Sunday, March 15, 2015

Colby George Adams - Birth Story

I love, love, LOVE birth stories! I feel emosh when I hear them, and I always cry when I see them on TV. Bringing a new life into the world is unpredictable, life changing, and truly exhilarating! Colby was a week late, and I was convinced he was never coming! Instead, he gave me another birth story to share. (You can read Hudson's birth story here.)



Short Version

My water broke around 8, and I started having contractions immediately. We arrived at the hospital around 9, and I was dilated to a 5. My contractions were AWFUL until around 11 when I got my epidural. The doctor arrived around 12:15, and Colby was born during the third push at 12:27: )

Long Version

Everything went much faster than I expected - Colby was born 4.5 hours after my water broke! In comparison, Hudson was born 14 hours after my water broke. It went a little something like this...

8:00 - I put Hudson in the tub. When I reached over to add his bubble bath, I felt my water break. It was just a small gush, so at first I wasn't sure that it was my water breaking. Nick was busy around the house, so I didn't say anything right away. I sat down for a minute, and then I stood back up to find more gushing. I knew that it was definitely my water breaking and called to Nick!

8:07 - I called the doctor's office and then waited for the on-call doctor to return my call. I awkwardly tried to start putting the final things in our bags, but I was kinda freaking out - and making frequent trips to the potty as I continued to leak everywhere.

8:13 - The on-call doctor (Dr. Harris) called me back. I explained that my water broke and that I was concerned that it wasn't clear fluid. It was sort of chalky textured/colored. She said that I should head to the hospital to have it checked out since I was already 4 cm dilated at my appointment the week before and because colored fluid sometimes indicates that the baby is in distress.

Nick called his parents to come get Hudson, got Hudson out of the bath, let Callie out, and put our bags in the car while I gathered some final odds and ends. (So much for taking a shower and laboring at home!)

I started bawling as I got Hudson ready to leave! I knew it was our last moment together before he'd truly be a big brother, and we took a few final Mama / Hudson selfies. I was a little emosh, so I'm only sharing one here - my face looks even crazier in the rest! LOL.


Around 8:35 - Judy arrived and played with Hudson in the living room while we ran around the house. I was having contractions by this point and soon realized that they were only a few minutes apart and were growing in intensity! We would have been headed to the hospital at this point whether the waters were weird or not!

Around 8:50 - Judy left with Hudson, and we left for the hospital! I was a little freaked out about how close the contractions were coming.

8:53 - We started to time the contractions using the car clock - ha!

8:57 - I texted our families and Krista to let them know we were headed to the hospital and that Hudson was at Butch and Judy's.

8:59 - I had my third contraction since 8:53, so we knew the contractions were about 3 minutes apart. The contractions were still bearable, but I was pretty uncomfortable.

9:03 - The main hospital doors are locked at 9, so we entered through the emergency room entrance of the hospital. Another pregnant woman and her husband entered the ER as we pulled up. They were helped just before us, but nobody had said anything to us yet. We had some brief exchanges with the other couple (as I was doubled over a chair...and she was relaxing in a wheel chair), but then I soon overheard that the other woman was being induced. As soon as I saw the next nurse, I rudely and loudly asked Nick to make sure the nurse knew I was in active labor. It was my attempt to cut in line! We were quickly escorted to the labor and delivery wing and into our private room! (I never saw the other couple again, but I hope the induction went well - ha!)

9:07 - We were in our delivery room and waiting for my L&D nurse. (I remember this time because we noted that it was exactly an hour after I'd called the doctor!)

9:15-11:00 - This hour and 45 minutes is kind of a blur! I could tell right away that I had an awesome nurse! She was very understanding and friendly, and I felt comfortable with her. She had to ask a million questions about medication, Ebola exposure, etc. before she could check my progress, and I was starting to lose it as my contractions really started to take over. 

I could NOT find a comfortable position: ( It seemed like I'd have a contraction, cramps, another contraction, a break, a contraction, cramps, another contraction, a break, repeat. Most of the pain was VERY low on my belly, and I felt like I could feel the head moving down. Nick put some counter pressure on my hips, and that helped...sometimes. When it didn't, I'd yell at him to stop...poor guy.

I also tried the birthing ball, but I continued to gush everywhere - gross! I was also sweating like crazy - ew. I knew early on that I was going to ask for the epidural sooner rather than later as I was feeling SO MUCH PRESSURE and had little relief between contractions. My nurse checked me, and I was dilated to a 5. I can't remember ever hearing about effacement.,,

I made sure my nurse knew that I wanted an epidural ASAP and asked how long it would take to get it. My nurse said she had paged my doctor...but she hadn't heard back from her yet: ( Eventually she reached the on-call doctor, and the doctor put in orders for pain medication. An IV was started, and I knew I was getting closer to the epidural. Changing positions was excruciating at this point, and I was moaning and screaming like a crazy person (and it wasn't really helping!).


At some point, my nurse was also in touch with my doctor and told me that my doctor would be there for delivery - yay! 

11:00? - The anesthesiologist arrived, and my nurse checked me once more. I was dilated between 5 and 6 centimeters, and I was disappointed that I wasn't going to progress further before the epidural. 

It felt like it took them FOREVER to prep everything, but somehow I was able to get myself under control (sort of - ha!). I felt sort of out of my own body at this point. I remember swaying on the bed and finally controlling my breathing...and only kind of feeling like I was going to die - ha! Nick and I talked about it later and think that I was able to calm down a little bit because I knew pain relief was in sight! I'm really in awe of people who can give birth naturally - I think I'm too impatient and don't trust myself enough. Fear takes over, and I can't relax. I know what I should do, but I can't do anything except freak out - ha! I feel good about my decision to have an epidural, though. Both times it has been the right decision for me.

I felt almost instant relief once the epidural was in place. My blood pressure was low, so they added some meds, gave me some oxygen, and monitored things for a few minutes. My legs became tingly, but I had a little bit of control over them. I could feel the contractions way up high, but I could only feel some tightness - no pain. I thought it was time to nap for a while...but that wasn't the case at all!

While Nick went to get himself a snack, my nurse checked me again. Now I was almost dilated to a 10, and the baby was right there! WHAT!?! I was in shock, and my nurse said that she was going to call the doctor. Nick walked in around the same time, and he was also shocked to find out it was time to push and not time to eat and rest - ha!

12:01 - Nick texted our families and Krista to let them know the epidural was in and the doctor was on the way! I relaxed and waited for everything to be set up - still totally in shock that the baby would likely arrive within the hour!

12:15? - My doctor arrived, and everyone seemed really laid back and ready to go. I felt very relaxed and ready to meet our baby! They told me that each push would be a series of three, ten-second pushes. After the first round, they said I was doing a great job! The doctor said he was right there and that he had blonde hair! After the second round, the doctor had me reach down to feel the top of his head between my legs - CRAZY!

12:27 - I started to push a third time - was told to stop (I'm assuming he was crowning and that she was maneuvering him) - and then I pushed him right out! Colby was born!!! As she placed him on my chest, my doctor said, "He looks just like Hudson!" and commented on how big he was. Everyone was so happy, and he looked great! Hooray! He was pink and screaming, and he had the LONGEST fingernails I've ever seen: )

We snapped some pictures, and I held him for a long time while my doctor delivered the placenta (which actually took longer than pushing out the baby!) and gave me a few stitches. He held my finger SO tight: ) 


The nurses and Nick made guesses about Colby's weight (all guessing 8 lbs + some ounces), and we found out that he was 9 pounds + 1 ounce and 20 + 3/4 inches long! He's our not-so-little man: ) We were instantly in love and SO SO happy to FINALLY have him in our arms!


The rest of the night is kind of a blur! We didn't sleep until probably 5 am - we were too excited!! - and the nurses checked on us frequently, gave Colby a bath, got me some food, etc.

It was another unbelievable experience! I'm so thankful for all of the encouragement and support from friends, family, and coworkers - especially during that last week! - and am excited for our new journey as a family of four: )

Sunday, March 1, 2015

2 Years - 52 Weeks - 3 Years Old

Mama: "You're three years old!"
Hudson: "I'm not old - I'm three!"

***

My Sweet Hudson Bob, 

It is hard to believe that three years ago you made me a mama! Those three years have been the best years of my life, and I truly wish that time would slow down so that I could better absorb our moments together. I know that time is moving too fast, and I know that I can't keep you little forever: ( 

I read this poem recently...



...and I could only make it a few lines before I had tears streaming down my face. I've read it over and over now, and I cry every time. I try to keep it in mind when we're having a rough patch or when I think that I need to clean the kitchen/check Instagram/do one more load of laundry instead of taking time to do whatever it is you need or want me to do. I'll always have time to do all of those other things, but I have a feeling you'll be grown up before I know it!

Ever since Colby George was born, Daddy has been reading you your bedtime story and putting you to sleep. One night he was gone for work, and I got to have a turn! You wanted me to rock you, and you let me sing "Night Night, Baby" to you. I was crying by the end as I rocked your not-so-little body in the rocking chair and thought about how long it had been since we'd rocked together! When we moved it out of you room, it didn't occur to me that we wouldn't be spending as much time rocking together as we used to. I hope we still have a few more nights of rocking left; I'm not ready for the last time...I may never be.

Even though you're leaving some stages behind, you're also entering some new ones. You've recently been understanding so much more about feelings, and we've been talking a lot about how to treat other people. A few weeks ago, you were bossing me around the train tracks, and I told you that I needed a few minutes to take a break (because you were driving me CRAZY!!!). You started to cry, followed me into the kitchen, and said, "I want you to come back because you're my friend!" Heart melted <3 We discussed the right way to treat our friends, and I couldn't stop thinking about you calling me your friend! You're my friend, too, buddy: ) I hope we're friends forever!

I love you more than I could have ever imagined and more than I could ever put into words. Thank you for being you, sweet boy. I'm so proud of you!


Love, 

Mama


***

We had SO MUCH FUN celebrating your 3rd birthday! 

On Thursday night, we made blue cake pops with Cookie to take to your party! You loved adding the sprinkles: )


On Saturday, we went to Kansas City. We went to Fritz's Railroad Restaurant for breakfast. There were trains going around constantly on the tracks above our heads, and a train even delivered your engineer's hat right to our table! On the way out, you rode the train: ) 


Choo, choo!


After breakfast, we went to Union Station to see the Model Railroad Experience. 

YOU. WERE. IN. HEAVEN. 

You ran all around the room looking at the model trains, and Daddy and I kept tearing up because you were just SO SO SO happy! As you can see in the pictures, you were fascinated by the different setups! You loved the snow tunnel and the little railroad workers the most! Before moving on, you spent some time playing with the trains on the train tables.


Before we left for the day, we went out on the bridge that crosses over the train tracks. It was quite the experience! We saw 5-10 trains chugging down the tracks, and they were loud as they passed beneath us!


On Sunday - your actual birthday - we had your party at Pyramid Pizza with all of our Lawrence family! You made everyone wear "blue birthday hats" that you had requested. You were VERY excited about your presents - especially Butch the crane and Richard Scarry's Cars and Trucks and Things That Go! You loved when everyone sang "Happy Birthday" to you - but you weren't too sure about the candles: )



January 18th was unseasonably warm this year, so we were even able to go to the park on your birthday! We played with your "buddies" (a.k.a. the other random kids at the park), drove your car down the slides, and played tag for the first time: )


I love you SO SO SO much, Hudson Bob! I'm so happy that we had so much fun celebrating your third birthday! I can't imagine what the last few years would've been like without you. I do know that they would not have been filled with nearly as much love and happiness. XOXO.