The story

I am writing this more for my sake than anyone else so if you don't want to read all of this, I don't blame you!

Anyway, here goes...

1:00 am I woke up losing water.  I was not sure if my water broke or if it was my mucus plug. I called the hospital to check.  They said it could be either but because I was not having contractions, they said to watch it and if something changed or I had any question or concern, just come in.

Around 6:00 I started to have contractions in my back.  Never felt them in my back before so I wasn't sure if they were real or just Braxton Hicks.  At 7:00 Hunter took the initiative and said - "We are going to the hospital!  They can send us home if they have to but we need to go check."

Thank heavens he did take me in because sure enough, my water broke and I was at a 2.  Contractions were starting to come every 3 minutes or so and they monitored me until I reached a 4 to get the epidural.  It took a while to progress, so they stripped my membranes and started me on Pitocin.  Can I just say that me and Pitocin ARE NOT FRIENDS!

After a few hours of HARD contractions, me gripping my bed, rocking chair, or nearest hand for dear life every 2-3 minutes - they decided it was time for the epidural!  HALLELUJAH!  Although it took 2 tries to get it in right, it was TOTALLY worth it!  Within an hour on the epidural, I went from a 4 to a 10!  By now it was about 3:00 and they said to start pushing.  This went on for a good 30 minutes to an hour with nothing!  Then the words "We will have to take you off of the epidural" came.  AHH!!!

Because I couldn't feel anything, I couldn't feel how and where to push.  After I started to get feeling back, we tried again and gradually made a little progress but not a lot.  The doctors and nurses were saying they would have to use a vacuum or have a C-Section if he did not get here soon.  This made me EXTRA nervous and still, I didn't know how to push differently.  Once the epidural was completely worn off and we had literally tried every maneuver in the book, the squat bar came out.  Lets just say that is extremely tirin,g but after 3 hours of intense pushing - and luckily no C-Section or vacuum, Nixon was here!

I am not sure how I survived without an epidural but it had to be done so we did it - right?  Thankfully, I had an AMAZING doctor, nurse, and husband by my side to give me the help and encouragement I needed!  I now have an entirely new respect for mothers and especially mothers who go natural! :)

2 days later, Nixon had to be readmitted to the hospital for a 24 hour stay on the lights because his bilirubin spiked.  I know this is common, but for 2 first time parents, we were both quite upset and I was not excited about spending the night at the hospital alone.  Luckily, that was the last of the lights and only one more foot poke afterwards for Nixon.

We are so glad he is here!  Now we are just trying to adjust to no sleep (colic - dang it!), changing diapers without getting peed on, being summoned to the "Dairy Dungeon" (nursery) every 3 hours to feed, and mastering the art of baby baths!  Lots of work but we are loving that he is a part of our lives!  

OH!!! I almost forgot - Daisy wins a gold medal for welcoming Nixon to the family!  She has been mellow as can be with him and I even got a picture of her snuggled right up next to him!  I think she kind of likes him too!