Jonathan's birth story

I know it has been a while, but I just have not had a chance to update the blog. This is going to be the last entry in this blog, and I will continue another blog, when I have time, for Jonathan at http://www.babiesonline.com/babies/o/ourgiftfromabove/.

Here is Jonathan's birth story.

Wednesday the March 14th, I decided I needed to accomplish the rest of my list of things to do before the baby comes. I was able to get all of it done that afternoon. I spent the evening relaxing. I had no indication that labor was near, except of the good night sleep I had the night before. Mike and I decided to watch a Simpson episode. I was close to 10:00pm when it was over and we decided to get ready for bed. When I got up from the couch, I felt a contraction. It wasn’t that painful, but I remember telling Mike as I was getting up, that it felt like real contraction. I went to use the bathroom. When I was finished, I stood up and I began to trickle. I could tell I wasn’t leaking pee, so I knew my water had probably broke. I also noticed there was gross, green stuff in the water. When I had mostly stopped leaking, I got up to tell Mike my water broke. He was already in bed, so he got up and started getting ready to go to the hospital. I got cleaned up, and got dressed. I remember feeling excitement, knowing things had started, I was not yet nervous or scared. I did feel a little bit nervous about the green stuff, I knew that it was probably meconium. Mike gave me a blessing before we left for the hospital.

On the way to the hospital, I noticed my contractions coming regularly, but they were very mild, and I was not in pain. When we arrived at the hospital, we had to go to the ER because they main entrance was closed. They called for a wheel chair and I was pushed up to L&D. I remember feeling silly because I really didn’t feel like I was in labor, although I knew I was.

When we got to L&D, they told us that two other women had just came in, so they were busy (it is a small hospital). We had to wait in the room for a little while before the nurses came in to hook me up to the monitors and check me. When they were finally able to check me the nurse confirmed that my water had broken and that there was meconium in it. She also told me that I was only 1cm dilated. I thought I was in for a long night.

They let me labor naturally for a little while. I was having regular contractions and they were getting more intense, but were still not that painful. However, the monitor was not registering the contractions, so when the nurse came in she thought my contractions had fizzled out. Because of this, they decided to put me on pitocin. It did not take long after that, for my contractions to get really intense and painful. Mikey was a wonderful couch and got me through the worst of the pain. He really made me focus on him, so that I could get through each contraction. Each one seemed to get worse and worse. When the nurse decided to check me again, because she could see how much pain I was in, I was only 3cm. I remember feeling devastated, because I knew they usually don’t give you an epidural until you reach 4cm. I asked the nurse to ask the dr. if you would go ahead and give me an epidural. She went and checked and came back to tell me he was on his way. I remember feeling so much relief just knowing that the epidural was coming.

I love my dr. I lucked out that night, because he was the one on call. Dr. Lott came in to administer the epi. The procedure didn’t take long, but he had to stop twice because I had contractions. Once it was in, it did not take long before I was feeling better. I could still feel the contractions, but they felt more like pressure, not pain. Mike and I both tried to rest after that, it was about 2:00am. Sleep didn’t come for either of us, but we both got a little rest. The nurse came in to check on my throughout the night.

After a while, I started to feel uncomfortable, like I needed to use the bathroom with each contraction. I told the nurse, and she checked me. I was 9cm. I was surprised. I did not expect to be that far along. The nurse started getting things ready for the dr. and for me to start pushing.

I began to push around 5:00am. The monitor was still not registering my contractions, so the nurse and the dr. kept looking at the monitor to tell me when to push, but I would feel the contraction before anything registered on the monitor. I only pushed for about 20 min. and because my contractions were spaced apart, it took only about 3 or 4 pushes. The dr. gave me an episiotomy and the next push, the baby’s head was out. They told me to hold him there so they could suction out his nose and mouth, because of the meconium. This was very uncomfortable, and seemed to take a long time. Once they had him all suctioned, they let me push it out and Jonathan Robert was born at 5:25am on March 15th. He was 8lbs 2oz and 21 inches long. They got him all cleaned up and let Mike and I keep him for about an hour before they took him to do the tests and screening. Both Mike and I cried with happiness when we were able to hold him.

Jonathan was born exactly one year after we lost the twins. The Lord has truly blessed us. Not only was his conception miraculous, but so was the day if his birth. I am so grateful for the sweet spirit that has been placed in our family.

Good night sleep

So last night, I had such a good night sleep. It was strange, because for the past week I have had allergies and I have not been able to breath very well when I lay down. At first I thought it was going to be a rough night, but once I fell asleep I slept so good and woke up feeling really refreshed. I have been told that this is a sign labor is close, but I still think it might be wishful thinking. I would love for the baby to come today or tomorrow, but if it doesn't happen, I am okay with that too.

Yesterday I had a dr. appt and I am still not dilated. My feet and ankles have been swelling pretty bad, but my dr. doesn't seem too worried about it. He says all pg women's feet, who live in the South, swell. He told me to only worry if my face or fingers start to swell really bad, then I need to come in right away. My blood pressure was a little high, but there was no protein in my urine, so I do not have pre-eclampsia, but he still wants me to take it easy. Another reason why I hope the baby comes before school starts back up next week. I would much rather not have to worry about walking across campus with my swollen feet anymore. I know the baby will come when he is ready and I can be patient for that. My dr. also told me he wouldn't let me go a week past my due date, due to the hypertension. So I should be able to hold my baby in my arms within the next two weeks. I am so excited. I just feel so ready to meet this little guy. It won't be long now.

A year ago today

the twins were born. They were born late at night, around 11:00 pm and we didn't find out they were born until about 12:00 am the morning of the 13th. I can't believe a whole year has passed. I can't help but feel sad today. After finding out the babies had been born, I was very happy and it is a good memory, since I remember being so anxious for them to come. But I am still sad they are not a part of my life right now, and I wish I knew how they are doing and how T is doing. I still think of them often and pray that everything is going good for them. I hope that T has something really fun planned for the twins today, I am sure she does. I would never have guessed that a year from their birthday I would be waiting for the arrival of another child, one that I won't have to worry about any one changing their mind about. He will be my son no matter what. I am so grateful for that. I really hope he makes his appearance soon, but not today. Today is reserved to remember the twins and they will always feel like they are a missing part of my family. Here is a link to my adoption blog where I wrote about them being born.

No dilation yet

Today I had a dr. appt and he checked to see if there was any progress being made. No such luck. I was hoping to be at least a little bit dilated. The dr. said my cervix was way over to the side, which was strange but fine. It is also closed. This weekend would have been a good time to have baby, since spring break is next week, but it does not look like that will happen.

I really am fine with waiting for him to come when he is ready, but I am anxious to meet him. I actually made a list a week or two ago of all the things I wanted to accomplish before the baby arrives. I have not been able to mark off anything on the list since I wrote it, so I started to rationalize that it would be okay if some of those things did not get accomplished, lol. But I realize now that I will most likely have the time to finish them all, and that it will probably be better in the long run.

I am still really tired during the day, but surprisingly I have been sleeping better at night. I still move around a lot, but I do not always have to get up so much. The days that I have to get up a lot during the night, I usually have a hard time falling back to sleep, but lately I have only had to get up maybe once or twice. But even though I have been sleeping better at night, I still always get so tired by the afternoon.

The nesting instinct is still there, I have a desire to clean a lot, but I usually don't have the energy to do so. Although, yesterday I began cleaning my desk area at work and it kind of escalated to other parts of the office that were just driving me crazy, lol. I hope that I get some energy before the baby comes to give our house a really good cleaning. Our yard is looking so awful too, and Mike just doesn't have the time to get to it, but seeing it everyday is driving me crazy, that I just might have to do it myself soon.

Full Term

Today, I am considered full term. Yah!!! It is so exciting. I know the little guy probably won't come for a few more weeks, but it is so fun to think he could be here any day now. I haven't had any consistent contractions to make me think that I might even be dilating a little. I hope at my next appt. they will check me to see if I am dilating or effacing any.

I am still extremely tired most the time. I am so tired when I wake up in the morning, probably because I don't sleep well at night. Then the tiredness hits me again by the afternoon, but if I am able to take a nap, which every so often I am, it makes it harder to fall asleep at night. I guess my body just needs to get used to going on less sleep. I know I won't be getting that much when the baby comes.

The other day I felt the baby hiccup for the first time. I wasn't sure what it was at first, I thought he was just punching me, but then I realized that the movements were rhythmic, and they were down low (most of his movements are high in my ribs), so it dawned on my that he was hiccuping. It was pretty cool, but he either doesn't get the hiccups very often or I don't always notice them, because that was the only time I have felt them throughout my pg. Most of the movements I feel are him pushing his legs around. I don't think I will ever tire of feeling him move. It is my favorite thing and it always brings a smile to my face.

Tired

That is how I feel mostly these days. I actually do feel really good still, just tired. I know I don't sleep as well at night, so I am sure that is contributing to it. As the day gets closer and closer I feel more like it will be later and later. I used to think that maybe, just maybe I would go early. Now that I am at 36 weeks pg, I doubt I will go early. I actually am starting to feel like I will go past my due date. I am not too concerned if the baby decided to stay put a little longer, as long as he doesn't get too big and I can't push him out. I am nervous about pushing out a baby that is bigger than 8lbs. I am not so sure how I will do, but I can continue to be patient for this little guy to come, if he would like to stay put a little bit longer. I am anxious to hold him in my arms but I know that day will come and that makes everything so much easier.

I had a dr. appt yesterday and my dr. called in sick, so I had to see another dr. in the clinci. It is funny because I like my dr. but everyone I know that is pg, (right now that's about 9 people) are seeing this other dr. at the same clinic. Well I was able to see him yesterday and I just have to say that I really like my dr. I know it might just be because I am used to him and his personality and he knows me, but I really hope that he is the one that delivers the baby. (If you deliver at night, you just get the dr. who is on call). Anyway, yesterday was supposed to be my 36 wk appt and my dr. told me that he would start seeing me weekly at 36wks. Well the dr. I saw yesterday thought it would be fine if I didn't come in for another 2wks. I thought that was strange, even after I mentioned that my dr. wanted to start seeing me weekly, but I guess it is fine.

Everything checked out okay, I only gained 2lbs from last time, which is my lowest weight gain yet, since I started gaining weight. My blood pressure it still good and the baby's heart beat is still good and strong. I had the strep b test done and that's about it. The baby is moving so much, so I think he has plenty of room in there still. Although I am pretty sure he is not doing somersaults anymore, but just kicking and punching and wiggling a lot. I love to feel him and every time I do, it just puts a big smile on my face. I know I will miss feeling him inside me after he is born.

Our nursery is pretty much ready for baby. A dear friend gave us some really cute Noah's ark stuff to hang up on the walls and stuff. So we can actually decorate a little more. I still feel like nesting but I tend to be too tired to do most of what I want to do. I think it will get done before baby gets here though, as I think it will kick in harder as I get closer. I can't believe that March is almost here. I am officially starting my 9th month of pg this week. It's crazy but wonderful.

nesting and contractions

Well I think I have started to nest. Our weekdays are pretty busy, so we usually spend Saturday cleaning the house. Well last Saturday, Mike had lots of homework to do, so I just cleaned and cleaned. I wore myself out, but it felt good to really clean the kitchen good and the bathroom. It was driving me crazy, because the floor in the kitchen needed to be mopped, but Mike and I have always done it on our hands and knees. We don't have a mop. I know I couldn't do that 8 months pg. So I wasn't able to mop the floor, but bought a cheap mop when we went to the store, so I should be able to mop it this weekend. The baby's room still needs to be organized. I am feeling more anxious about getting it done. I will probably work on that this weekend too.

I have felt my first contractions. I really had no idea what they were. One day a week or so ago, I just felt crampy the whole day, it wasn't really painful, so I didn't worry about it much. It went away by the next day but since then every once in awhile I feel it again. I asked my dr. about it at my appt last Tuesday and he told me that it was contractions and that I should be feeling them now. My uterus is just trying to get ready for the big day. It is so exciting and getting so close now. I don't need to worry about the contractions unless they start getting really intense and regular, which they haven't. I really don't feel them that often.

I also found out at my last appt that I have gained 40lbs so far. I was really hoping to stay under 40lbs, but I guess that won't happen. I am nervous how big the baby will be, I hope when he reaches 8lbs that he decides it's time to be born. Everything is going so well still. I really hope that everything continues to go well, especially during labor and delivery. I am getting more anxious about it, but am still not very scared. I just can't wait until I have my baby in my arms.

It is crazy to think that this time last year, Mike and I were expecting twins. A lot has happened in the past year and it has all gone by so fast. I remember this time last year, being so exciting and busy getting things in order. Last night I dreamt we had twins. I know that the twins birthday coming up has made them be on my mind a lot. We received a catalog in the mail the other day from a company that sells birthday stuff, and it has all first birthday things in it. I know we received it because the twins birthday is coming up, so it made me a little sad to see it. I can't believe they are almost a year old. I wish I could see them and know that they are doing okay.