Keagan's Arrival

I was scheduled to be induced on July 20th, 2012. And sure enough, the baby hadn't come on his own. The night before Jordan asked me if I was scared, and I lied and said no. I woke up that morning and walked into the front room where Jordan sat there all showered and ready to go. He had been up and cleaned out my car and his truck, got ready, made me breakfast, AND called the hospital and arranged for me to come in earlier than previously planned. Now who do you think is the nervous one? lol Well the hospital said they could get me in at 11 and that was good enough for me. We ate breakfast and got ready, texted all of the family and told them the schedule, and before you know it, 10:45 was here. As I'm walking through the hospital doors I couldn't help but think that we walk in as 2 and come out as 3. Kinda crazy. We get up to Labor and Delivery and fill out some paperwork, then the nurse takes us to our room. She hands me a flattering, super stylish night gown and tells me to change and lay in bed. So I did. Feelings: numb. It hasn't hit me whats going on, I'm surprisingly calm, but deep deep down nervous for what's ahead.

Two nurses come in and need to get me all ready for what's to come. One is asking me questions filling out forms on the computer, while the other one was in charge of putting in my IV. Well needless to say, I had no multitasking skills at that moment and it was hard to answer questions while a needle is being stuck into my hand. Honestly, the IV hurt the worst and I honestly thought I was going to die. The nurse had that rubber band around my arm So Tight that my arm was purple in a minutes time, and she was so slow! It was on for like 10 minutes. Now, I totally can stand needles and getting my blood drawn and all, but this sent me into a cold sweat. My arm was ACHING! It hurt so bad. Finally, I asked her to take it off, I couldn't stand it anymore. She did, finally. Feelings: pain, frustration, relief it was over.

So my hand never stopped aching. Ever. Not until they pulled it out a day after I gave birth. That was by far the most painful part of my experience. But anyways, from then on, to be honest, the hours flew by. My parents got there, Jordans parents arrived, then his sisters, and next thing I know about 4 hours had gone by. I had been given antibiotics and inducement medicine earlier, and the nurse checked me and said that I was just about all the way effaced and still at a 3. I was having contractions but not feeling them, and I thought there was something wrong with me. I thought, shouldn't I be in pain right now? Shouldn't I be uncomfortable? Everyone kept asking me if I felt anything and I just replied, nothin! The nurse told me that the doctor wanted to break my water. I said Ok, and literally 1 minute later Dr. Warner was here to break my water. First time I really started to panic. He told me that the sac has no nerves in it, so I wont feel anything but rushing water, it don't hurt a bit. I must have had worry written across my face because Jordan kept asking me if I was Ok. I lied and told him Yeah. Well, my water got broken and it was the weirdest feeling. So much water, I thought they would have to switch out beds, but apparently those bed pads can hold a ton! I instantly start shaking. Like violently convulsing. The doctor told me that this is normal, once my water was broken hormones are being released into my body which causes some people to shake. And boy did I shake. My water had a slight yellow tint to it, (which means he went to the bathroom inside me which makes sense cause he was so overdue) so he told me that he would have the NicQ nurses on hand at delivery just in case. (It could cause a lot of problems if he were to swallow some of it.) Feelings: scared, worried, first time it hit me that this was real and I was having a baby, I knew that there was no turning back now and that terrified me.

I laid on that bed and shook for hours. Everyone kept offering to give me more blankets because they thought I was really really cold. Jordan kept asking if I was Ok, I think this scared him a bit. My dad hated this part. I would have fits where I couldn't shaking, like it looked like I was having a seizure lol and my mom had to coach my into taking deep breaths and calming down. My contractions kept getting more frequent and I could finally feel them a little bit now. Just some uncomfortable pressure. The nurse measured me and I was at a 5, and she said I could have my epidural at anytime. About 20 minutes later, I told her that I was ready. In my mind, I thought that I would have like 30 minutes to mentally prepare and stuff because I heard it usually takes the guy a while to get there. But no, 2 minutes after that, here comes the doctor with his cart and the nurse is ushering everyone out. I panicked inside. I wasn't ready for this. For 9 months, I dreaded this moment. I was So Scared!! "The man with the happy face suspenders" was my doctor and he man handled me. lol He put me on my side, scrunched me up into this little ball, picked me up, swung my bed around, and let me tell you it was quite the ride lol. He was so good!! He explained everything that was happening just before it happened which gave me comfort. Jordan held my hand and was so supportive. When he was putting in the epidural itself, I jumped 2 times. Not because it hurt, but because when something touches the small of your back like that, it's your reflexes to jump. He got a little mad about it and told me I couldn't do that again. So I guess third times a charm. He put in the epidural before I knew it and I can honestly say I did not feel one stinkin thing. Not pain, not pressure, not a poke. NOTHING! I guess the numbing spray he used that day was extra strong. I was extra thankful. Feelings: terrified, loved, relieved, overjoyed, almost giddy that it wasn't that bad!! and thankful to that wonderful doctor.

Well, right after the epidural the nurse checked me again and said I was at a 6. She said with first pregnancies, woman usually dilate 1 cm and hour. So about 4 more hours and I would have a baby. Well by this time it was 9 o clock, and I didn't want to have him in the middle of the night. I prayed that it would go faster than that. They laid me on my side. My shaking had pretty much stopped by now, I couldn't feel anything from the waist down, and I was getting really sleepy. I remember nodding off again and again. They switched me over to the other side, and I looked at my dad who was watching the monitor. I asked him if that was a contraction. He said yeah, a big one. And we did this back and forth for a while. Finally, I told them that I felt some pressure in between my legs and I wanted the nurse to come check me. Well, she did, and there was no need to check me because I was completely crowned! I had gone from a 6 to a 10 in about 40 minutes. Feelings: excitement/nervous energy

Just as fast as we found out I was crowning, was just as fast as we were in labor and the nurse wanted me to start pushing. I thought...woah woah woah! SLOW down! Can we just pause for a second, I need to take this in. Well, no time. It was at that moment where I learned to push. I was freaking out because I was starting to push and my doctor wasn't there! Come to find out, pushing is a process, you don't just push 3 times and he's out. After about 15 minutes of pushing with nurses, here comes Dr. Warner and the NicQ nurses. I push for about another 15 minutes with him. I was getting really annoyed because everytime I pushed everyone would say, Oh your almost there, we can see him, Oh just a little bit more. Every single time. I'm like, really? Let's be real, is he coming or not?! Finally Dr. Warner gave me instructions that when he says to stop pushing, stop pushing immediately and relax. I knew that this meant that it was go time. I pushed 2 more sets and it got really loud with talk. The doctor told me to stop, and I could lean up and look if I wanted. Well, I did, and apparently I said "OH!" really loud and upset like and laid back down. (even though I don't remember it) At 10:31 pm. the doctor pulled Keagan out and he cried so hard which was music to my ears. Jordan cut the cord and he went over to the table, gave him his shots, did his measurements, and handed me my little boy for the first time. All together, my labor lasted about 11 hours. Feelings: overwhelmed, terrified, frustrated, exhausted, overjoyed, shocked, worried, relieved, everything all at once.

I was completely in a state of shock, but none the less, that didn't take away from that special moment when I got to hold my boy for the first time. He felt so right, it's hard to explain, he just fit into my arms so perfectly. He calmed right down when I started talking to him and when he could hear my heartbeat. I officially have the most incredible bond with another human being, a complete miracle and angel. i thanked my Heavenly Father right then and there for this incredible blessing, and that everything was fine. How did we get so lucky? Keagan was 8 lbs. 3 oz. and 20 1/2 inches long. We were all so surprised at how big he was! I had a second degree laceration from giving birth to that chunk, but it was worth it. He was healthy, happy, and I am blessed!!
Feelings: GRATITUDE and LOVE!