Once upon a time it was December 18, 2010 and I was very, very pregnant.
Tyler and I were very excited because I was to be induced the very next morning at 7:50 am. Oh, and we're matching. Cute... sort of.
The next morning, I called the hospital at 7am and they said they did not currently have the room for me. They told me they would call back when there was room. I was fine with that... I ate a banana and went back to bed. An hour and a half later I wake up to a call from the hospital! DUN DUN DUN.... Tyler and I checked into the hospital and I began signing my life away. I was put on Pitocin around 10am and sat back waiting for the drugs to work their magic. The pitocin was not very effective.. I was dilated to about a 2 when Dr. Huish came in around 12pm and broke my water. EEK. After about an hour of the breakage of the water... which was extremely unpleasant... I began to feel contractions. Can I just say I love drugs? I waited 5 hours so I knew how they felt and that I would be more grateful for the epidural. After 5 long hours I had the epidural! Thank heavens. It was amazing. Everyone says the epidural is so scary... not the case. Ya, I was shaking and super nervous.. but it was basically painless and the feeling it gives is so worth it. After the epidural Tyler and I just hung out... waiting, waiting, waiting. I sat and watched Tyler eat a hamburger and french fries for dinner, all the while wishing I had more than a banana for breakfast that day. 6pm rolled around and I still had not dilated past a 4. More waiting. I tried to get some rest but that was basically impossible with all the IVs and the blood pressure cuff that cut off circulation to my arm every 10 minutes. (I got bruises. I think my nurse was a little silly) The nurse noticed Jack's heart rate would increase when I had my contractions. She said it was nothing to worry about, just that they would be sure to keep a close eye on it. Around 11pm Jack's heart rate increased measurably and 6 nurses came rushing into the room. Lets just say they stuck a few things into me and tried to get a better signal of Jack's heart rate. It was awesome. Sarcasm. I had to keep still so I wouldn't move Jack and put him at risk of the stress again. At this point the nurse told me if it happened again I would most likely go in for an emergency c section. I just wanted to be sure Jack was OK so I was completely fine with whatever needed to be done. Jack seemed to be doing just fine for a few more hours. Then, around 3am Jack stressed out again. This time, six different nurses came rushing into my room telling me I needed to get on my hands and knees. I laughed out loud. I could not feel/control my legs and I felt so incredibly weak. I somehow managed to maneuver myself onto my hands and knees(in my lovely hospital gown) and the nurses did their work. Tyler and I had no idea what was going on. The nurses just kept saying "He is on his way..." and "..should we wait?" etc. One nurse was patting my back telling me it was going to be OK and that Dr. Huish was on his way to the hospital. I then received a shot into my arm that was supposed to stop my contractions. I was taken off the pitocin and Dr. Huish checked me and said I was at a 6. Around 5am Dr. Huish came back in and told me I hadn't progressed at all. He said "We can either wait this out and see how Jack reacts or go in for a c-section now." I looked over at Tyler. Both of us dead tired and scared decided we wanted Jack out safe and we wanted him out now. Dr. Huish said "Good, That would be my suggestion." Within 30 minutes about 6 different nurses, doctors and anesthesiologists came into my room and introduced themselves to me. They were to be my c-section crew. I signed a few more papers and drank some nasty fluid then they wheeled me into the bright operating room. It was so white and it smelled so clean it burnt my nose. I was tired, hungry, cold, and absolutely terrified. I was moved from my bed to the table and had my arms strapped out horizontally onto the table. I felt so scared and I didn't think I was going to be able to handle it. Tyler walked in wearing blue scrubs, a hairnet, and a mask. He sat next to my shoulder and told me everything was going to be alright. He made me feel like I could handle it. The sheet was pulled up between the doctors and Tyler and I. I felt the tugging of the incision and tried to find my happy place. After Dr. Huish got Jack's head out, 3 nurses began pushing on my upper abdomen to get the rest of his body out. That was what hurt the most. I remember one nurse said "I think he has his toes wrapped around you like a monkey." After them pushing on me for 30 seconds, he finally came out and started to cry. At 5:51 am Jack was born! I was so happy he was here. I immediately felt nauseous and told the dr. i was going to throw up. Luckily he was there, ready for me. Tyler went and saw Jack and the Dr. brought him over so I could see him. I felt emotionless. It was the strangest feeling in the world. I was then cleaned up and was taken into the recovery room.
Jack weighed in at 8lbs 14oz and was 22in long. A BIG BOY! He suffered some bruises from ramming his head into my cervix so many times. His umbilical cord was wrapped around his neck and then around his body, which is why my contractions were putting so much stress onto his poor little body. I watched my son get bathed and receive his tests and immunizations. Afterwards, he immediately latched onto me and ate his heart out. I remember looking down at him wishing I could give him the biggest hug... I unfortunately felt too weak to even trust myself to hold him. Tyler had his arms underneath mine and I looked up at him and we gave each other the biggest smiles. We were parents to a perfect baby boy. I remember looking into Tyler's eyes feeling so much love..... and thinking he looked very handsome in his blue scrubs.
What a sweet little boy.
He is the greatest blessing in my life and I love him more than I thought was possible.
Dad & Jack. Tyler was amazing and stayed with me the whole 4 days I was at the hospital. He treated me so well. I am so incredibly grateful to have such a loving husband.
I love my Jack.
