The Labor & Delivery Story

I got a call Sunday afternoon from the hospital telling me to come to the hospital at 7:00 a.m. Monday morning, April 23rd.  So Monday morning Nate's parents came over to our house around 6:45 a.m. to watch the kids and get the older kids off to school. Nate and I arrived at the hospital about 7:15. We were a bit late because I was having a bad hair day... I really shouldn't have cared.  I was just going to be lying in a bed for Pete's sake!  Luckily no one seemed to mind my tardiness.

I got dressed in the hospital gown and they got my I.V. going. They checked me and I was a 3+ and 80%. So I had changed ever so slightly since my last doctor visit (3 cm & 80% for the last 3 weeks). I was positive for the group B strep so I had to be given an antibiotic, but because of some allergies I have I had to be given a pretty strong one (Vancomycin) instead of the one they usually give. It took them about an hour to get everything all figured out. By 8:40 or so I was finally getting my antibiotic and the Pitocin to get my contractions started. Things were going well and then my scalp got itchy! It felt like bugs squirming all over. My nurses came in and I told them I was itchy. Then they looked at my face and noticed it was red. I had something called "Red Man's Syndrome". I guess if you infuse the Vancomycin too fast that is a side effect. To my nurses credit, they didn't have it up very high and were surprised I reacted that way.  I'm not allergic to it, but it can cause a histamine reaction to happen. They slowed the drip and got me some Benadryl and things settled down thankfully. Meanwhile, Nate was just playing games on his iPad, listening to me babble about this and that and keeping family informed on my status.

My contractions were starting to get more and more intense around 10:30 so I got my epidural. I've felt labor up until I was complete a couple times... I'm getting that epidural early! My right side was slightly less numb, but it was numb enough to stop the pain so I didn't worry about it. I got checked and was 4+ and 90%. My doctor decided to break my water around 11:20 to get things moving along a bit more quickly. About a half hour later I was feeling lots of pressure. I got checked again around noon and was 9 cm and 100%. They stopped the Pitocin and called my doctor and told her I was close. She was in Lehi! Doing what? I have no idea. Maybe she went to lunch... I hope it was yummy! So while we waited for the doctor I pushed that magic little button full of another dose of the epidural since I was feeling a lot of pressure and pain on the right side of the birth canal. My doctor reappeared around 12:20 or so and I was obviously complete by then. Since I hadn't been on the antibiotic for four hours yet (protocol) she wanted me to wait a bit longer to push. I've waited 9 months, I guess 15 more minutes won't hurt!

The baby's heart rate kept dropping so the wait ended a bit early and I began pushing. My last two babies came out with a couple pushes... this little guy wasn't going to make it so easy for his mama! As I pushed I felt it all in that little "hot spot" area. Lots of pressure and burning! I guess that magic little button didn't work so good... It hurt! I have to say I'm kind of glad I experienced what it feels like to push the baby out, though. That was the only part of labor and delivery I hadn't ever felt between all my pregnancies. I know it was toned down since I only had one side feeling it, but I got a taste of it and I'm good. I don't need any more samples! I pushed through probably 5 contractions and Austin James was finally born at 12:49 p.m.!  I wasn't expecting my 6th baby to be as hard as he was to get out. He looked so small, but his head was just a bit bigger than the last few kiddos. The cord was wrapped around his neck once which was the cause of his distress earlier. All was well though. They got him all suctioned out and he started crying right off. Beautiful sound! They set him up on my tummy to wipe him off and to let Nate cut the umbilical cord.  Baby decided to start peeing!  I had to dodge the stream so I didn't get it right in my face! He pooped when they moved him over to the warmer to clean him up some more. So by the time he got weighed he had already lost a couple ounces. That means I really delivered probably an 8 pound baby!  Too bad it's not documented.  His official weight was 7 pounds 14 ounces and his length was 19 inches.  He was so perfect and handsome. With each birth I always almost cry. I am so over joyed that the tears don't come, but the feeling of heaven meeting earth right there in that room is just indescribable and incredible.

(Look at the smile on that daddy's face... I love it!)

The kids came to the hospital after school got out.  They were mad they didn't get checked out, but with it being early out day and the timing of everything it just worked out best for them to come as soon as they got home from school.  They all were so excited and happy.  No one was afraid of me this time!  Usually someone is hesitant of me in the hospital bed so I was happy everyone was all smiles.

And that's it.  That's the story of my little Austin joining our family.  My heart is full. I feel so very grateful to my Heavenly Father for allowing me to bring six beautiful children into this world. I hope I can be the mother they deserve. I love them with all my heart. Each one of them is such a blessing to me. They really teach me more than I could ever teach them. So how will baby #6 change our lives???  Wonderfully, I'm sure, but let's hope for an easy adjustment.

{Photos below taken by Photography By Jess}

Austin James

The End is Near

Tomorrow is the day I will breath again.  Sleep flat in bed.  Not wake up to annoying contractions.  Not pee five times during the night.  And maybe, just maybe my ribs and hips will feel relief.  But most of all, it is the day I will meet my sweet baby boy, the little mister taking up residence in my tummy.  I originally didn't plan on an induction.  I would rather do it all on my own, but then I had some preterm labor that has thrown all my plans out the window.  It's been hard.  My body just hasn't handled this pregnancy with any regard to my physical and mental comfort!  With Nate traveling it was always so nerve racking while he was gone.  Then he'd return and I would try to do more knowing he was home and if I did go into labor it would be okay (after 37 weeks).  But then I'd do too much and my body would let me know!  I guess this little guy decided that if he wasn't coming at 32 weeks he'd wait as long as he possibly could.  I thought for sure I'd have him at the very latest a couple weeks early.  He has surprised us all.  It's been a long couple months, but I finally decided I just needed a date to say I'm done.  And tomorrow is that day!!  Wahoo!  Can't wait!

My Bags Are Packed...

I'm ready to go....

Nate was getting packed for a trip and Haley thought she would join him.  Wouldn't that be a fun surprise!

Maggie

Life with Maggie isn't so bad.  She's a puppy and so it's not all peaches and cream, but Rachel is taking the bulk of the responsibility for her so it's been realitively painless..... besides the biting!  She is fun to have around and will hopefully stop biting and chasing all the kids soon.  We're working on it. :)

Spring Break

Our kids were sad we couldn't go on some fancy trip for spring break so we made sure we planned something to do each day close to home that they would consider fun.  Nate had the week off (besides some local repair jobs).  We thought it would be so convenient to have the baby that week.... no such luck.  So for plan B we ended up fishing, playing at a park with cousins, going to the movies, going to Yogurt Bliss (a favorite of our kids), going to work with dad, swimming and lots of playing!  The only thing we caught fishing was a weird seed ball thing from a tree or something (pictured above with Kaden), but the kids eventually found their way into the water and had a great time splashing around.  The weather was awesome the first few days then the storms came, but it all worked out great. 

Easter

We had three Easter egg hunts that luckily fell on all different Saturdays.  Usually we are shuffling around trying to make it to all the family ones and the neighborhood one in the same day.  This year was much more enjoyable. 

Easter Sunday was beautiful, but I couldn't find a very good spot in my yard to snap a picture.  Nate helped the kids color eggs after church while I took a nap.  We didn't get a chance to color any the night before.  We discovered late Saturday night that we only had 9 eggs!  Poor planning on my part.  The kids could only color two each except Eliza only got one.  I hope they didn't mind.  I have to admit this wasn't my best year at making Easter very special.  Next year I'll feel better and be able to celebrate the true meaning of Easter with more energy and abilitiy to actually do something special.