Grant's birth....

Yeah, I know this is long, but hey I wanted to get it all out in writing before I forget....

First off, this was my first time actually going into labor on my own.  I was induced with the first 3 at +/- 41 weeks.  

On the evening of July 7th (I was due on the 5th) around 5:30pm, I started having what I thought to be Braxton Hicks contractions, nothing unusual, but me, hoping maybe THIS time would be different, I began timing them.  I was actually driving in the car with my mom and the kids to drive-thru Chick-Fil-A.  After we picked up dinner, it took a while to get back home.  We had to take the long way because there was too much traffic on the highway.  This gave me nothing else to do but time these "easy-breezy" contractions that I thought were still just Braxton Hicks.  They were easy, but coming at regular intervals, about 10 minutes apart on average, so it gave me a little something to get excited about.    

So, we got home, ate our dinner.  I wasn't too hungry, just excited thinking I may actually be going into labor this time.  After dinner, David had to go to quick meeting and my mom and I went outside to watch the kids play.  I continued to have contractions, nothing I had to breathe through, but they continued at 10 minutes apart.  I was thinking they were going to go away since they weren't getting any stronger, but every time I had another, I told my mom, "That was 10 minutes" or "Here's another good one!"  We were getting more excited thinking this really was it!  

After the kids played, we came inside and got them ready for bed.  Celestia's birthday was the next day, so I wanted to get the dining room all decorated special for her and get her presents wrapped.  David got home around 8pm and I told him the contractions were still coming regularly.  He got excited and David, my mom, and I just hung out in the dining room while we blew up balloons, wrapped presents, hung the birthday banner, etc.!  I even joked with David when we were trying to hang the banner that he wasn't doing it right, "Let the laboring, pregnant woman do it!"  I was feeling so good, really!  We were having a great time, all while my contractions continued.  See my handy-work....  

Maybe around 9pm they started to get a bit stronger and I would stop and remind myself to relax through them, but they didn't hurt too much and were still 10 minutes apart.  David gave me a wonderful blessing that put me at peace and reminded me of how wonderful and spiritual this was  --bringing a sweet spirit child of our heavenly father into this world.  What a miracle it really was.  

By 10:30pm we were still chatting in the living room and finally decided it was time to go to bed.  I was a bit disappointed that the contractions weren't getting closer together or really strong and I thought maybe it was really just "pre-labor".  Still, I wasn't quite sure and kept my hopes up.  I couldn't sleep much because the contractions still came and I still checked the clock with each one hoping they were going to get closer together....they were still only 8-10 minutes apart.  But, they were still coming, so I was glad about that.

Around midnight, I got out of bed, really wanting to go for a walk to get things going...but, come on...it's the middle of the night, everyone is sleeping, I couldn't go for a walk....darn it!  So instead I went on the computer to help pass the time.  The contractions continued and were lasting about 45 seconds and I could tell these weren't going to be going away and yes, I was definitely in labor.  I was super excited by then, but thought delivery was still a long ways away since they weren't getting much closer.  I decided I better get the rest of my things packed because we were going to have to leave sometime to go to the hospital, so I did that.  Then I laid back down for a bit.  Couldn't really get comfortable.  

By 1:45am, I woke David up and said he should probably get ready because I thought we'd be leaving soon.  The contractions were getting stronger and I had to concentrate on breathing through them, but were still manageable.  I still wasn't sure if we should be going in yet because I was told to wait until they were 3-5 minutes apart and they were still more like 8 minutes.  So, I stalled a bit, laid back down again for a minute then got back up, told David to type up my birth plan that I had written out that evening.  (Nothing like waiting til the last minute, hehe).  So while he typed that up for me ( I know, I'm crazy!)  I had a few really good contractions where I really had to concentrate on relaxing and breathing through them.  It was AWESOME!!!  I was SUPER excited that my baby was coming!!!!  Okay, after I calmed down, I told David, who was almost done typing up my birth plan, that we needed to go NOW!!!!  It was really getting intense...time was just after 2am.  So, he quickly printed it out for me and we were off!  Thanks honey!  

As I tried to go down the stairs I had a really strong contraction.  I had to lean over the banister and breathe through it.  Then I got down the stairs, was walking toward the door and had another REALLY STRONG one...then I was walking out to the car...David pulled the highlander out into the driveway and I had another REALLY REALLY STRONG one right on the hood of the car...that was three contractions, pretty much back to back, less than a minute between....by this point I could tell things were really moving fast and this baby was COMING!!!  Yikes, get in the car and GO!!!  David helped me in the car and laid me back in the seat.  I was really trying to concentrate on my breathing and relaxing.....I kept things under control the entire time, never screamed, hollered, yelled, nothing, just deep breathing....I did tell David to "SLOW DOWN!"  even though he wasn't really driving too fast because I swear, every bump or pebble on the road was KILLING me!  

I think I was having contractions back to back the whole way there.  I had maybe a few 1 minute intervals where I could catch my breath and say a few things like "Isn't this exciting!", but that was it.  David quickly pulled me up to the Emergency Room entrance, got me out, took a quick picture....ha ha!!!  Check out this classic shot!!

soon after this shot I was leaning on some pillar over on the right....you can't see it, but it was there :)   The security guy behind the glass window must have thought I was nuts gripping the large concrete pillar there, so he came out and asked me if I needed a wheelchair.  Of course, I couldn't answer, I was trying to just breathe and not pass out!  David got me in the chair and wheeled me up to L&D.  It seems like we waited for someone to open those doors FOREVER...the phone kept ringing and ringing.  By this time I was in LOTS of pain, but was still breathing, haha, I could tell the end was VERY near!  

As soon as they opened the L&D doors for us, I started calling out orders!!!  "I need to push, I need to push, I need some water, I'm really thirsty!!!  I need to push!!!"  The nurses quickly wheeled me in to a room, asked some questions like "what number is this for you? "  "4!!!!  I said.  I think they knew that I was serious when I said I needed to push after they were told this was number 4 for me!  

After we got in the room, time: 2:39am, they helped my up on the bed, while David helped me get my pants down before the baby fell out!  PHEW!!!  he didn't fall out!  My one LONG contraction (at least it felt like it) that lasted from about when we left the house until I got up on the bed must have been transition because the nurse checked me as soon as that "contraction" stopped and I was +2 with a bulging bag.  David said, "what?  How many centimeters is she?"  The nurse said, "Oh, she's complete!"  As in ready to push!  PHEW again.....I was so relieved to know the end was in sight!  One of the nurses wanted to put an IV in my and I said, "What?...no way, I'm about to have this baby, no way do I want an IV now!!!" The on call doctor quickly ran in and as soon as I felt the next contraction I was told to push, then wait...hold it right there!!!!  They unwrapped the cord from around his neck, suctioned his mouth...can I just say...SWEET RELIEF, that felt MUCH BETTER!!!  Then I gave one more little controlled push to get the shoulders out and up onto my chest he flew!!!  Time: 2:46am....only seven minutes after I got there!  I was soo relieved to be done.  It felt so good to have that out!  He started crying that sweet newborn cry....   Let the babymoon begin!!!  Now I could just snuggle and gaze at my new little guy. 

 I was amazed at how quickly that happened.  Even when we called my mom, a half hour later, she couldn't believe we had already had him.  My midwife, sweet Sharon, didn't make it in time.  She was only 5 minutes late, but darn it, she missed it.  Oh well,  I got over that fast.  We had a good time joking about how that was a "drive-by delivery!".  

Soon, I was nursing him, cuddling him, and just staring at my new little boy.  He was 6lbs. 11oz.  and just perfect!  Welcome to the world baby Grant!  

His first pictures.  A fresh squishy little man....

Here he is at 6 weeks old hanging out at our picnic lunch yesterday with daddy.