office to mail some things. I arrived home about 3:30 to send Alan and Jory to town to get haircuts.

My doctor had told me to go home an do something active...maybe I could get the contractions started. So, I got home, made supper, folded about 4 loads of laundry, put everyone's laundry away...you get the picture. My house was actually clean because, thankfully, while I was in Jamestown for the day my mom was here and bleached and washed everything up since the kids had had the flu the night before! I had been having contractions off and on for the past 3 weeks so having contractions throughout the day was nothing unusually...but after sending the kids to bed about 8:30 I told Alan I thought I would head to bed too since it had been a long day and I was tired. So, I proceeded to head to bed and thought I should maybe lay here and check the frequency of these contractions...low and behold they were 10 minutes apart. By the time I checked the accuracy of this a few times, it was about 9:15. I told Alan I thought we needed to head towards Jamestown...

My folks were gone as they had headed to Fargo for some doctoring on Friday, my brother and SIL were bowling for the night...so, I called for Kelsey to come out and she was actually babysitting for my neices and nephew...Elaine to the rescue! Thankfully, Jade and Jory were actually sleeping and didn't even know this was all going on. By the time Elaine arrived, my water had actually broke (I didn't know...) and we were on our way, with contractions 7 minutes apart and 65 miles to go, fog and slick roads! YIKES!! Luckily, once we got about 20 miles away the fog lifted and the roads were not bad. Contractions at this point...5 minutes apart...only 45 miles to go...

By the time we arrived at the hospital (40 minutes after leaving Bin-City) my contractions were 2-3 minutes apart and he was born an hour and a half later! (I was just thankful that Alan drove like Dale Earnhardt and we actually made it to the hospital!) Jace is perfect...healthy...10 toes, 10 fingers...only one broken collar bone that should heal quickly. He was delivered by Dr. McMillan and Dr. Greenwood (a UND Medical Student...and it was his 1st delivery).

Alan returned home that night about 3:00 AM and was able to be at home with the kids in the morning and give them the good news! They were surprised! After having gone into labor on my own...I am SOOOO glad I did not have to be induced! What a good baby Jace is and this little guy couldn't be loved more!