We're in Heaven

On September 11th, I went to see my obgyn. He told me that NOTHING was happening as far as the baby coming etc. Bummer!! So, two days later, on the 13th, when I started feeling pain every few minutes, I ignored it thinking I couldn't be in labor...I went shopping, fixed a big dinner (between "pains"). Finally at about 5 pm, I thought maybe I was in labor. When my water broke, I was sure it was time to go to the hospital. Brian had to go show a house, so I packed during that time. When he came back, we dropped Tyler and LeAnne of at Marilee's house and wen to Mountain Vista Hospital.

From the color of the fluid, they knew the baby had had a bowel movement, but they weren't that concerned. They would know what to do when he was born. I had contractions for about 3 hours at the hospital. Man. Ouch. It was good to know what they felt like because I had never felt contractions when I had Tyler. The nurses told me I could have an epidural when I reaced 4 cm. After a few hours, I hadn't progressed much. But the anesthesiologist said I could have an epidural. It took about 20 minutes to get the epidural. What a blessing!! The pain was pretty much gone.

After about 1/2 hour, the baby's heart rate started to go down. It was at 75 bpm. And then they couldn't find it!!!! They kept turning me from side to side to see if that would help the baby, but nothing did--his heart rate was still super low.

"We need to get this baby out! Will you agree to a C-section?" Of couse we did. It was kind of like the movies. There was a flurry of activity with everyone running here and there. They handed Brian a suit to put on and wheeled me to the operation room.

My doctor was not there yet, but thankfully, a woman doctor named Dr. McClusky happened to be there. She had had a headache and was waiting until it went away to drive home. As she walked past, she asked if she could help. With her assistance, they delivered the baby in about two minutes. My doctor showed up about 10 minutes later and helped sew me up.

Dr. McClusky was so sweet. We all agreed it was a miracle that she "just happened" to be there. If she hadn't been there, we would have had to wait for the other doctor to get there. Because they were able to get him out so fast, I was not too freaked out, but if we had had to wait, I think I would have been so scared.

I couldn't feel much during the C-Section except tugging. It was a weird sensation. Brian missed the delivery since they did it so fast. By the time he got the clothes on and came in the room, the baby was out.
They wrapped him all up and handed him to me. It was so amazing to have him in my body one minute and the next, have him right there. "He's a little peanut" they said. Of course, I thought. But when they weighed him, they said he was 4 lbs 14 oz and 18 1/2 inches long. Apparently, they said I had my placenta was hardened, so the baby had not been growing and getting nutrition for the last while. Poor thing.

After they cleaned him up, they brought him back to us. Oh, he was so little and so cute. What a miracle. After waiting so long and loving Tyler for all that time, it was hard to imagine how we could love a new child as much. But it was love at first sight. My mom said that my great grandma Farnsworth said, "They bring their love with them." I guess it is true because we are just in love. Brian and I are worse than new parents because it is such a miracle that we got pregnant we were able to deliver him.

Thomas Paine said, "What we obtain too cheaply, we esteem too lightly; 'tis dearness only that gives everything its value." All the heartache of the last 10 years has been swept away and we are left with the "dearness" of this experience.

I thought of Alma and his explanation in the Book of Mormon, Alma 36:20 "And oh, what ^ajoy, and what marvelous light I did behold; yea, my soul was filled with joy as exceeding as was my pain!

21 Yea, I say unto you, my son, that there could be nothing so exquisite and so bitter as were my pains. Yea, and again I say unto you, my son, that on the other hand, there can be nothing so exquisite and sweet as was my joy."Tyler has had to wait all this time too. It has been a difficult experience as we have had many adoptions that have fallen through and miscarriages as well. He is such a great big brother and so helpful.