Love story.

Our newest addition joined us early Thursday morning!

We were surprised that he would come so soon but we are so excited to have him in our arms and he's quickly worked a permanent place in our hearts.

So what is the story?

Little Lady and I were at home, she had just woken up from a nap and I was getting a few things tidied up around the house. I had been feeling a tugging and tightening feeling in the lower part of my uterus. I was standing in the kitchen when my water broke... and I had an instant rush of a "This is it!" feeling. I called Stud Muffin at work and told him my water broke, he was so excited! I told him to drive safely but hurry! :)

Next I called Nana so she could get on her way out here. Then it was Lolli, a great family friend who is like family to us, to come and take care of our Little Lady. I knew she would be in wonderful hands while we were away, but it was difficult to leave her. Little Lady had a bug that had her throwing up and gave her diarrhea. Later I learned that she'd had a rough night but she was in great care and very well loved. I really missed her though!

Lolli and Auntie Rae came right over and as soon as SM got home we finished packing a few things and headed to the hospital. I had called my dr office before we left and they told me to go straight to labor and delivery and get checked in.

By this time the contractions were very spaced out and fairly mild. I could still carry a conversation and walk through them with out too much trouble. We checked in at the hospital and after an exam I was told I was about 5 cm dilated.

They wanted to put me on the monitor for a little bit and see how baby was doing as well as see where my contractions were at. After about 30 minutes of being on the monitor I decided I wanted to walk around and hopefully get everything going. So we walked... and walked... and we walked. Finally the nurse asked if I would go back on the monitor and the Ob wanted to do an exam to see my progress. 

Talk about frustrating and discouraging when I had only progressed to a "stretchy" 6 cm. And not only that but my contractions had weakened and grown farther apart.

That was at 5:30. Because walking seemed to have the counter effect on my contractions I decided to stay in my room and try different positions and such. I agreed to stay hooked to the monitor as long as it didn't interfere with how I was wanting to labor.

Another couple hours went by and still not regular or gaining intensity... After a quick check by the OB - still 6 cm. I was really feeling bummed. My Ob decided it was time to start talking options for progression. She explained pitocin and how I could start out on the lowest level and see if we could just get me over the hump I seemed to be at. 

She explained it to me this way:  I could keep doing what I was doing and end up stretching out the time I'm in labor and pain. Or we could use this to get moving and if my body picked up on it's own then we could turn it off and let it do it's thing, hence shortening the amount of time in pain even though the intensity of pain would no doubt increase. 

I was really stalling in making the call simply because I know I'm a wimp when it comes to pain and I figured if I started pitocin the chances I would given and get an epidural were much higher. That's just me.

But in the end the anxiousness to meet my baby and get things going won out. She had the nurse start the pitocin at a low level. It wasn't long before it kicked in. And pretty soon I was having several contractions back to back.

The nurse came in and bumped it up a level a couple times. By the time it was up to a level 6, around 12:30a, I thought I was going to die. I had dilated to 7cm finally but the pain was awful, I knew I wouldn't be able to take it much longer, especially when they were back to back with no break sometimes.

I decided I wither needed to turn it down or I needed to have some pain relief, most likely an epidural. I waited through a few more contractions. I had the pitocin bumped down a notch, to a level 5.

Somewhere between 1 and 1:30a I began throwing up during and after several contractions. I decided I didn't want to slow down the labor anymore but I had to get an epidural to make it through to the end. 

I went through my whole pregnancy desiring to have an all natural, no pain management medicine, labor a delivery. I understand and know the risks of getting an epidural and I know the benefits of having a baby all naturally. I had gotten one when I had Little Lady and everything went smoothly. But I really beat myself up. I felt guilty and like I had failed my daughter and my husband, even God. It might sound extreme but I really struggled with it for a long time. 

God has shown me that it wasn't that I have weakness or that I set out to do something and wasn't strong enough to accomplish it. It was really my pride that I was struggling with. And I decided to surrender it to Him. He is capable when I am not. He takes care of us and has our best interest in mind. 

So although I won't be able to say that I had my daughter and my son with out an epidural, I can say that they were born healthy and happy, I am healthy and really how could I ask for more. 

Don't get me wrong, I truly admire each of those who have delivered without pain medication. I have gone as far as I possibly could handle in labor and I commend them for going all the way!

If we decide to have any more babies I will continue to strive for that goal. But I know there is no condemnation in Christ Jesus. Praise God!

The anesthesiologist came in and some time around 2:00a I was finding some relief. I could still feel the contractions but it really took the edge off.  I was fully dilated to 10cm by 3:30 and my OB came in to prep and deliver our baby. 

I started getting really nervous about pushing. The dr was ready and thru rolled me to my back. I told them I was feeling really light headed and that I needed to throw up. I couldn't hold my head up anymore. I was trying to breath deep. Later I learned my blood pressure had dropped to 70/40.

I got oxygen put on and finally regained my awareness. The nurse pulled my leg back and told me to push, I started groaning and she said don't make any noise, just push. So I did and the babies head was right there so I gave one last umph he was out. 

Stud Muffin said 'It's a boy!!' and he was so excited!! I was thinking 'I knew it!!'

They laid him right on my chest and wiped him while I held him. We wanted to delay the cord cutting until it stopped pulsing and then daddy cut the cord!

I was able to get him latched and nurse almost immediately and we just spent the next few hours in baby heaven!

Caleb Brandon, from here on out known as Little Dude, was born at 3:51am and weighed 6lbs 10oz and was 19 in long. He is absolutely perfect and he has his daddy's laid back temperament and his feet! 

He is one handsome dude!

Highlights:

- My mama was able to make it from KS in time to see Little Dude born.

- I didn't tear and my recovery has been so quick because of it.

- So far nursing has gone so smoothly and we are so grateful after so much hardship at the beginning with Little Lady.

- I am finally home with my TWO babies and life is good!

A few more photos of our Little Dude.

*I never expected to have a 6 lb baby so I didn't bother even buying newborn size clothes, since Little Lady was 8lbs 6oz and only wore her newborn stuff for a week. He was swimming in everything I brought for him!