So would you like to know the rest of the story?
My doctor went on vacation the week of June 1st. I went to my biophysical profiles that week like a good little girl. Monday morning bright and early off I go. Everything looked great; I see my FAVORITE nurse practitioner that I adore. The baby passed all tests with flying colors. The boy and I grilled her about every possible worst-case scenario and what was going on. She answered all our questions, and I left that morning (the 1st) thinking I would be just fine if I were to be pregnant for two or three more weeks.
Then I went home, and almost fainted. My poor MomK was on a conference call, and I had to go in, and interrupt her and tell her I thought I was dying. She promptly put me to bed, and I slept for a while. I woke up not feeling better at all, so I called the doctor who sent me straight over to the hospital. Once there, I was monitored. They didn’t know what to do with me, as they so told me over and over…I was pretty annoyed at them, but whatever. The baby looked good, my blood pressure was fine, so home I went.
Then Tuesday came and went uneventfully. Phew. Wednesday, I woke up. Went to the bathroom, and there was blood everywhere. Went BACK to the doctor where it was determined I had some pretty serious hemorrhoids. TMI I know, but I just have to say, that I have NEVER in my life experienced pain or suffering like I did with those stupid roids that last week of pregnancy. LORD.
Thursday (the 4th) I was done. I was pushed to the limit, physically, mentally, etc. Between all the drama, and all the new stuff popping up I was just ready to have that baby. I went to my biophysical, and Grayson again passed with flying colors. We saw the nurse practioner, and everything looked good from her end too. I asked about induction, and she told me to talk to Dr. Block on Monday.
SO, we had a GREAT last weekend as a family of three. Friday I vegged out, and the boys went to a local baseball game. Saturday, we hit Ikea, were I (in vain) attempted to walk out the Grayson. If nothing else we ate some awesome hot dogs, and Grant ran like a loon. Saturday night we just hung out again. Sunday was church and home where the boy furiously prepared for a possibly pending baby. He washed the car seat, got the lower level all ready for Grayson, and just nested like crazy. I did as well.
Monday morning, I went in for yet ANOTHER biophysical. The Grayster passed with flying colors again, and I couldn’t WAIT to see my doc. I waited FOREVER, because she was at a C-section that morning when I got there. I almost passed out when they told me, but I kept my cool, and just waited it out. She FINALLY walked into our little room, determined the baby had REALLY dropped but I was STILL a 2. (I still can’t believe that, I was a 2 for almost 5 whole weeks!!!!) Then she says, “Do I have you on the induction schedule for tomorrow? I thought I did, but I can’t remember?” To which I responded, “NO but I would LOVE to be on it.” So we left, with an appointment to be at the hospital at 6 AM.
The rest of the day was a blur. I ran around doing everything I could think of, took a nap, and just was a ball of nervous energy. The boy finished up his last day at work before paternity leave, and that night we just looked at my belly, and were waiting!
The next morning I woke up at 4…couldn’t sleep. I had to call the hospital at 5 AM to make sure they could still fit me in, and luckily THEY COULD. So at 5 we left and headed in.
The nervous energy started about then, and when they stuck me with the IV I handled it VERY well. Luckily they had one nurse asking me questions and another doing the IV, so I was very distracted. Then they started my antibiotics, my saline, and the pitocin. They asked if I wanted pain meds, and I said YES RIGHT AWAY. She laughed and said, “Let’s wait for a grimace first huh?”
Dr. Block arrived soon after, and entered saying, “AREN’T YOU SO EXCITED? I snuck in. I don’t think the nurses saw me or know I’m here yet.” and giggled. It was hilarious, and the boy and I laughed about it all day. So I had to use my call button to call the nurses to get them to come down. Then Dr. Block broke my water, and inserted an internal fetal monitor. The nurse said, “Okay we’re going to let you be for awhile, let us know if you start getting uncomfortable…you can have your epidural at ANY time.”
So the contractions started, and they weren’t unlike the contractions I’d suffered through for the last couple weeks. So I got brave, and decided I would wait awhile until getting the meds. Then my body started getting very angry about the whole LABOR thing. I started puking viciously.
Have you ever seen a lady with her water broken puke? It’s like a freaking waterfall. Every time I would puke, I would shoot water everywhere. Not like a little bit either. They kept coming in and moping it up off the floor, and I was so mortified. But I couldn’t stop puking, and the contractions SUCKED. You know the breathing they teach you in the classes. I always thought it was a bunch of crap. IT SO IS NOT. I breathed my way through all my contractions, and it really really helped. I wanted everyone in the room to just go away…including my husband. I made him go sit down where I couldn’t see him a couple times. Labor was everything they tell you it is. Including painful. I think I could’ve handled the pain, but the puking was what pushed me over. I last for about an hour, and called for the epidural. That was about 8:30 or 9 or so. I was a 3 at this point.
The anesthesiologist was the same one I had with Grant. My nurses (who were FABULOUS by the way, I cannot even believe how wonderful they were) came in and got me all ready, and I panted through contractions as he got all set up. It went a lot better this time, no blood on the floor, and it went faster. Or maybe I was just distracted? Either way, within 15 minutes I was feeling better. I couldn’t be on my back again, because for some reason it makes me almost pass out, but it seemed like at first, the epidural was working without making me not be able to feel my legs. I was VERY happy about that.
So down the road we go. I am flipping every hour, and trying to lay very still and sleep. My stomach was SO UPSET. It was debilitating, I’m telling you. The anxiety started to kick in, and it started when the internal fetal monitor FELL OFF THE BABIES HEAD. I’d never heard of that, and when I couldn’t hear the baby’s heart beat anymore I had a HUGE panic attack, and started worrying that the baby was not going to make it. Completely irrational, and shows you how much hormone I had pumping through me. Then every time I got sick I completely panicked, thinking what I’m not sure, but I think my body was just like ENOUGH WITH ALL THIS…and that’s where all that came from. I was a little unprepared for that, but I muddled through.
Then around 11 they checked me and I was a four to five. Then the boy and I decided the baby would be born around 3. They came back around noon and I was at 8! The boy and I about fell over. I told him, that in about five minutes I would be pushing. About two minutes later I told the nurses it was time…the nurses who still hadn’t left because they had JUST checked me. They did, I was complete, and so they called the doc over. And then began the fun of NOT pushing, while feeling the baby coming down the birth canal with each contraction. I would breathe over and over, and the nurse would coach me through each time. Then Dr. Block showed up, and I started pushing!
Four contractions later, Grayson was on my tummy. No tearing, no pain, no drama. I could feel to push, and I did so. It was SO much easier than last time.
And I did a double take when they laid him on me, because he was so light. And then I looked at Greg and said, “My goodness he’s so LITTLE.” And he is a tiny little munkin. But at 12:39 PM, my 7 pound, 5 ounces, 20.5 inch, miracle was born. He squawked when he was born and that was about it for crying. The boy and I weren’t sure what to think about that, and in fact the boy asked the nurse after he was born, “Is he okay?” I took him and stared.
He has black hair but not too much. Blue eyes, and the sweetest little disposition. He only cries if he’s hungry, and that’s when he’ll let you know he’s perturbed. He’s tiny, adorable, and we’re just madly in love.
Breastfeeding has gone remarkably well this time. I fed him about 30 minutes after he was born and since he’s just eaten like a champ! I never even had to relatch him once! I did have some soreness issues but they seem to be getting better, and besides being insanely tired (like feeling loopy) it’s just really beyond wonderful. I feel like I conquered something huge, and I love doing it. I’m still trying to figure out being in public, and how to do that whole thing. We’ve spent a couple hours in far out corners in parking lots ☺
The hospital was fun this time almost. It was insanely quiet. We didn’t really have many visitors besides my parents, Greg’s mom, and Greg’s grandma. We probably would’ve had more if we called anyone, but this time we really didn’t do that. I think we just wanted to relish every minute and I didn’t think of it. It was like a vacation!
The transition for Grant has been harder. His entire routine has been upset, since Daddy is home. Plus we’ve been really lax on the rules, and I think that was the wrong thing. He’s a scheduled, boundary orientated kid and it’s REQUIRED. So needless to say the tantrum and attitude has been rampant. Luckily MomK pointed this out and the return to rules has provided a much calmer Grant. For a while there it was pretty stressful for Greg and I both. It’s hard to watch your kids struggle.
But Grayson is a SUPER easy baby. Making life super sweet. I’m doing amazingly well. I had my few overwhelmed moments at first, with a lot of anxiety. It was just a lot thinking about breastfeeding while still being so tired. But once I got into it, and it was so easy, it’s been cake. No worrying, no depression. I’ve had a few hormonal moments still, and I’ve cried a few times. Mostly, I’ve been able to step back and enjoy this little miracle, and that is just such a gift. ☺ This morning I even manned the two boys by myself while the boy went into work for a meeting, and it wasn’t stressful or overwhelming at all! Grant was quiet and well behaved, and Grayson was sweet as usual. Life is good, and I’m busy but blissfully so.
God is good. ☺



