The most important position I will ever have......Mommy

Well, I guess I need to catch everyone up.  Holden James decided that Feb. 12th was not a good date for him to arrive, instead he thought, let's see how Mommy and Daddy react if I arrive 3 weeks early!  So, very much like his mommy, always ahead of the game, that's just what he did.

My Birth Story.....

Everything was ready to go.  We had the nursery completed, the car seat base had been installed in the car, Holden's bag was packed and my stuff was neatly organized on the dresser, just waiting to be put into a suitcase.  We only had one last thing on the checklist, the hospital tour.  All Chuck could say was, "All I need to know is where the emergency room is."  Which my response to this was, "No, that's not where we go.  We go somewhere else, just wait and see what they tell us."  Little did I know.

Let's back up just a bit.  My weekend started with us joining Jearold and Cari at the Ft. Worth stock show.  It was a long day.  I had already gone to the gym and worked out and was having lunch with Matilda when Chuck called and said he would be done with work early.  So I headed home and got ready for our day out.  There was a lot of walking involved, and a LOT of sitting and resting on my part.  Every time the boys needed a drink, I would walk ahead and find me a nice and cozy place to rest and would wait until they caught up.  I think all that walking set things in motion.  Then Sunday, after church, Chelsea and Kim treated me to brunch at Breadwinner's, followed by pedicures.  A much more relaxing day following my marathon walk at the stock show the day before.  We ended Sunday completing our hospital tour.  We saw the L&D room, the nursery, the room you recover in, etc, etc.

That brings us to 1:45 AM on Monday, Jan. 24th.  I awoke to needing to go to the bathroom.  When I stood up, I felt a little wetness.  Unusual I thought to myself, headed to the bathroom where after I know I was finished with my business that I could still hear a trickle.  I went back into the bedroom and woke Chuck up, "Honey.......honey.......I think my water broke."  Chuck, "Are you sure you didn't just pee on yourself?"  "I don't think so."  "Well, what do you want to do?"  " I don't know, let me google it."

I know, google, really?  But, hear me out.  I've heard that your mucus plug can come out and your water really hasn't broken.  So, I google the difference and everything says if your water breaks, it will be clear and have a sweet smell and you need to go to the hospital.  That was helpful....Not really.  So, I called the doctor and while I was waiting for him to call me back, standing in the middle of the kitchen, it was like a water balloon fell from between my legs.  Yup, I think my water broke.  And who better to investigate, our dog, Zeus.  Talking to the doctor, he said to head to the hospital and he would check in with me later.  They would confirm if my water broke.

So, we packed up our stuff, loaded up the car and headed to Plano Presby.  We arrived around 2:45 and got settled in L&D.  The nurse confirmed that my water had broke, I was dilated at 2 CM and 60% around 3:30 AM.  We tried to get some sleep, because we weren't sure how long how day was going to be, but of course, between my up and down a million times to use the restroom and the nagging mild contractions, there was no way I was sleeping.  We called our parents around 6:00 to let them know we were at the hospital.  Dad and Brenda headed down after they dropped Paige at school, Chuck's mom said she would head up around 11 when Pop got home and traffic died down and my Mom needed to get on up there, as she was going to be there during L&D.

The nurses switched shifts at 7:00, so when my new nurse came in I was so excited.  She was the BOMB!  Here it was 7:30 am, I'd been up since 1:45 and in walks this bright lady in bright pink scrub pants, a bright flower top and the biggest smile on her face.  I thank God for her, as she made everything so easy and stress free.  When she checked me at 7:30 I had dilated to 6 cm and 80%.  Around the same time, Dr. Levy called to check on me.  He ordered pitocin to get my contractions regular.  So, epidural, YES PLEASE.  I'll admit.  It hurt.  But I wont dwell on that.  I got it, it took a bit, I had Chuck and my nurse Nancy there holding me.  And it was done.  Moving on.  Mom arrived and the  Pitocin started and Dr. Levy was there to check things out.  THEN.........oxygen on, head nurse called in to help, me not knowing what's going on, but not concerned until Dr. Levy returns because as he walked passed the nurses station he noticed the monitor on Holden went off.  Head nurse asking if I'm allergic to anything, inserting something into my arm, my tearing up, telling mom to get Chuck back in there. He had gone to move the car around from ER (know remember up there I said how Chuck only needed to know where the ER was, and me saying, no, that's not where we go.  Well, when you go into labor between 11-5, yup, ya go to the ER).  Anyway, apparently the way my body reacted to the pitocin was to go into one very long contraction, which caused Holden's heart rate to drop.  The shot they gave me stopped the pitocin and contraction, they had inserted a monitor internally to check Holden's vitals and all was back on track within a few minutes.  They waited 15-20 minutes and then slowly started the pitocin again.  Increasing it every 10-15 minutes.  During all this, I somehow felt a sense of calmness, that everything was going to be OK.  The nurses were amazing in reacting quickly, but not alarming me.  Chuck was ordered not to the leave the room again, unless he had a phone at all times.

Then it was resting time.  Epidural had kicked in and I could feel no pain.  Dad and Brenda arrived.  I figured I had some time before anything else would take place, so they went to get something to eat and Chuck joined them while mom and I just hung out.  Well, that wasn't really what Holden wanted.  Chuck had enough time to get one biscuit and gravy eaten before mom was calling saying that nurse Nancy was ready for me to start pushing.  So, that brings us to about 10:45.  Mom, Chuck and nurse Nancy helped me for about 20-30 minutes with pushing before Dr. Levy arrived.  Then the rest is history.  Holden was born and placed on my chest at 11:37 AM on Jan. 24th.  Weighing 6.1 lbs and 18.5".  He was perfect.  An absolute angel and blessing that I will love and cherish forever.  He is my special gift from God. 

Of course, the red hair threw us.  But then, the more we thought about it, it made sense.  My dad has auburn in his mustache and my brother Bo, although he is a cotton top, complete white hair on his head, arms and leg, his beard is strawberry blonde.  Holden's hair has turned more to a strawberry blonde and I think it will continue to lighten up a bit as the weeks pass.

Holden and Uncle Bo

The rest of the day was spent getting to know our little guy.  He met his grandparents, aunts and friends.  We came home on Wednesday, Jan. 26th.  I was a ball of nerves the entire ride home.

Holden and Chuck's mom, Obbie

My Dad, Pop

Uncle Bo and Pop

Grammy, G-Pa and Holden

Daddy, Mommy and Obbie

Holden had his first bath Monday afternoon, I cried, because he was just not happy at all.  And I was so sore and tired, that I had to lay there and just watch him cry.  It was so hard.  I wanted to wrap him up and cuddle him.

Finally, there was just some Mommy and Daddy time.

Holden; mommy and daddy prayed for you every day.  Asking God to please bless us with a child. And once we knew you were there, we prayed for you to be healthy.  Now we thank God for you and ask that He lead us to be Godly parents, to watch over and protect you each and every day.  We love you so much baby boy, you are truly a blessing to us.

Love Always,

Mommy and Daddy