Pages

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

my loves

No words necessary.







Sunday, May 29, 2011

Our sweet boy has arrived!

I keep trying to make the time to sit and relive that wonderful day...so this post will probably be a product of snippets of time over the course of the next couple days.

Monday morning (5/23/11) I started getting very mild contractions around 8:00am and called to let John know around 8:30am.  He had a couple court times both here in Nashville and in Murfressboro so he was on high alert!  Next call was to both sets of parents keeping them on alert as well as the contractions were coming about every 7-9 minutes but not unbearable. 

Around 10am...I thought they were going to disappear so I called a "stand down" on labor.  I was getting so excited and then nuthin'. 

Oh..did I get my wish!  Around 10:45am I called John and told him to call his folks and tell them to get on the road (they are about 2 hours away) because the contractions were getting stronger and closer.  By the time John got home around 12:30...I was in full blown contraction/labor PAIN.  It was like a scene out of a movie where the pregnant lady is bent over the side of couch/chair/stair-railing/counter..etc and moaning and breathing.  I don't think I have ever felt pain like that in my life.

John actually came home in the middle of one and was open mouthed and wide eyed as I don't think he has ever seen me in that kind of pain either.  He laughs later because as soon as the contraction was done, I would stand up and continue packing the bag or playing with Anna.  It was a little bi-polar-ish.

We realized that we wouldn't be able to wait for John's parents to get here as it was getting closer to 1pm and the contractions were coming every 2 minutes.  Our dear friend, Tommy, hopped in his car and zoomed up to us to keep an eye on a sleeping Anna until John's parents could arrive.

Sitting in the car and having those contractions was almost unbearable...but as I continued to breathe, I started thinking about this new life about to rule and change our world.  It was a bright spot and allowed me just to push through and deal with the pain.

Arriving at labor and delivery at 1:30pm...after gripping the walls of the entrance until I got a wheelchair...I get wheeled up to the counter in triage and the lady (completely serious) says to me, "Are you pregnant?".  As the tears were rolling down my face, I burst into hysterical laughter!   What a question?!?  Then I realized she couldn't see the belly! 

After all the important questions:  Are you pregnant?  YES.  Will you be getting an epidural?  YES!!!  She checked me and I was already at 4/5 cm!  I was very surprised! 

Finally getting upstairs around 2:15pm and breathing through even stronger contractions, my favorite people came in...the anesthesiologist!  Soon, I was pain free and much more relaxed! 


At 3:45pm I was at 6/7cm and at 9cm (almost 10) at 4:15pm!  I didn't need pitocin this time, my body knew what to do!  We did a quick practice push around 5:00pm, they got the room ready and at 5:39pm sweet Graham William came into the world with just a little squeak.  They let me hold him but he wasn't making all the racket they hoped so they wisked him away to the warming table.  John stayed with him the entire time and I just couldn't keep my eyes off him.  He was perfect and absolutely a chuck.  :)


He weighed in at 9lbs 3oz and 21 1/4 inches long.  He latched on immediately and nursed for a long time while the doctor finished. 



I remember when he came out, the tears just started coming.  I couldn't believe I was so blessed to be able to bring another life into this world.  We made him.  A true miracle and unbelievable bundle of love.



Both sets of parents arrived and quickly came and showered him with all the love in the world.  Anna came in soon after and was a little hesitant as all eyes (and cameras) were on her.  As soon as she saw me, she ran over and insisted she sit next to me.  I remember she kept leaning her head towards mine so I would kiss her forehead or just lean in to her too.  This was probably not noticed by anyone else in the room but me, and I loved her for that.  She kept smiling at me and looking at this little baby in my arms.  It was a true heart-exploding moment.




Dr. Bellardo (my normal OB wasn't able to be there but he was WONDERFUL!)
More to come...

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

False alarm

So last night at about 11:45pm I actually had "time-able" braxton hicks contractions.  Normally these aren't time-able and don't really indicate labor.  But these suckers were coming every 5 minutes!  I got up, walked around, bounced around on a yoga ball until about 1:30am, then decided if they were real, they would wake me up.

And boy did they ever.  I got John up around 2:15am having strong contractions every 4-5 minutes.  Thank goodness Mom and Dad were in town...so after a call to the on-call OB, we zipped on down to Centennial arriving around 3am. 

I get all hooked up and monitored.  Contractions coming every 2 min!  woo-hoo!  This could be it!  I am 1 1/2cm dilated (which was pretty disappointing) but still progress.  So they made me lay there for an hour.  After about 40 min...basically the contractions went away (insert sad trombone noise)

She went to inform the on-call OB that they were sending me home and guess what?  Contractions come back...every 2 minutes.  Still get sent home because I didn't make any dilation progress.  Sigh.

Get home around 5:30am.  Exhausted.  Disappointed.  And definitely not looking forward to the day.

Here's hoping all that means something is getting going!

Appointment tomorrow at 11am CST.

Stay tuned.

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

A Place for Graham


This little nursery and place to escape for Graham is almost complete. It was a change of pace from pink and girly to "beachy boy" as I call this theme.



This sailboat was from  my brother's wedding.  Love that it fits perfectly in this room.  You can also see a peek of the curtains (didn't get a great shot of them) made by my Aunt Barbie!

My brother's little booties that he came home from the hospital in...i believe my nephew's did as well!

We are going to put two pictures from our newborn photoshoot on either side of the sailboat print.

Our nightly rendezvous place. :)

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

You see that little ticker on the right side of your screen?  No, not the one that shows you how old little miss Anna is...the other one.  The one that I can literally hear the seconds ticking away.

Yikes.  Seriously, YIKES. 

37 weeks on Friday...officially "full term".  Exam on Thursday where we will see if I have any progress. 

Y.I.K.E.S.