JPs Birth Story

As a disclaimer...I actually wrote this right after coming home from the hospital, but I have just now been able to add pictures to it.  A birth story is just not complete without pictures.  :)

Monday, September 8th, was a normal day. We were prepping for your arrival on Wednesday, via induction, so I was making my lists of things to be done on Monday and Tuesday.  I kept Big Sister home from school that day with the intention of giving her some special attention, since she would be going to spend the rest of the week at Gigi's house on Tuesday night when we were admitted to the hospital. 

What I didn't know is I was possibly already in labor.  

When Your Daddy woke up Monday afternoon, I was in a frenzy, cleaning, complaining, arguing, slamming cabinet doors....it was not my finest hour. And then I became quite emotional when I was around Big Sister, knowing that everything was about to change and our little family of three was never going to be the same ever again.

But then Your Daddy gave me one of his big, world changing hugs, and I got a hot shower, and I felt so much better.

We decided we were going to have Big Sister Day, and take her to all her favorite things before we turned her world upside down. We had dinner at Chick Fil A, went to Home Depot to ride lawnmowers, and to the mall to ride the "gowiwa" and have a cookie....or two. 

 When we were at the mall, I started to notice some low, sharp pains, but didn't think much about them. I had been in false labor for three weeks and I've had lots of strange pains and pokes and contractions that got my hopes up too many times. Plus I had been on my feet all day. I thought it was just time to go home and rest.

So we put Big Sister to bed around 8:00, and Your Daddy and I settled in on the couch for a tall glass of root beer, a box of oatmeal cookies, and one of our favorite shows on tv that makes us laugh uncontrollably. I had been texting Your Gigi about the strange pains I had been having, and how I wished I would just go into labor that night so I wouldn't have to guess anymore.  I even took a bump picture randomly because I thought my outfit was cute.  I had no idea it would be the last one!

Around 9:15, I was about to tell Your Daddy it was time for us to go to bed when I felt a big sharp pain and a POP! I jumped up off the couch and exclaimed, "I think my water just broke!"

I ran to the bathroom to confirm that yes, in fact, my water had broken. Your Daddy and I took a dumbfounded minute to realize that I was actually in labor, and he ran to get his phone. I called Your Gigi to let her know my water had broken and she hopped in her car to come pick up Big Sister. I called the doctor and he told us to head on to the hospital.

After a few frantic minutes of packing the car, waking up Big Sister, putting my hand to my forehead to try to think clearly, and laughing with Your Daddy at the irony of it all, we eventually gave Big Sister goodbye kisses and headed to the hospital.

We were admitted and taken to labor and delivery, where they confirmed my water had broken and hooked me up to all the machines. My contractions had not yet started, but it didn't take long. Your Daddy got comfortable in the impossibly uncomfortable chair. Dr. Cleveland checked my dilation, and I was around 3cms, so that meant we had a long way to go. He told me to get some rest. Ha. 

By then, we were past midnight, and I realized we were going to have a due date baby! That never happens!

Around 3:00, my contractions began to really get intense. I had progressed to 4, almost 5 cms, so I asked for my epidural. Being in the middle of the night, we had to wait for the anasthesiologist on call to get to the hospital. Let's just say I was angry labor woman when he got to my room 45 minutes later. But he administered my epidural and I immediately began to feel relief.

Your Bebe and PawPaw arrived about that time, but I had had zero rest at that point, and neither had they, so they went to the waiting room for a few hours. I was able to close my eyes for a few minutes to regain some strength and to bolster my adrenaline. Your Daddy will tell you he didn't get much rest either, but he's a big fat liar because I listened to him snore all night. 

Around 6:00, Dr. Gilchrist came in to check my dilation. My body had relaxed so much that my cervix wasn't making much progress and my contractions were very irregular, so they began a dose of pitocin. Contractions picked up quickly and I could tell it wouldn't be long. 

I woke up Your Daddy and told him if he wanted to get some breakfast, now would be a good time. I sent a text to Your Gigi to see how things were going with Big Sister, and in true Big Sister fashion, she was taking her dear sweet time getting ready for school, causing Your Gigi to be a nervous wreck.

I told her to get here quick because we were having a baby soon. 

Around 8:00, I started feeling a lot of pressure. The nurse came in and said I was almost fully dilated and to let her know when I started feeling the urge to push. By then, you were being a booger and kept slipping off the external fetal monitor, so they put one on the top of your head. The nurse called Dr. Gilchrist to let him know we were getting close. I sent another text to Gigi because she hadn't gotten there yet. 

She finally arrived and was able to spend a few minutes with us until I got that strong urge to push. We kicked Gigi out of the room, the nurse paged Dr. Gilchrist, and we began practice pushes. You would crown with each push and retreat, so the nurse knew with some strong pushes, you would be out in no time. 

Dr. Gilchrist arrived and we started pushing...hard. Your Daddy got brave and took a peek. One peek was enough. "Yep.  He has hair." and he was back up by me. One big push, and your head was out, and the next big push, you were there!

You weren't crying, and we saw the umbilical cord was wrapped all around your shoulder and your legs. It kinked the cord, so you were without oxygen. Dr. Gilchrist cut the cord and gave you to the nurse who put an oxygen mask on you. 

I don't think I was able to breathe either, and I almost broke Your Daddy's hand from gripping it so hard. They assured me you would be fine, but I prayed out loud, "Breathe, baby, breathe." 

And then you did. First little gurgles, and then a big giant breath, and that first glorious cry. I have heard many beautiful sounds in my life, but there is nothing that will ever compare to the first cries of my children.

Your Daddy joined you by the nurse while they ran your tests - you were born officially at 9:22am, after almost exactly 12 hours of active labor, weighing 6 pounds, 7 ounces, and measuring 20 inches long. You have a beautifully perfect head of dark hair, but your face looks just like Big Sister's. Button nose, big blue eyes, and thin little lips. You are long and skinny with little wrinkly hands and feet.

And when they laid you on my chest finally after what seemed like hours but was only mere minutes, I got to tell you how much I love you and you are the perfect piece of me I never knew I wanted. 

Your grandparents all came in and held you and snapped pictures. They moved us to our permanent room and your grandparents all went to get some lunch. 

And as my favorite part of the day.... 

Gigi went to pick up Big Sister from school. And my whole family was in one room for the very first time. 

She was a little unsure what to think when she came in. She was a bit overwhelmed by all the people and the cameras, so she didn't say much. She asked about the IV in my arm and looked at you skeptically, while we tried to explain that you were the baby in Mommy's tummy we had been talking about all this time. It's quite the concept for a two and a half year old. 

We gave her a bit of time and she opened up some Big Sister presents. Once Mrs. Patty came in the room, she decided she was ready to hold you. 

And my heart exploded.

You had lots of visitors come in and love on you and pray over you for the next few days.  I spent a lot of time praying over you too when we had a few moments to ourselves.  We also spent a lot of time napping.  :)

We were discharged on Thursday and you have been the sweetest little guy. 

We've taken to calling you "Bud," just like we call Big Sister "Bug." You are a laid back dude, and you really only get upset when we take too long with your bottle or when we change your diaper. You're eating and sleeping like a champ. You had a little jaundice, but not enough to warrant anything but a little sunbathing in front of the window. 

We are so in love with you. I was afraid I would feel a sense of mourning when this was all over, knowing that we will more than likely not have any more children. But I don't.  I feel complete. Our family is complete. You are every little piece that was missing. I praise God for the gift of two beautiful and healthy babies.  My heart has doubled in size and I could not be more thankful.

I love you, my sweet son. Welcome to our world, John Paul Parrish.