Saturday the 21st began as the last few Saturdays have. I woke up wishing I didn't have a huge belly that restricted my movements and Chris got up and got Dallin ready and then mowed the lawn. Because we knew Tristan would be coming soon we were trying to be motivated and get lots done. So after Chris had mowed the lawn we hung around the house a bit with my mom and Dallin and then Chris and I went and got Rogers truck so we could empty out our breezeway of trash and debris. Unfortunately Rogers truck was full so we had to take that to the dump and then we had to come home and get our trash and take that to the dump. It took a long time. I didn't help too much because Chris didn't want me to and I was okay with that because bending over and picking the trash up out of the bed of the truck would have been a lot for my back I think.
After we finished at the dump we went up to Lowes where we picked out the baseboard and molding and trim for Tristan's room. It still had to be textured but we didn't know when I would get back there so we figured it was a good idea to get it now while we didn't have Dallin and Tristan both. The whole process took forever. I was dying. My poor knees and feet were killing me after about 20 minutes of being there. But we had to walk up and down and compare prices and all that jazz. Every so often I would bend over because my belly was hurting. At the time I thought it was just the muscles but now I know that it was the start of labor!
When we finally got home from Lowes I was sitting down and relaxing but my poor belly was still hurting every so often. So about two hours later I decided that they were contractions and they were getting longer and closer. So my mom timed them for me and they were 6-8 minutes apart for about 30 seconds. Not anything to worry about. But since they didn't go away we decided we should get ready for the hospital, grab the car seat, finish packing our bag, get some food. We did all that and my mom and Dallin went to bed and I was uncomfortable but nothing that I couldn't handle.
We were expecting to go to the hospital that night but it never happened. We went up to bed so I could get some sleep while the contractions were still irregular and weak enough for me to sleep. I didn't get much sleep. They were strong enough that I couldn't sleep through them so I would doze for a few minutes and then wake up and then doze. It went that way all night and I would time them ever few hours but nothing.
In the morning (now Sunday the 22nd) we got up and got Dallin and my mom ready for church. My contractions were about 4-6 minutes apart for about 45 seconds and were really uncomfortable but not too painful yet. So we ate and sat around and sent my mom off to church. At about 10 I got in the shower and had the hot water on my belly which felt really nice and I was relaxing. We had called the midwife on call, which just happened to be my midwife that day! She said to take it easy and labor at home for a while but don't wait too long since we did have a 40 minute drive. So that was what we did. And I wasn't hurting all that much so it wasn't a problem.
At 10:45 though we started packing the car because even though my contractions weren't following the 5-1-1 rule, they were getting stronger. I knew it was going to be a long car ride. And it was. Just for fun I would sing and yell really loud during a contraction to help me focus on that. It was hurting by the time we got to the hospital but nothing some hand squeezing with Chris didn't fix.
We got to the hospital at about 11:55 and were in our delivery room by Noon and I was hooked up to monitors and stuck in a bed for 20 minutes upon arrival. The contractions weren't too bad though so I didn't mind doing the 20 minutes of monitoring. After my 20 minutes were up, Kay (my midwife) came in and checked me and we were all surprised to find out that I was already at 9 cm. I wasn't writhing in pain or anything like I thought I would be... But my water hadn't broken yet and she said it probably would soon and the baby wasn't quite down far enough to push but he would be ready when my water broke. So she said I could go labor any way I wanted to. I decided for another shower.
While in the shower my contractions started to get stronger but still 3-5 minutes apart I think and so I would suffer for a minute and have a few minutes to recoup and so Chris and I would talk and were generally enjoying ourselves. Chris was very sweet and helpful. He had his arms in the shower so he could hold my hand and rub my back when the contractions were going and would talk to me of silly things to keep me focused somewhere. It seemed to do the trick because I was still doing okay.
After about 30 minutes or so in the shower I got out and had to sign my consent form to be treated at the hospital and other fun things. So I did that and then laid in bed for a while and realized it was very uncomfortable to be laying so I was kneeling or on my side or on all fours, just trying to get comfortable. And lots of hand squeezing.
This is me at one point of lying in bed. A few times the contractions were strong enough that I needed a little bucket to throw up in but for the most part I was still doing okay. The nurse, Elayne, was very friendly and stayed with us the whole time and kept talking to us. She said that I was doing very well with my focus and that between contractions I didn't really act like I was in labor. I think that means I am awesome. We just kept plugging along, waiting for my water to break.
Probably around 2 is when my contractions started to pick up in strength a lot. As I said, we were waiting for my water to break but it was being very stubborn. So she said when I had a contraction to go ahead and bear down a little and that might help break it. During this time though my contractions really did pick up and I was squeezing saying to Chris "It hurts it hurts it hurts it hurts" and then I would lay there between saying I am so tired and start to close my eyes when another contraction would start.
At about 2:25 I said I wanted Kay to come in and break my water. I had been nervous about this because everyone says it is more painful to labor while your water is broken and so I was scared. I didn't want to hurt more. But I finally hit the point where I wanted it over and so I told my nurse to call Kay and break my water. So at 2:30 Kay came in and broke my water. When she did that she said that the baby was in position for pushing and I was all ready so I could roll over after it was broken and start to push. So that was what I did. I got caught up in some cords since they had to monitor Tristan after my water was broken but once I was kneeling against the back of the bed I started to push. My nurse had told me that it was going to hurt more and it was going to burn but its the one time in life to embrace that pain. So I waited for a contraction and pushed but nothing really happened and it was a wussy contraction anyway. The next one though was a good one so I started to push.
I don't know what was going on behind me since my face was in a pillow and I was squeezing Chris's hand really hard, focusing on that. Then I realized it was starting to hurt but I remembered what my nurse had said, to embrace it so I thought I want it over so I kept pushing. So that was the second contraction. And once I started to push with that contraction I just kept pushing and pushing. So as I said, I didn't know what was going on behind me but I am pretty sure that Kay hadn't expected things to go so fast. Because once I started to push she didn't have time to get all dressed up for delivery after breaking my water. She had gotten her smock on her arms and then Elayne said here he comes! So Kay ran over and caught Tristan's head, not having time to tie up her smock or put gloves on. I wonder how many babies get delivered without gloves... Anyway, so time of birth was 2:35 p.m. I only pushed for 3 minutes they said. It felt a lot shorter, mostly because I know I didn't take that many breaths during that time. But I think 3 minutes is pretty good.
So then I got to hold Tristan immediately and cut the cord because Chris was busy filming because the nurse told him to. haha. So they dried him off on my chest and put blankets on us and it was wonderful. When Dallin was born I got to touch his head and then 45 minutes later I got to hold him. I liked this much better, being able to hold Tristan immediately.
Once they did take him I got stitched up and a meal and he was weighed and measured. He was 9 pounds 3.4 ounces and 21 inches long. Chris was over with Tristan the whole time watching him get measured and weighed and cleaned and all the fun things they do to new babies. Tristan wound up having low blood sugar though so the nursery brought over some formula and Chris got to feed Tristan while I was recouping. I think he really enjoyed that.
He was all nice and pink after he was rubbed down and not crying at all once he was on my chest. He has so far been an amazing baby. He nurses really well, even though my milk still hasn't come in. He gets bottles as well because of that and he does so well nursing as well as bottle feeding. Though I do wish I could just nurse exclusively.
Tristan is a nice filled out baby in the face and his legs are so skinny. By the time we had left the hospital he weighed 8 lb 12 oz so he did good and the next day he weighed 8 lb 10oz so he is good at regulating his food, as well as his temperature since he is a bigger baby. Becca and Remi still beat us though!
Once we got to the recovery room we had to wait forever before Tristan was brought to us. They had to wait to take his blood sugar again and then after that a bath and then time after his bath so we didn't get Tristan back to us until like 3 hours after he was born. I was missing him.
Here is the proud Daddy! Chris has been so good with Tristan. He feels much more confidant in taking care of Dallin though. Probably because he isn't nearly so fragile.
Sitting in the horrible bed in the recovery room. I was so ready to go home. I was in pain from my stitches and my cramps were horrible and the bed was hot and made me sweat and I just wanted to be home.
To keep Tristan out of Dallins reach we put him on the table lots. We have a lot of work to do with Dallin regarding Tristan but for the most part Dallin has done really well. He quickly learned how to be "gentle". He pets Tristan's head and will play with his toes but he doesn't understand his strength so he will grab and squeeze and pull if we aren't watching. Lots to teach!
And here is the close up of the little guy. He is such a good baby so far. Very easy. He sleeps so well at night and eats so well and loves to be held but also does really well just sitting on his own. Granted he is crying next to me right now and I am about to pick him up but I wanted to get this post done first. Its been going on for a few hours.
We are so happy to have Tristan in our home. We also love having Dallin in our home. I can't do much with Dallin right now since I can't pick him up and so he has been becoming very attached to my mom but I hope that soon I will be healed so I can take care of Dallin and Tristan. I love them both and can't wait for the days when they are the best of friends, hopefully not the worst of friends very often. So much to look forward to.
