Growler

This is what Aimee does when she gets mad at me. The video quality is a little dark, but hopefully you will get the gist of it.

Sweetness

Jack Ryan Brassfield

Baby Jack Ryan Brassfield made his debut into the world yesterday, August 10th at 9:59am. He was 7 lbs, 13 oz, and 21 inches long. Fair amount of hair (which I am sure he will lose), chubby cheeks (not as chubby as Aimee's were), and a very sweet disposition.

I went in for my induction at 7 am yesterday. Even though I would have liked Jack to come earlier, it was kind of nice going in knowing that I would be having a baby that

day. After lots of checking in the nurse got me

started on pitocin. That was probably around 8... maybe a little later. The first dosage she started me on wasn't bad. My contractions were coming a little stronger - but no big deal. She asked me earlier if I wanted an epidural. I told her probably - but I wanted to wait a little bit because with Aimee, the epidural slowed my labor down a lot.

Big mistake this time around!

My doctor came in not long after I started the pitocin to break my water. I think I was only dilated to a 3 when he did that. Almost immediately I was being slammed with crazy bad contractions. It felt like a hot band of pain wrapped around my lower abdomen and back and on the tops of my thighs. I was caught a little off guard, that's for sure. I told Greg - get me the epidural!!! The anesthesiologist took a loooong time getting to me. I was starting to feel pressure... like pushing pressure by the time he arrived. I didn't think I would be able to sit still while he gave me the epidural. He asked my nurse, "How far along is she?" My nurse told him that the last time they checked I was at a 3. He says, "I don't think she's at a 3 any more."

Nope.

After he got the epidural in, they told me that it could take up to 20 minutes for it to be effective this far into labor. They checked me and I was at an 8. The pressure was getting worse with each contraction. I told my nurse, she checked me again and I was fully dilated, his head was there. It was go time!

Wait, I thought! But I can still feel my legs! I can still feel everything!

By the time the doctor and rest of the staff were assembled my legs felt tingly and heavier - my contractions still hurt like you know what, but they didn't last as long.

Seriously, before I knew it - I was pushing that baby out. I think on the 3rd push his head was out. One more and the shoulders were out. I could totally feel it and the pushing wasn't so bad. It felt good to push when I was having those painful contractions. So weird. This experience was nothing like my experience with Aimee. With Aimee I had no idea when to push... hardly felt any pressure... and it was a lot less painful!

If I ever have to be induced again, I will remember to get an epidural before my doctor brakes my water.

I think natural labor is something you have to be mentally prepared for and I really wasn't. Although I will say that it was a lot easier to push the baby out, especially since I could feel an urge to push!

And even though those contractions hurt like nothing I've ever felt before - I am grateful that I was able to be induced and that it went super fast.

When I got to hold baby boy, I knew his name was Jack. Greg said that he had the same impression when he saw him too. As soon as I said hello, I could tell he knew my voice. It was the sweetest thing. He knows his daddy's voice too. It's amazing.

I love his little squeaks and squaks! His little gremlin grunts... his bright and alert eyes... I'm so excited baby Jack is part of our family, I love our little baby!

Still counting my blessings

I know I mentioned in my last post that I didn't feel too overwhelmed with everything going on - that didn't last long. I became overwhelmed rather quickly when Greg's doctor told him that he wouldn't (rather shouldn't) be able to make the 3-4 day drive from here to Florida. Apparently sitting too long with a blood clot is sort of dangerous!

It was the straw the broke the camel's back... BUT those feelings of discouragement didn't last long. Greg and I have amazing parents. We really do. When I called my mom and explained our latest dilemma, she said that she'd try to fly out to Utah and drive our car to Florida for us! Greg's parents even volunteered to make a road trip out of it - if my mom couldn't come. But come she did - for a day and a half!! She couldn't stay any longer, unfortunately - and I was rrrreally hoping that I'd have the baby while she was here, but baby had other plans.

So I'm counting my blessings again. The car is on its way! We kind of made my brother volunteer to make the drive with my mom - he was going to go out to Florida anyway, for a friend's wedding - but by plane of course. I guess we owe him one :)

Anyway - car is on its way. Our stuff is all packed up and on its way too! Now I'm just kind of waiting for the baby to show up.

At my last appointment I asked my OB how big he thought the baby was. He told me, "Oh we'll have you get an ultrasound this week to check that." I was a little surprised. My OB with Aimee didn't have me do that. I left his office without scheduling it - I totally forgot. I did get my induction scheduled. Tuesday, 7 am! I called the office later and asked if I really needed to get the ultrasound. Honestly, I just didn't want to pay for another one and I figured I'd be seeing baby boy soon enough. Well, they told me that I needed to.

Ok, whatever.

On Thursday I went in for one. I mean, it was neat to see him again, even though he wouldn't look at us! His little face was buried in the crook of him arm. I think he was sleeping.

The size estimation: 7 lbs, 15 oz. SO I'm really glad I'm getting induced a week early. He'd probably be a 9 lb baby if he went up to my due date!

The tech also measured my fluid levels - they were on the high side, so I had to get a non-stress test. I had no idea what that was. And in case you don't know either - they have you go to the hospital, sit on a bed for 30 min or more with 2 monitors strapped across your belly to measure baby's heart rate and your contractions. I passed (well - baby boy passed) the test with flying colors! His heart rate is good and strong, as well as his activity level. Actually, I was almost hoping they'd see some sort of need to induce me that day, but no such luck. I get the feeling this guy is totally content to chill out in my belly until Tuesday.

It's weird to think we're finally here - at this point. The baby. The move. Law school.

Greg got the doctor's ok to fly to Florida, he just needs to get up and walk around every hour or so. We have his flight scheduled for Saturday. Then he's gone until September 3rd. I don't like to think about him leaving so soon. It's going to be hard with him not here. I'm fortunate to have tons of family here to help... but it won't be the same. I know Greg isn't looking forward to not being around the new baby (or Aimee) for so long either. Thank goodness for Skype!!!

Check back on Tuesday - hopefully the next post we make will be to announce baby boy's arrival!