My delivery experience

Well, I thought I would fill everyone in on the somewhat traumatic delivery experience. I went in at 3:30 am to be induced. They started the Pitocin (sp?) at 5:30 and then the fun began. My contractions got stronger but completely bearable. My Dr. came in at 7:30 and decided to break my water. That was A LOT of pressure. From then on the contractions intensified more and more!! I decided I wanted to get the epidural by about 10:30 am when I started to shake from the pain and couldn't take it any more. (Honestly if I HAD to, I could have gone longer but the anesthesiologist was there and i wanted to stay ahead of the pain.) Once I got the epidural i was very comfortable. I tried to get some shut eye (next to impossible in the hospital). I was so blessed with amazing nurses (definitely something I prayed for)! My nurse kept checking me and I just wasn't progressing. By 4:30 my Dr. decided to perform a c-section on me. Everything from then on went really fast. They started prepping me for surgery and I got really emotional. I'm so glad my family was there for support and Justin was a rock during the whole process.

I got into the operating room by 5:20 and Judah was out by 5:34 weighing 7lbs 9.5 oz and 20 inches long. Then the horrific part began. My doctor started sewing me up and I began to feel it. I told the anesthesiologist that I could feel what they were doing and she said, "OH, I'm sure it's just pressure." I reassured her it wasn't and she just brushed me off and pumped more meds into my drip. I was then rolled to Recovery. I told my nurse that I was in a ton of pain. They kept pumping stuff into my epidural drip. Still NO relief. Finally my nurse decided to roll me over and check on the epidural on my back. To her surprise, it was completely out...my epidural had come completely out probably before my surgery. They decided to give me several different types of pain meds NONE of which were working. I was shaking from pain and getting groggy from the medicine. Then the nurse proceeded to push on my abdomen. (they do this to prevent clots and to help the uterus contract) I have NEVER EVER been in so much pain. Poor Justin didn't know what to do. I was miserable and we were there from 5:45 to 10:00 pm. Finally they moved me to my room. I got no rest that night. The nurses kept coming in checking on me and trying to show me how to nurse. I was overwhelmed with pain and emotions.

The hospital I delivered in is one of the top 4 women and baby hospitals in the nation. I was so blessed with amazing care and didn't feel like I was at the hospital at all. The aesthetics in the hospital are so warm and it felt like I was in a hotel room. We were blessed to have lots of visitors come up and the nurses joked that they had seen my whole church come through there. Oh well, we definitely felt the love.

Sorry this post was so long, but I figured some of you might want to know the details of my delivery. I will say it was traumatic but so worth it to have Judah here. He is such a sweet boy and we feel so blessed. (especially since he slept 5 hours last night!!!) Thanks for all the prayers and sweet comments.

Welcome Baby Judah!

Well, I came home today from the hospital. I was so glad and scared to be home. The nurses at the hospital were so helpful I was a bit hesitant to leave. We came home and my mom had a huge sign in the yard as a birth announcement. It was so sweet, the house was clean and my mom had been cooking a roast for my welcome home meal!!! I have felt to blessed to have all of my family here for this amazing process. Joyce even got to come and stayed through today!!! We had a plethora of visitors and all the nurses kept commenting on all the people that came through there. We felt so loved!
Judah is such a sweet baby and I still can't believe he's ours! He has the most beautiful boy I have ever seen. (I'm a bit biased I know.) He has the biggest blue eyes and seems to be really even keeled. He's tiny but loves to eat. I will post more about my labor and delivery, but let's just say it was less than ideal but so worth it!! Thanks for all the prayers and love. More to come about my new life as a mother.

Journal Entry

Here is an excert from my journal. I figured I'd post one more time before I'm officially a mom tomorrow!!

Jan. 7, 2008

"Well it's the night before my induction and I'm home alone. It's Wed. so Justin has to preach. We did get to eat dinner together though. I picked up Outback and took it to the church. I got a Joey steak, sweet potato, salad, and managed to down a whole loaf of bread. This is my last meal until Judah is born. I am on a fast for the induction.
The induction is scheduled for 4:00am tomorrow, Jan. 8th 2009 (5 days after my due date). We have to be there at 3:30 to get registered so I'm planning on trying to get some sleep. (yeah right)
I stayed home from work today. I have been so uncomfortable, swollen and having back pain. I hate to complain though because this has been such a smooth pregnancy. I am truly blessed.
I couldn't help but feel so much anxiety today as I tried to relax. It seems that everything in the past 9 months and possibly my whole life has been leading up to tomorrow. I will be a mother. What an incredible gift! I almost don't feel worthy...or maybe it's that I'm scared and overwhelmed at the incredible responsiblity. I hope i do a good job. I certainly am clueless though. No matter how many books I've read, I'm sure nothing can fully prepare me for the love, joy, and responsiblity I will soon have.
Justin seems very excited and so laid back about the whole thing. He doesn't understand why I'm so emotional or anxious. Men and women are wired so differently! I know he will be an incredible father. He's so loving, patient, understanding and giving. He'll be a great friend and father to Judah.
We are both so looking forward to holding our baby boy. We pray for him to be healthy, for the labor to go smoothly and quickly, and for God's perfect will for his life."

Sike...

We went to Triage this morning at 7:00 am as ordered by our Doctor for a Non-Stress Test. We got there and only had to wait maybe 10 minutes and they took us back. They hooked me up to the monitor and said this should only take about 30 minutes. Well, 30 mins. came and went. It showed me having contractions, which I knew I was and the nurse said well maybe you'll get to stay today if these keep up. (Oh, I was hoping so!!) The nurse came in and had me readjust so maybe Judah might start moving more. (For someone who was doing summersaults in my belly the night before, he picked a fine time to be still...I think I'm seeing a pattern here with the stubborness!! lol) The nurse then ordered for me to have a diagnostic screening (I think that's what they called it), in other words a sonogram to check the baby and make sure he looked okay. I was excited about this!! We got into the sonogram room and the technician said it was a 30 min. test to count 10 movements. He had moved 10 times in a matter of like 5 mins. He looked really squished in there and we saw part of his face. It looks like he has really cubby cheeks and my pointy chin. Aaa...I'm so ready to meet him!!!

So, my doctor read the strip of paper that had the baby's heartbeat and my contractions and told me to come into his office. That's right...I had to leave the hospital. I didn't get to stay. He checked me and I'm the exact same as I have been for the past 3 weeks. NO PROGRESS. Geez. Well at least there is an end in sight. Thursday, Jan. 8th will hopefully, most certainly be baby Judah's grand entrance into the world. I can't wait!!!!

Judah's Nursery

Well, yesterday was Judah's due date and I'm still hanging out. Seriously I feel like a ticking time bomb, ready to explode at any moment. Ha. I go to the doctor bright and early tomorrow so I'll let you know how that goes and if there is any progress. I thought I'd take a second and post some pictures of Judah's room. Everything is ready and waiting for him. I can't wait to meet him!!