Uncle Nick
Aunt Stephanie and Cousin Tanner
Nana, Graham, Cousin Jackson, Cousin Belle, and Aunt Shannan
Daddy, Cousin Lily, and Graham
Grandaddy Richard
Belle and Graham
Jackson and GrahamBirth Story
**Disclaimer** Very long and detailed so I'll have it for the baby book. You probably don't want to read this.
Tuesday May, 13th
That morning I asked Matthew what to do to get him at work since we were getting closer to the due date. We made our little plan.... My car decided to quit working on Sunday so I would be without it that day. We planned on taking it to the shop at 3:00 that afternoon.
11:30am I planned to meet some friends from church for lunch at J. Alexanders, Amy had to come get me because of my poor car. I ate the most awesome blue cheese and grilled salmon salad ever.
1:00pm Amy dropped me off at home. I climbed the stairs and had a strange feeling. I called Mom and asked if it really could be my water. I was still 13 days away?
1:30pm At this point I was sure that was what happened. I called the Dr. office, they told me to come in and get checked as soon as possible. I texted (is that a word) Matthew Call ASAP. This was not the plan by the way. He was in a meeting, but stepped out. I told him we were in no hurry.
2:00pm Matthew walked in the door. I was folding clothes and packing, since I had not planned on having him anytime soon. We made the bed and started the dishwasher. We prayed and hugged at the door for the last time as a family of two.
2:30pm We checked in at the Dr. office. I had lost a pound and my blood pressure was great. I was 1 cm dilated and 40% effaced. Sure enough my water had broken and this put me on a timetable of 24 hours, from fear of infection. I asked the doctor if we could go to Wendy's for Matthew to get something to eat I promised I wouldn't eat. He told me, "Do not pass go, do not collect $200." "I'll get you a wheelchair to ride over to the hospital." I was not having any contractions that I knew of and I would walk myself, I told him. (in a nice way)
3:30pm Admitted to labor and delivery. They didn't have any beds ready so they told us to wait in the waiting room. I sat cross legged on the hard floor hoping his head would come down further and progress naturally before they pumped me full of Pitocin.
5:00pm They started Pit and upped it 2 units every thirty minutes. Contractions were coming every 3 minutes and were in the 50 to 70 intensity range.
Midnight They checked me, I was 5 cm and 80% effaced. The last thirty minutes had been extremely intense. Matthew was doing an amazing job talking me through them. He had very strict orders, from me, to not let me give in to the epidural. I started begging and at 12:20am I finally made the decision that this was under different circumstances and I could live with a medicated birth.
12:20 to 1:30am Started the epidural which was horrible sitting still through the toughest contractions.
1:30 to 2:10am Napped on and off but was feeling a ton of pressure. I thought I can't really be ready to push.
2:10am The nurse checked me again and I was fully dilated and complete, so she let me give a practice push.
2:59am Sweet baby boy was born!!!! 6 lbs 2 oz, 19 inches long, blonde hair and blue eyes.
4:00am Nursed for the first time!
6:30am First bath
9:00am Named the sweet boy Graham Edward
It ended up being the best birth under the circumstances! We love our sweet boy and praise God for his safe arrival. We are so glad that God blessed us with Graham and trusts us to raise him to know Him!
Graham Edward is Here!
Just got home from the hospital. I'll post the whole story after getting some sleep..... Born 2:59am Wednesday, May 14th 6 lbs 2 oz 19 inches long. He has light hair and a Curton nose.
Thanks Aunt Cyndee!
We just received the most beautiful bedroom furniture because Cyndee is in the process of redoing her own home. I feel like such a grown up now! It only took 7 years (right?) We only have the one bedroom so I've put up the pack and play just so we have a changing table. Little bit (still no name) is going to share our bed for awhile. We'll see how that goes, until it's time to sign a new lease or move out?
Here is the new headboard!!
This is the view from Matthew's side of the bed.
Here is my side of the bed looking out toward our living room.
I put the good old Wal-Mart dresser in the closet, which is becoming very crowded with clothes for all three of us. Yes, I wrestled the dresser (nine months pregnant) by myself while Matthew was at work.
Blessed
32 Week Ultrasound
We just got back from a great appointment! Our little bit is not anemic. He is measuring right on target. The tech took measurements of his head and femur. His heart beat was 151. We watched the blood flow through his brain and umbilical cord. (It's like doppler radar) She estimated that his weight is 4lbs 6 oz at this point. He should be a pretty good size kid, come May! Mama Jan got to go along and I think she really enjoyed it. I'm thrilled because he is already head down. As a bonus, he is also facing the right way. No back labor!!! I just hope he can stay that way for good.
This is a profile of the crazy baby. He has both of his hands up by his face. The dark bubble tube in the middle of the picture is his umbilical cord.
This is a very well zoomed picture of his face. He is looking at you. The dark spot is his eye and the white blob is his nose. Both of these pictures look so much better in person! We can't wait to really meet him! We have a crash course on labor this weekend, after Matthew finishes his second week of overtime in a row. Hopefully he can stay awake and engaged long enough to finish the class. I'm going to treat him to an awesome new restaurant afterwards. He doesn't know where we are going yet, but it should bring back some PA memories.Single Digits and Baby Expo
30 weeks
32 weeks
Matthew and I went to the Mid-South Baby Expo this weekend. $7 a head, I was hoping for a return on our $14 investment. The grand door prize was a $500 gift card to Babies R Us, a highchair, car seat and gift cards to McAlister's Deli. I just knew we would win because we never win anything. (Real rational thinking there.) We (I) filled out a card for every drawing available.... Haven't heard back from anyone. I guess we got $14 dollars worth of plastic cups, yard sticks, diapers, sample lotion and baby wash, first aide kits, magnets, and coupons. We really had a good time! I drug Matthew to an hour long breastfeeding seminar and maternity fashion show, but he got free pickles and ice cream out of the deal.
