It's a BOY!!!

Griffin Miles arrived November 6, 2010 at 3:26am. He was 9lbs 1oz and 21.5 inches long. A big boy who took a long time to arrive!

The long story...
Labor started early on Thursday November 4th...I called my mom that morning around 7 or 8am to tell her I thought I was having some contractions and that Jenn, our doula, had requested I start writing them down and keeping track. I tried to for awhile but they were so sporadic and really only felt like menstrual cramps...so I wasn't always sure when one started, ended or if I had even had one! This went on all day while I went to bible study and ran errands. In fact, I remember having one in Target that made me stop walking and just breath. Thursday night at about 9pm I took a bubble bath thinking that would help me get to sleep...as soon as I got out contractions started coming every 10 minutes or less and were much more noticeable. Around 10:00 I woke Ryan up and told him he wasn't going to school in the morning! At 10:30, we called the doula and the midwife. Jenn came over to our house and helped us get through until about 2:30am. We tried lots of positions and even went for a walk in our neighborhood...not sure what the guy who drove past us was thinking when he saw me hugging Ryan and Jenn squeezing my hips!

At 2:30am (Friday) we called the midwife and she had us head on in to the Birthing Center. (I should mention that my memory from about 11pm on is kind of fuzzy:). I think I was about 4 or 5 cm when we got to the midwife. My mom and Grandma, my sister, Ryan's parents and our roommate Jessica all met us there. This is definitely where I lost all track of time and was so wrapped up in the pain that I couldn't tell you who was where when. Griffin was posterior meaning I was having back labor and not really getting any breaks between contractions. It was hard for me to tell when one started and when one stopped...and other times, I was able to doze off in between them. I tried everything...the tub, lunges, laying down, the birthing ball, walking, squatting, kneeling, etc. My midwife and nurse were AMAZING along with everyone else. I always had someone taking care of me...rubbing my back, holding my hand, helping me cope. I would open my eyes and be surprised by who was there as compared to the last time I opened my eyes. I am SO thankful that I had that many support people (which was not the plan) since my labor was so hard and long. I also lost all track of time. Multiple times I was completely shocked to realize I had labored another 2-3 hours. My midwife ended up breaking my water after I had been stuck at 7cm for a couple hours...and I just kind of stayed there. I'm not sure at what point I started talking about transferring to the hospital and getting an epidural so I could take a break. I was just SO tired and in so much pain.

I think it was around 3pm that I finally decided I needed to transfer, I was STILL only 7cm. When the midwife told me that I pretty much lost it. Just sobbed and sobbed. After having what I remember to be a fairly honest and coherent conversation I made the choice that I just couldn't go on any more. From that point on things seemed to happen pretty quickly. Everything got loaded in my sister's car, including me and Ryan and we made the short (5 minute?) drive to Everett Providence's Women's Pavilion. The really nice crowd of people waiting for an elevator let us cut...my groaning and panting may have helped with that:)! They whisked my through check-in and I only had to spend a little bit of time in triage...maybe 10 minutes, I think 2 contractions worth. I totally freaked some poor lady out when they wheeled me past her- she was sitting cross-legged on a bed, doing some really nice deep breathing while being monitored. Her face was priceless when she saw me in the middle of a contraction loudly chanting "HA HA HA HA HA HA" (and not in a laughing manner!). It felt like they had my new best friend (the epidural guy) there and waiting for me...I think I only had to wait about 10 more minutes before I was able to take a sigh of relief!

Me after the epidural...a true miracle of modern science:)
*Mind you this is after 14 hours of early labor and about 18 hour of active labor*

Soon we met the OB on call, Dr. Vold. He wasn't too optimistic that I would be able to avoid a c-section since I had been at 7cm for so long. They put a monitor inside to measure the strength of my contractions and found them "inadequate". Which in hindsight, makes some sense. At the birthing center I was really only feeling them down low and not up higher in my uterus... meaning Griffin wasn't being pushed down as much as he was just being squeezed. SO, they started me on pitocin and 2 or 3 hours later when he checked my I was 9cm!! I was so happy to have pain relief and the hope that it would all be over soon...we were all able to start the process of taking cat-naps. But things stalled AGAIN! 2 hours later, I was still at 9cm, 1 hour after that, still at 9cm. Now we started talking about a c-section again...and I really, really, really wanted to avoid that recovery if possible. Dr. Vold was fabulously patient with me and since Griffin wasn't showing signs of distress gave me a couple more hours to try changing my position to see if I could get myself to dilate to 10cm. With the help of my AWESOME nurses and doula and of course Ryan, we tried getting me on my hands and knees (not easy when you can't move your legs!) and time on each side. At 11pm, Dr. Vold gave me one more hour to dilate or it was c-section time. With prayer, a nap, and the encouragement of my nurses...we made it!! At about 12:30 am I got to start pushing!

Let me tell you, they don't call it LABOR for nothing! Poor Ryan was so tired he was napping in between pushes. At least at this point my contractions kind of slowed down so I could get 5 minutes or so rest in between. They turned my epidural down or off so that I could feel the pressure...this is just cruel because about the time you feel the most pain...the meds are worn off! I don't have the words to describe the pain of pushing a child out of you...or the amazing moment where you forget it all when you see them for the first time! I remember seeing a very yellow/brown baby BOY in the doctor's arms and thinking..."its a boy. its a boy. that just came out of me? this can't be real. this is real. Oh my goodness." Griffin was whisked over to the NICU team to be suctioned (standard procedures when miconium is present) while I was stitched up (3rd degree tearing) and the placenta was delivered. I got to have Griffin placed on my chest as soon as the NICU team was done with him. I held him while we waited and waited and the doctor kept working on me, trying to get my placenta delivered. We finally decided that a D and C was the best option after 45 minutes and nothing happening. So while I was taken to the OR for the procedure, Ryan got to introduce Griffin to the family...most of whom had been on site for over 24 hours!

We're a family!

Griffin's conehead.

 

Daddy was so happy and tired!

The happy and sleepy family!

This is Jenn Chapman, the world's best doula. On the job for over 30 hours!

Just a few hours old...our pride and joy. Our little man. The 9lb 1oz package that has rocked our world and completely reset our priorities. Our love for each other has grown as we look into his face and imagine the future. What an awe-some responsibility and gift our son is!

And the winners are...

Meredith Jenks, Shonte Goold and Rachael Andrews...by 3 hours and 26 minutes:)

Arrival Guesses
10/10- Grandma Kathy
10/20- Mommy
10/21- Mavis Manton
10/22- Deb B, Katja Jacobs
10/23- Wanda Lee, Jackie Glassman
10/24- Tracy Blake
10/25- Twila Crain
10/26- Amanda Crain
10/27- Jamie Williamson
10/28- Stacy Ernst, Shannon Curtis
10/29- Di Horne, Leila Petersen, Julie Paine
10/30- Vicki Goetz, Julia Petersen
10/31- Jenn Bartlett, Marianne Goetz, Valen Gibbs
11/1- Jodie Searles, Annette Manus, Ellen McKinney, Braeden Crain
11/2- Beka Miller, Rachel Cochlain
11/3- Trudy McGinty
11/4- Jessica Manus
11/5- Sue Harvey, Sherry Fairlamb
11/6- Meredith Jenks, Shonte Goold, Rachael Andrews
11/7- Shannon Curtis, Grandma Susie
11/8- Pat Tallmadge, Wanda Keim
11/9- Aunt Janae
11/10- Mommy
11/11- Grandma Kathy

40 weeks!

Forty weeks! I made it:) I have been SO busy this last week without work- I've been checking things off the to-do list like crazy! It has definitely worn me out...the nice thing about doing all the hard work and wearing myself out? Now I get to be relaxed and almost lazy as I work on "extra" things....things that don't have to be done before Baby B's arrival. At the midwife appointment this week Baby's heartbeat still sounded great and my belly measured right on track. She also said I'm 1cm and my cervix is soft and shortening...all good signs that Baby is on its way:)!

Baby B's "take-home" outfit...a Husky fan from day 1!

The due-date belly!

Here are some final shots of the belly! Today is the "official" midwife due date, November 3, 2010...come and gone (its now 9:30pm- I doubt we're gonna make it:). Ryan and I went out on a due-date date...and had dinner with our friends Tommy and Stacy, who leave in the morning to move to Florida. Tommy is on to the next step in his training for the Navy! We're going to miss them...and it was the perfect excuse for me to get the dinner I was craving! Now I just have to wait for it to digest so I can sleep...too much grease and I've got heartburn:( But it was SO yummy!! Just in the last couple of days I've become SO much more uncomfortable. My belly has "dropped" significantly and my lower back is bothering me more. Sleeping has become harder...and I have to use the bathroom way more frequently. Baby is really squishing that bladder! I've also started to retain water...I haven't had to deal with swollen feet or hands...or carpal tunnel until now. (Just once or twice on really hot days during the summer). And this hasn't gone away overnight like usual...it's a good thing all my hard work is done and I can relax now! AND the worst side-effect...my hands fall asleep at night and wake me up! It's almost over...and this is the worst part...that's what everyone says and I'm choosing to believe them:).

My fat ankles and piggies!

39 weeks!

I worked my last day as a sub on Thursday...and I've been "nesting" since then. I LOVE checking things off a to-do list!! I would appreciate it if Baby waited until November 1st but at this point the only thing I really really really want to get done still is replace the changing table with a dresser but I don't get paid until Friday and want to shop at IKEA down in Renton...so that means a Saturday trip. My heartburn still seems to be manageable with this prescription, although I'm noticing an increase in what I would call reflux...it woke me up last night choking:( Not a pleasant experience...soon and very soon I won't have to worry anymore! Oh, and bubble baths are beyond uncomfortable now...what a sad day in my life! Ha:) No matter what I do I can't get the belly in the water! Wish it was still summer and I could visit the lake and float. For whatever reason, visiting the pool just doesn't sound appealing...maybe its the chlorine or the fact that I can't fit into a swim suit! At least at the lake I could wear clothes and look somewhat normal. My next post could include a Baby! EEK!

Pax and the belly...

Last night Pax discovered my belly...today it entertained him for quite awhile. I would love to know what his little brain is thinking!!

38 weeks!

38 weeks! The end is definitely in sight! Even if I go all the way to 42 weeks, I'll be done in a month:) I'm dreaming of being able to sleep on my tummy, walk up my stairs without being winded...and of course, drink a beer (or a glass of wine)!!! I'm subbing 4 days this week in a PE class and have been walking the track as much as possible- I did 3 miles yesterday! It seems funny that 3 miles is such an accomplishment...what a difference 38 weeks can make in a runners' life! I'm definitely starting to feel like a deadline is approaching. I don't know if you would truly call it nesting since I'm not obsessively cleaning...but in life I tend to be a procrastinator...I get all sorts of motivation the closer the deadline. (My writer's block always disappears the night before a paper is due). I'm sleeping in an almost completely upright sitting position now- even with the prescription heartburn relief AND tums at night. I CAN'T wait to sleep lying down in my own bed (I've been on the couch for months now), even if it is only for 2-3 hours at a time! We've been working on the nursery...still some things to wrap up (no doorknob yet, for example) but it will work to bring baby home to! I'm hoping to replace the changing table with a low and long dresser- something with room for a lamp, the ipod docking station and the wipes to sit out on. I still need to start on Baby B's quilt too...hoping to work on that next week when I'm all done subbing!

37 weeks...good to go!

We're officially legal to deliver with the midwife! Things are definitely starting to get really cramped in there...I now have to sleep in a more upright position. Even with the prescription heartburn medecine I wake up choking if I lay too flat. Not fun or comfortable. My back is starting to bother me more- this belly gets heavy quickly! I had my 37 week appointment today and I haven't gained any weight...or grown since last week...maybe that means Baby is getting close to showing up?!

I had my belly painted this Sunday by a family friend from church, Wayne Clinton. It was lots of fun, didn't tickle and a picture of it will end up as part of the nursery decorations. This just seemed like a much easier way to celebrate and remember the belly versus a belly cast (in my opinon)! My parents and sister and brother-in-law, along with Wayne's wife Cammy joined us for dinner and we even got the crib set up too!

I did a major shopping trip to Target on Monday to use my gift cards and finish up shopping for some of the necessities. It took over 2 hours and 2 carts...and unfortunately a couple return trips. The changing table just wasn't as sturdy as I had hopped and I think we've decided to go with a low dresser instead- that way it lasts throughout Baby's childhood...and maybe even beyond. Baby's bag is packed and carseat is loaded in the car. I just need to finish packing my bag...and then we wait:)! We'll get some pics of the nursery up soon!