Labor of Love

I always laugh when I watch those scenes in movies where a woman's water breaks and she immediately starts contracting every 2 minutes like it's time to start pushing.
I guess in the interest of time, I get it...but it still annoys me.
My experience was MUCH different than that.

Around noon on Saturday, July 24th, I was helping carry baby shower gifts to my friend Meghan's car when it happened. Yes, I was at a baby shower when I felt a trickle run down my leg. My first thought was...
oh great! Am I really at that point in my pregnancy that I am starting to pee on myself??
Then it occured to me...I can't stop this pee! Maybe it's not PEE at all!!

I remember looking at my friend, Liz and saying "I think my water just broke!"
And that was all I remember...the rest was a blurred mixture of screams, gasps, Ashley looking up my skirt to see if it did infact break (this I didn't find out until later!ha!) and ended with Meghan driving my car to my house for me so I could go to the hospital.

I couldn't get ahold of Alf b/c he had turned off his ringer so he and Kaleb could enjoy an afternoon nap.

**Note to husbands out there: TURNING OFF YOUR PHONE WHEN YOUR WIFE IS 9 MONTHS PREGNANT AND COULD POP AT ANY MOMENT IS NEVER A GOOD IDEA.

When I walked in the door and Alf heard what happened, he freaked. I don't know who was more nervous/anxious/excited...him or me! Before I knew it, water was gushing all over our dining room floor, Kaleb was with Liz and we were headed to the hospital. (Thank you Liz!!)

Once we checked in at Mercy-Gilbert, the nerves settled and we had a nice little conversation with a couple in the waiting room. I was wheeled back into an exam room and waited for the interrogation to begin. The questions they ask you are so bizarre. I remember thinking...would they be asking me this stuff if I was in very active labor? Because they would probably hear some choice 4 letter words for answers.

I totally forgot I still had a beach towel stuck in between my legs until a nurse pulled it out and said...I don't think we'll need this anymore. Then she proceeded to give me a mattress pad to put between my legs. Those bad boys mean business...nothing is getting past those!
Alf and I talked and laughed, we sent some texts, talked to nurses and I had yet to have a single contraction. When I heard the word "Pitocin" I knew that was about to change....this was about 3:30pm.

About 4pm I was hooked up to a Pitocin drip and the contractions started almost immediately. I tried to lay back and relax and Alf started a movie in our room. I didn't get through 15 min of it before I started feeling the contractions. After the second one, I called the nurse and asked if I could have an epidural. (I know, I'm a total weenie!) I was already dilated to a 4 so she was happy to oblige.

The anesthesiologist was a DREAM...so gentle and very cute to boot! Then, after he gave me the happy stuff he asked if he could pray with us. Ummm, YES! His prayer was so perfect and it was exactly what I needed to help me feel grounded and prepare myself for labor. After he left, it wasn't long before I was dilated to a 7.

And then, it started.

First it was just a little itch on my tummy. Then I started itching on my back. Then it became uncontrollable itching all over my body. I scratched and scratched until my skin was raw. I called in the nurse and told her what was going on. She said I was having an allergic reaction to the epidural and she could give me benadryl for it but it could affect Kieran. I wasn't up for anything affecting my little man, so I suffered through it. She wet a rag for me and I just kept wiping my tummy (which was where it was the worst). My whole body was red from me scratching and I really could've hurt myself considering I couldn't tell how hard I was scratching from the waist down!

It seemed like the nurse only came back in a couple more times before she said it was time to start pushing. I couldn't believe it. But I've only been in labor for like 5 hours....it's only 9:30pm. How can it be time to start pushing?
I was in labor for almost 26 hours with Kaleb, so you can imagine my amazement :) (yes, you read that right, TWENTY SIX HOURS. good times.)

I pushed for only about 20 minutes and he was out. His big eyes were the first thing I saw. He had them open so wide and when they put him on my chest, he was just staring at me, not making a sound. Everything else faded to black...I couldn't believe he was here. He was wrinkled, he was tiny, he was perfect. I instantly fell head over heels for him. He was so relaxed and so sweet. His demeanor has yet to change. He is such a chill baby. I can't wait to see his little personality, to watch him grow and change. I know it will fly.
And with this being our last, I will try to slow down. Try to take it all in.
The gurgles, the smiles, the baby smell. (sigh)
I could just eat him.

I mean, in just 3 short months, he has already gone from.....

THIS



TO THIS....