It all started Sunday the 22nd mid day. I hadn't gone to church because I was recovering from a nasty flu the previous 2 days. Which I actually thought was labor, ended up going to the hospital Friday night, only to be told I was dehydrated. Super embarrassing especially since I did the same thing with Jack. Anyway, through out the day Sunday I had some contractions, but very sporadic. I was already dilated to a 4 so I figured it would be that night or the next day. That night we put the kids to bed around 7:30 and decided to watch a movie and time my contractions, as they were definitely consistent at that point. We watched The Kite Runner, (so depressing. I kept thinking, "I don't want to be thinking of this sad movie while I'm in labor!) By the end of the movie they were pretty strong and 10 minutes apart. I called my neighbor and told her it was time and could we bring the kids over. She was sick as a dog and asked if we had a back up. Luckily, we have some great friends. So I called my friend Tracy, she didn't answer so Phil called her husband Drew. They were just about to go to bed and were more than willing to take the kids. We gathered all of my things for the hospital, woke up the kids, loaded everything in the car, dropped them off at Tracy's, and headed to the hospital. It was around 11:30 and my contractions were about 6 minutes apart and getting stronger. Phil knew he was in for a long night so he asked if we could swing by Taco Bell and get him some sustenance. I felt totally fine in between contractions so we drove through Taco Bell and got Phil some food. We arrived at the hospital and they checked me, confirmed I was in actual labor, dilated to a 5, then put me in my room. It was about midnight at this point. Everything was pretty text book from that point on. A few days earlier my friend Kari had shown Phil and I some techniques to deal with the contractions, they were so helpful and we ended up using two of them the whole time. I had read a little of Hypnobirthing and another book called Birthing From Within. I couldn't really get my mind to do the hypnobirthing stuff. Birthing From Within is a little more about embracing the pain and using it to help. Every time a contraction came I would repeat the same thing in my head, "I'm strong. I can do this. My body was meant to do this. Heavenly Father made me to do this. I have a husband who loves me and is here for me." I would say that over and over until the contraction passed. As the contractions got more intense I would envision them pushing the baby down. After a few hours I was dilated to a 9. They broke my water and a few minutes later I was ready to push. I think I pushed twice, maybe three times, and out he came as perfect as can be. For several weeks before he came I kept picturing a little boy with thick dark hair, and he definitely fit the description! They immediately handed him to me and he was all red and puffy and I said, "oh he's so cute!! We did it buddy, we did it." He swallowed a little amniotic fluid so they suctioned him out. Livi and Jack both latched on immediately, but he didn't seem interested at all. I would stop and try again a little later but he wasn't latching. Finally he spit up all this amniotic fluid and then he ate like a champ.
Because I'm strep B positive and they weren't able to give me the full course of antibiotics, we had to stay a full 48 hours. So I was there Christmas Eve and was able to go home Christmas morning at 9am. I was sitting on my bed with my bags packed waiting for the ob and pediatrician to discharge us. I was so excited to get home and watch the kids open their presents! We got in the car and Livi said, "Yay! We got mommy back!"
Gabriel is such a sweet baby. I'm not gonna lie the first 6 weeks were rough. No sleep coupled with Phil going back to school while still working made for lots of craziness. (He is getting his masters in petroleum engineering from Texas A&M) Gabe is sleeping so much better now at 8 weeks. He went 6 hours last night and I felt like a million bucks.
Livi and Jack have been so great with him, especially Livi. She'll hold him while I make dinner and they both are great about bringing me diapers. Jack has his moments where he will start petting his head and then he'll pull his hair or pinch him. But for the most part he's been great.
getting checked in and hooked up to the monitor.
going home!
comparing their hair color
watching tv waiting to be discharged
Christmas morning! These 2 are awesome, they woke up, so all the presents and didn't complain at all that they couldn't open them yet. Also, huge props to Phil for putting everything out and for finishing up the wrapping I didn't get to.
this is Gabe at 7 weeks, and this is the outfit Jack came home from the hospital in. More and more I'm realizing what a tank he was.
this is how Jack shows his love
I love Gabe's face in this one.
sleeping anywhere, anytime we can
