Meet Our James

On Saturday evening, October 17th, we went to Jakers pumpkin patch with the kids. It was a rainy day and all the way there I was thinking that we should just turn around, but we got there and the rain let up and we had so much fun! I'm so glad we went because not even realizing it then that was our last night as a family of four and I'm glad we got out and did something fun and the kids had a blast! So we got home around 6 or 7 and I started getting some pretty uncomfortable contractions. I had the thought that tonight might be the night so I tried to really cherish putting the kids to bed. We all sat on Owens bed while Clark read bedtime stories. Then Clark put Nora to bed (this has become his thing since we started laying her down instead of rocking her.. Which I couldn't handle doing lol) and I laid with Owen and continued to feel contractions. After the kids were in bed Clark and I watched Friends. After one episode I finally told Clark I was having contractions. I had had three during that episode which is less than 10 minutes apart! My parents were in Japan and my sister Brenna mentioned that she might stay the night at their house after work so I texted to ask if that was the plan. I was hoping she was in case she had to come over and stay with the kids, but didn't want to say anything yet. Then the contractions started to go away. I was pretty relieved because I was not ready! I hadn't packed my hospital bag, there were still things coming in the mail for the coming home outfit, and I had loads and loads of laundry that had to be done. But I couldn't help but feel a little disappointed. We went to bed at 10:00 and as soon as we laid down the contractions came back, pretty hard. Clark fell asleep instantly (as usual), I laid through about three contractions and then got up. I took a nice long hot shower. At midnight I finally woke Clark up and said that I think it was time to go to the hospital. I texted Brenna to come over and started to pack a bag. The contractions were hard but still not super painful, which made me worried I would get sent home. With the other two I started getting contractions and they got progressively more painful really quickly so this was different. We got in the car and I got another one, I had to get out and stand up through it. It was still pretty rainy as we drove to Provo and I had a few freak outs on the way there. What if it's a girl?! What will we name her?! What if it's a boy?!  Ah! I tried to breath through each contraction and think about my kids, my happy place. We got checked in, and to our room and the nurse came in. At 1:00 She checked me and said I was dialated to a 5 and 80% effaced. At my last doctors appointment I was at a 1 and 80% effaced so I was a little disappointed that I hadn't progressed too much. She would come back and check in an hour and see if I was going to stay. She asked if I was planning on an epidural and I said no. I had been thinking about it this entire pregnancy and really wanted to try to go natural. She asked if I had taken any classes or anything and I said no. I knew she thought I was crazy. I only lasted about half an hour before I was calling her back in begging for the epidural. Ha! Who was I kidding thinking I could go unmedicated. As soon as those contractions came on strong I was grabbing the bed rail and I remember I just kept saying "please, please" begging Clark and the nurses and anybody around to please do something! The nurse checked me again and said I had progressed enough that I was staying and said they would get the anesthesiologist and oh boy was I glad to see him. It was a hard epidural to get since the contractions were coming 2 minutes apart and they were SO hard to sit still through. He kept trying to get me to lay on my side and I just couldn't do it. But as soon as I got it and it started kicking in I was in H E A V E N!! Oh my goodness, it was the best feeling ever, like this warm feeling going through my body and the contractions went away and I felt so calm and relaxed. why I ever thought I didn't want an epidural is beyond me. I loved it. And this epidural was especially awesome because I could still move my legs! I literally wanted to tell that man that I loved him. After that it was smooth sailing. There was a shift change and I got another nurse. They continued to check me periodically. We tried to get some rest and I may have fell asleep for a minute.  When my cervix was gone they said they were going to let the baby start to descend through the birth canal on its own, without me pushing. They called it "rest and descend" I think. Doctor Dewey showed up and they broke my water. I pushed once and the baby's head was out! I pushed one more time and that was it! 5:30 am I heard the doctor say "it's a boy!" I was shocked! I don't know if I was secretly thinking it was a girl, or if I would have been just as surprised if the doctor said it was a girl but I couldn't believe it! A boy! Clark and I shared a look of excitement. They cut the cord and instantly laid him on my chest. I know I say this every time, but that is always by far the best experience. You look at this precious little baby who is literally straight from heaven and you can feel it. You can feel heaven all around you. He was covered in that white film because he was so early but goodness was he precious. I thought he looked just like Owen. After a minute the nurse took him to clean him up and get his height and weight. 6 pounds 15 ounces, just like Nora! And 19 inches tall. They gave him back to me and we got to do skin to skin for a while and try breast feeding. After a while we were taken down to our recovery room and then we got to go watch him get his bath. After that Clark and I laid down for a little bit before Clark left to get the kids.

I feel so grateful that I am blessed with this body that's able to get pregnant quickly, have easy (ish) pregnancies, and easy and quick deliveries. I know so many are not blessed in those ways and I know it must be hard. James has been such a blessing in our lives already. He has a sweet little spirit and makes the perfect addition to our growing little family.