He was born Sunday, September 14, 2014, weighing 8 pounds, 2 ounces and measuring 21 inches long. My labor started the Saturday before, easing me into the marathon I would soon endure.
But before all that work of labor began I was able to enjoy some sweet time relaxing and spending time with the hubs and my mom. It must be that 'mom knows best' gene God gives us because my mom had a feeling little B would arrive earlier than expected so she got to work and changed her flight a few days earlier. With the extra time we had together we were able to throw a major 'Stock the Freezer' party, by us for us.
Then Saturday came. The labor started that morning and slowly but surely progressed throughout the day. I was using my handy-dandy contraction counter to keep track of the timing. Thankfully I had college football playing all day long to keep me preoccupied from the pain. :) Around 10:30 that night they were 3-4 minutes apart. After texting with my doc all day, we decided it was time to head to the hospital. We get there, check my cervix, and I'm a 'measly' 4 cm dilated! *sigh* You have to be at least 5 to be admitted, so after 2 hours of my sweet nurse trying to stall sending me home the time came where we grabbed our things and headed out. Ya see, I was already planned to be back at the hospital the next day for an induction, so to send me home seemed silly, but a little after 2:00 am we had no choice. But wouldn't you have it, God had other plans in mind! About 5:00 am that morning my water broke! And did I head to the hospital in eager fashion? Nope, I texted my doc to let her know I'd be going back to bed for another hour or so of sleep and would be at the hospital shortly. (I'm a sleeper people...don't mess with me and my sleep)
Fast forward a few hours, I'm laboring around the hospital room, walking, bathing in bubbles, squatting...anything short of sprints up and down the hallway to get this baby boy out! Around 10:00 pm that night the monitors started to show signs of an elevated heart rate. I had developed an infection known as Chorioamniotitis that was causing high heart rate and fever for baby B and me. Thankfully I was the needed 10 cm so I began to push. Folks, lemme tell you something. This part of the labor experience was not awesome for me. I pushed that little boy out for nearly 2 and a half hours and wanted to quit half way in. It was the hardest thing I've ever endured. ALL of my strength came from the good Lord above and my wonderful cheerleading squad, who encouraged me all the way through my natural labor (epidural included) and see that heavenly miracle come out. And ya' wanna know something? I'd endure that pain all over again. Hands down. I would be honored to be graced with another little heavenly miracle sent straight from above.
At 10:34 pm Brooks Julian was born. I'd like to tell you I was instantly in love and caught up in the euphoric state of motherhood, but I wasn't. I was so exhausted and just happy to have him out at that point. After the nurses checked him to make sure his heart rate regulated and I was taken care of, they put him on my chest and motherhood was born.
Since that day, I've learned more about love than I thought possible. I have no doubt God has much more to show me what it's all about...
"I knew you before I formed you in your mother's womb. Before you were born I set you apart..."
Jeremiah 1:5
Thank y'all for reading and letting me share this incredible time in our lives.
Yay, you're back!! Loved reading lil Brooks birth story and can't wait to come visit next week! Miss ya!
ReplyDeleteUm, I am just now reading this and thanks for making me cry at work. :)
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