It has been almost a month since the most incredible & life altering day I have ever experienced!
September 16 at 6:53 AM our sweet little Calvin Michael made his grand entrance into the world.
It was such a sweet and amazingly spiritual moment that I will never forget...
But let me start at the beginning of this adventure, which was a full 24 hours before.
Monday morning I woke up at around 4 am think I had the worst cramps ever! In my semi-comatose state I didn't correlate the fact that I was 9 months pregnant and cramps should not be happening. This connection wasn't made until about 5 am, and I realized I was having contractions.
I pulled out my phone and started a note that tracked the timing of each one... they were about 10 -12 minutes apart. When Mike woke up I told him to go into work (every labor video/class said this part of labor could actually last several days) and to just be on alert, I would call him if I needed.
He left the house at around 7. I called Nellis Labor & Delivery and told them how far apart my contractions were and the level of pain I was feeling. As soon as Mike left my contractions started to become increasingly painful & closer together - they told me it sounded like I was in active labor and that we should head over!
I called Mike about 20 minutes after he left the house and told him he needed to come home so we could go to the hospital! The next few minutes were a flurry of gathering everything I thought I might need during my time there. We also jumped online and scheduled a flight for my sister Jana to come down here - she was going to be in the room with me as I delivered - and planned her pick up from the airport with a good friend, Emily (consequently the one who took the cute maternity photos in the last post).
When we arrived they did a cervical exam (ouch) in the triage room and determined I was dilated to a 4. They wanted me to be progressed a bit more before they would admit me, but they said to stay close and just walk around the hospital or go get a shake. I told Mike we should go get a smoothie and we headed down the street ... at this point my contractions were getting so bad I threw up while we were driving. Yuck! I decided eating anything would not be in my best interests at this time..
We headed back about a half hour later, did another cervical exam (I was at a 5) and they decided to admit me! I am such a lightweight when it comes to pain, all I could think about was getting that epidural ASAP. I'll never understand women who go natural - if there is medicine available, take it!
So it began. They set me up in my labor and delivery room and about fifty different people came in to ask me all sorts of questions. Many of them were asking the same thing, and I was really annoyed because I could barely talk through the contractions. Finally they did the epidural and I was able to relax.
About four hours later (4 pm) Jana arrived. I hadn't progressed much at all (only to a 6) so at this point they decided to break my water. The tool they used to do so looked like a crocheting needle, and that really freaked me out. They had a really hard time rupturing the membranes, thankfully my epidural was in full force so I was in a sweet oblivion as to what was going on.
During this time we were all pretty relaxed and I was sitting in different positions to help encourage progress. We watched 'American Ninja Warrior' and Mike & Jana got Del Taco, but since I wasn't allowed to eat I told them they couldn't eat it in front of me. I love Del Taco.
A few hours later they checked me again - still at a 6 - so they started a pitocin drip. And that was basically how the night went... they kept checking me, were not satisfied with my progress, increased the drip. It wasn't until about 11 pm that I was dilated to a seven. When they checked me again at 2 or so they said if I didn't progress by the next time they checked me a C section would have to start becoming a consideration. This was really discouraging to me - I definitely did not want my first birth experience to be a C-section.
Luckily the next time they checked me I was at an 8! However, I started to have HORRIBLE back labor. I can't express to you how bad this pain in my back was. The nurses were hesitant to increase the meds in my epidural, because they wanted me to be able to feel when I needed to push, and that was coming up sooner than later... Yeah, I was basically bawling my eyes out and throwing up until they finally relented and gave me some more meds.
My OB expressed a concern that with this bad of back labor that my baby might be 'sunny side up.' In other words, his face was facing the wrong direction, and when he came out it would really stress him out and he would look very bruised - like he got into a fight. That was also super discouraging to hear, and I was hoping and praying it wasn't the case. Fortunately, it wasn't and he came out just fine!
At about 5 am they came into my room and announced I was ready to push! I was so excited to finally have the moment be here. The next two hours were so hard ... I only had about two pushes before I started to feel everything (I swear they had my epidural practically turned off). I was trying not to yell at people and be like how those crazy labor scenes are in movies... but I was just about to that point!
It was so great to have Jana & Mike cheering me on and supporting me in the process. All the hard work made it that much more beautiful when Calvin finally arrived.
He didn't cry when he came out, just let out a little whimper. In fact, he barely cried at all the first day in the hospital. I will never forget the rush of joy the moment they put him on me after he was born. Mike cut the cord and I just looked into his beautiful little face and felt like this piece of me that was missing my whole life was finally here (cliche, I know). I was smitten.
He weighed a whopping 8 pounds 11 ounces & was 22 inches long. Consequently, that is exactly (to the ounce) what Michael weighed when he was born. And it is little wonder they are the exact same - he is his Dad's mini me.
And then they wanted me to breast feed him and hold him, but after the labor process I was simply out of energy. I gave it my best to nurse then begged them to let me sleep. It had been a long, long time since I'd gotten any sleep at all... The night before we even got to the hospital I had only slept a few hours.
So I passed out and missed all sorts of fun things like his first bath and some instructions that were given to Mike. But it was fine with me, Daddy can have those memories for himself and I'll cherish the pictures Aunt Jana took for us to document the experience.
This was my favorite nurse, Lieutenant Jacobs-Brunner. She looks just like J-Lo! She was fantastic and had such a great personality. It was especially nice to have her there when I was pushing.
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This was my OB, Dr. Olson. She was fabulous as well. I felt like she was very honest and forthright the entire time, which is so nice because childbirth is so intimidating for someone with no idea of what to expect!
The moment our little family became three.
Calving meeting his Aunt Jana.
This was Daddy's first diaper change! He's a seasoned veteran now, and it's only been a month, haha!
Sweet boy right after he was born. He loves to have his fist and hands by his mouth - if they are restrained he will not hesitate to let you know!
This was a picture I took when I had a moment by myself with the little man. I felt so connected and in love with this little one.
One day old
Two days old
As we were preparing to leave the hospital. Dad was loading the bundle of joy in his carseat... Calvin was less than excited, which can probably be attributed to his circumcision that took place a few hours prior to this picture being taken.
We sure love our little boy and every day brings new adventures as we try to figure out this parenthood thing! This experience really reminded me of what is important in life - I am so grateful for my little family!
