Monday, May 14th I woke up not feeling well. I was up all night with contractions, but they weren't regular or necessarily painful enough to be concerned. I went into work late since I got so little sleep. Once I decided to get up and go to work I threw on some comfortable clothes, a little makeup and called it good. I knew I wasn't going to be there all day because I still wasn't feeling well. It just felt like something wasn't right.
When I got to work, I told my boss what was going on. I told him that I'd get all my work done and then most likely go home for the day. Well, about 20 minutes later my water broke! I couldn't believe it! It was so weird because I instantly thought, "I'm going to meet my son TODAY!" The time had finally come!
I called Matt at his work and we both met at home to get our things together. We already had our bags packed so we just had to change and pack our toiletries. We were out of the house in less than 20 minutes and on the way to the hospital! I thought that I would panic but I was actually very calm. It was like a peace came over me... in between the contractions that is! On the way we called all of our family and they all jumped in the car as well!
Once we got to the hospital we walked as fast as we could to labor and delivery! It felt like that walk was forever! When we finally got to the nurse's station and I told them that my water had broke the lady acted like I had just told her that I had a splinter! She was moving SO SLOW! I had to fill out two forms and get weighed before she took me to a room! At this point I was in pretty bad pain and as I was about to say something she finally walked us to our room! Thank heavens I never saw that lady again because I probably wouldn't have been too Christian...
Once I got to my room I changed into my cute polka dot gown! Of course, I had to give birth in STYLE! Just kidding, it actually was a much more practical and conservative gown then the ones the hospital offers! So it served two purposes...
Then I got on the bed and they hooked me up to the monitors. Thank the Lord, the entire labor and delivery Ryan was perfect and his heart rate was normal! I LOVED my nurses! We were very blessed with kind nurses! This was something that I was worried about because I know they can make/break your delivery experience and mine were great! Although, she did an awful job on my IV! Let me tell you, that thing hurt the ENTIRE time it was in! Everyone kept telling me that that wasn't normal but I just pushed through it because I didn't want her to take it out and redo it! (FYI at this point I was dilated to about 4 1/2cm)
She then took my blood and told me that we had to wait for the labs to get back to give me the epidural and that should only take about 30 minutes. Yea... so an hour and a half later I got my epidural! That was the most pain I've ever been in! It was awful! I didn't want any of the family in the room before I got my epidural but I really wanted to see my mom so we let my mom and Matt's mom come back to see us. Of course I started crying when I saw my mom! The whole experience is so emotional and it all goes so fast (except the painful parts of course!). I told my mom that I was in so much pain and it broke her heart.
While we were waiting my doctor walked over to check on me! I was so relieved to see her! I had the most amazing doctor in the whole world!! She is amazing! (at this point I was now dilated to 6cm)
FINALLY the guys come in to give me my epidural. And OMG that could be a post all of it's own! Let's just say it took over 30 minutes for them to get it in and I found out later that a student was doing it!! I was so mad but didn't care to say anything at the time because I was just so relieved that the pain was gone!
After the epidural was stuck all the way down my back with basically duct tape and had kicked in we let our family come in... there were about 20 of them! It was great to see everyone though and I felt so much better after the epidural so I didn't mind! Although, the epidural did give me the shakes pretty bad and everyone kept asking me if I needed a blanket and I kept saying, "no I'm not cold it's just the epidural!" The family was in our room for about an hour before the nurse came in to check me again. So, the family just stepped right behind the curtain but they were quickly ushered back out to the waiting room because I was now dilated to 10 cm! (This all happened in less than 5 hours! The nurses kept telling me over and over that I had the fastest, easiest birth they'd ever seen for someone having their first child and the rest of my kids will come even faster! Great! I don't want to have a baby in a car...)
There were a few minutes that Matt and I were in the room alone and we just looked at each other and I kept saying, "oh my gosh I can't believe it's time to push! I can't believe he's about to be here!" Matt leaned down and kissed me and then the nurse was back in the room asking me to do some test pushes. I was pushing as hard as I could because she threatened to turn the epidural off if I was too numb to push! Let me tell you I was pushing so hard! She would have gotten punched in the face if she came near my epidural!!
In the next five minutes my doctor was there getting everything set up and getting her gloves on! Like I said, it goes so fast! The rest is pretty much boring because I literally pushed on about five contractions and then Ryan was HERE!!
It was such a beautiful moment. I could cry just thinking about it again! I love this little boy with all my heart! When he came out he was so perfect! He was immediately placed on my chest and I got to hold him for the first time and I kissed his little forehead. Then they whisked him away to clean him. Matt and I kissed as we were both crying. I love my boys!
Matt is such an amazing dad. He was home with me for three weeks and he was so wonderful! There wasn't anything he didn't help me with! I feel like our marriage is so much stronger and I love and appreciate him more now that I see him as a dad.
First family picture with my boys.
This is once we had a little alone time again after all our family had gone. Sweet moments. (did you really think I was gonna let him wear those ugly hospital clothes?!)
Proud daddy.
First night with his first lovey Henry. (side note: he didn't stay in the bed for long! He slept all night with me! We just couldn't stand it!)
Going home the very next day in his Razorback gear!
The process wasn't pretty or comfortable but I'd do it again in a heartbeat! We are so incredibly blessed to have Ryan as our son! I still stare at him all the time not believing that he's mine! I love him more than anything! The Lord is so good!!
with love,
