Rhett's Birth Story

We are so happy to have Rhett here!  The spirit this new baby brings into our home is incredible.  He is so fresh from heaven.  If you're interested in his birth story, I've included my iPhone journal entries below the video.

Enjoy these pics from his first hour of life.  

Dec 28, 2011

We had a great Christmas!  It was awesome having Shauna & Cody here.  

Yesterday I had my 40 week OB appt.  I was still measuring at a 2, thick, and high.  So not much progress there.  I asked her to strip my membranes.  She had no prob with that.  

Yesterday afternoon I started having painful contractions.  They got really painful during the night - but were still 10 min. apart.  It's 11:21am now and they've slowed down.  Gotta love false labor.  I'm grateful for the contractions though, as annoying as they are, because it's at least getting my body ready to go.  Hopefully they won't have to start me from scratch.  My OB said I can go in at midnight tonight for my induction, so that's the plan.  :D :D  I'm so excited to meet my little man!!  And a little nervous about the IV, pain, epidural, etc.  My friend Danielle is standing by on-call to come take pictures for us.   

Reid just took the boys to go pick up Mom from the airport.  I'm so glad she could come to help.  The timing worked out perfectly. 

I'm feeling large.  I have food stains in the same place on the tummy of all my shirts.  lol.  My tummy clears the counter, so it's at perfect height to wipe up anything left on it while I'm cooking.  I have to watch out for the stove burners when they're hot.   

I'm ready. 

Dec 29, 2011 

So...contractions came back yesterday afternoon and were 5 min apart for a few hours. They started getting closer and more painful around 8:30pm. By 10pm I was thinking an epidural would save me. Contractions were about 3 min apart at 11:15pm.  They each hurt soooo bad. I thought I was going to die! 

We left for the hospital. I had a big contraction as I got into the car and a big one when I was ready to get out of the car.  I couldn't talk or move. We started walking from the parking garage to the hospital and realized that the main doors were locked at this hour (duh), so had to walk very slowly all the way around to the other side of the hospital. Meanwhile stopping every 2 min for severe contractions. Had to stop 2 ft in front of the ER doors. I could see the wheelchairs through the window calling my name. We got inside and a security guy wheeled me in a wheelchair up to labor and delivery.  I was in incredible pain. It was like the movies. Panting, wincing, the whole bit. 

They got me to my room and gave me a gown. When I stood up I felt like I had to pee so Reid helped me to the toilet and my water broke. It was a crazy feeling. Just like a water balloon popping. Right then I felt the need to push. I pulled the help cord and the nurses came in and got me to the bed right away as they changed it into a delivery bed. The nurse checked me and said I was complete and ready to push. The OB on call was already here at the hospital.  I started pushing. It hurt like nothing I've ever experienced.  I definitely felt the "ring of fire". He came out quick.  I know I was pretty vocal and Reid says I cussed, but I don't remember that. Lol. I was squeezing his hand really hard.  They immediately laid Rhett on my chest. I was still in a lot of pain until after the placenta was delivered. I couldn't focus on Rhett till then. Reid was an awesome support during it all. I love him so much. When I was contracting so painfully it helped me calm down when he would hold me.  Rhett was perfect.   Chubby cheeks and lots of hair.  The craziest experience of my whole life. 

We checked in at 12:05am, Rhett was born at 12:16am. 

9lbs 2.2oz, 21.25in long, 14" head circ.  No tearing.  :)

Danielle arrived right away and took pictures of us and Rhett. So glad she could make it. We chatted a lot. I was on an energy high. Feeling very social. She went out and got us some Whoppers and a chocolate milkshake from BK. Such an awesome friend. She left around 3am.  

I fainted twice on my first trip to the bathroom. That scared Reid a lot. Nurses were there to help me come back to consciousness and get me back to bed.  The boys came with mom to visit around 11am.  

Dec 31, 2011 

No more fainting. Everything else went well at the hospital. Had a male nurse last night.  That was interesting.