One!

Wowzers, I have a one year old! I have a one year old! Do I really have a one year old?? Crazyness! This last year has gone by so quick. Yesterday (Christmas Day), I spent the whole day thinking back to Christmas Day 2010 when I went into labor. I don't think I ever documented it so, I want to write as much of it here as I remember before I really forget. And by all means, please do not feel the need to read this whole thing! I'm sure it will be lengthy!

I remember Corey and I had my bag in the car for a couple of days just in case I went into labor, especially since we would be out and about so much for Christmas. That morning, I don't remember feeling any different. My plug had already come out so I knew it would be any day but I certainly did not think it would be that day! Btw, sorry if this is TMI for some of you :) I don't remember what the schedule of house visits was supposed to be that day except that we had breakfast at Corey's Dads and then were going to head to Corey's moms. Beyond that, I have no idea what the plan was! We were having breakfast at Corey's dads. I was feeling fine. A little crampy but nothing worse than menstrual cramps. I did start to notice though, that they were starting to happen in a rhythm, a few minutes apart each time. The whole time, I was sitting on the couch watching TV. I got up to go to the restroom and as I stood up, there was a bit of an extra trickle that I couldn't control! I sat back down, thinking it was more of my plug because it was just a little trickle.  So I walked out of the restroom and Corey was on the computer with his dad. I very casually mentioned to him what happened and he remembered right away from our childbirth classes that a lot of times when a woman's water breaks, it starts as a trickle. I, on the other hand, don't remember anything! So he immediately got nervous, had to smoke a cigarette and called his mom to tell her. I, on the other hand, was very calm, and decided I was going to just sit down and see if I still felt those cramps. I sat for about another 30 minutes and then it was time to go to Rhonda's to visit for Christmas. We were saying our goodbye's (fortunately in the TILED kitchen!) and as I went in to hug Jerry (Corey's dad), I felt the much bigger gush that was completely uncontrollable! Weirdest feeling ever!!!! At that moment I said "Whoa! Uh-oh! Ok, this is definitely my water breaking!" I was definitely in shock! I'm not even sure what Corey or everyone else was thinking! I just couldn't believe that my water actually broke in the middle of Jerry's kitchen! So corey ran down to the car to get the bag so I could change out of my now wet clothes then we headed to the hospital. All the while, I still felt fine! It was nothing like the movies where everyone goes insane and you're in awful pain the minute you realize you're in labor! I think I was more calm than everyone else! I called my mom and very calmly asked what she was doing, she said she was making potatoes and asked what I was doing. So I told her my water broke and that I was on my way to the hospital! She said "WHAT?!?!" and pretty much immediately headed up to the hospital herself.

As we were getting to the hospital, Corey said he would drop me off at the emergency entrance. I insisted that I was fine and could walk from the garage. Mind you, it was a verrrry long walk. So against Corey's better judgement, we did. As soon as I got out of the car, the uncontrollable gush of water continued! I was so embarassed!! It's seriously like peeing 20 gallons and not having any control! So then I kind of panicked! What in the world was I going to do leaking with every step with super wet pants! Fortunately there was a wheel chair as soon as we got to the elevator. So Corey wheeled me up to Labor and delivery and we told the nurse my water broke. So she pulled me in and said, well we just have to make sure it did in fact break. I showed her my pants and how wet they were and mentioned that I did not pee in my pants! And she said "Oh ok! Your water definitely broke!" So they got me all set up and into a room. My mom arrived then Corey's mom and family. Corey and I had decided that when the baby was born, he and both of our mothers would be in there to see Rex come out. I think that is a very special moment to share with both mothers. But before the actual pushing time, I was totally open to any and all visitors! And boy did we have a bunch! During the intense labor, my best friends Jenny and Ashley, Corey's sister Blair and our moms were there. My TEAM!!! What would I have done without my team!!?? Ashley even rushed home from her mom's in Georgetown on Christmas day to be there!

Labor started off easy, peasy, lemon squeezy!! It was great! Hardly any pain! The worse pain at that point was the giant IV they put in my hand. Fortunately I had a super nice and gently nurse who took very good care of me. I got the epidural around 3:30 just in time before the contractions got more intense.Then we waited...and waited...and waited!! Hours went by and nothing was happening. I was moving verrrrrrry slowly. And it was getting later! We had hoped that since I went into labor Christmas day that Rex would go ahead and come that day not only to make it extra special but also so that I wouldn't be in labor over a two day period! I remember around 10:30 PM, Aunt Pam, Uncle (Paul) Buddy, Lacey and maybe Casey (I don't remember!), were in my room visiting me when I started to feel a twinge of pain on my left side. My right side was super numb though. I remember thinking it was just getting more intense and that this was normal. But it kept getting worse and worse. Before I knew it, the pain was pretty intense but only on the left. They tried everything, I got a cocktail mix of drugs, that didn't help. Finally I ended up getting a second epidural and it still didn't help! And the pain was intense! But only on one side! And remember, I had been in labor since noon and been awake since the morning and it was getting very late and I was still progressing slowly. So, I was in horrible pain on one side and I was exhausted from being in labor and being up so long. My team of girls stuck by me the whole time. ALLLLL NIGHT!!! I owe them so much, even now! How they managed to stay awake is beyond me! I honestly don't remember much once it got to be super late into the night. I just remember being exhausted and hurting. I remember some people coming in and out of the room but I was so uncomfortable that I didn't really pay attention. I also remember the room being very dark and very quiet.

Finally around 6 AM it was time to push! YES FINALLY!! I was still so exhausted but I was so excited to finally be pushing! At this point, my team of girls had been so amazing and so devoted, I hated asking them to leave and miss the birth. So I asked Corey if they could stay and he said yes. I think he was so mentally and physically exhausted himself, he welcomed all help! And to think, when we first talked about it, he wanted it to be just me and him! HA!! That went out the window REAL quick! Little did I know I would push for nearly 2 hours!!! Did you read that?? TWO HOURS OF PUSHING!!!! I don't remember what I felt during the pushing phase, but I do remember being so tired that I would try to sleep in between contractions! My team was AMAZING! They took turns holding my leg, holding my hands and literally screamed and counted every time I pushed! I bet if there was anyone in the hall, they must have been thinking I was deaf or something! Little man apparently was the only one not hearing! If I remember correctly he was face up, making it more difficult and I was also a little on the small side. They tried vacuuming but it did not work. Eventually, Rex went into distress and we had to do an emergency C-section. I was so extremely exhausted that hearing the words c-section was an absolute relief! I just wanted it to be over! They took us back, me first then Corey. I later found out that my team of girls just sobbed when they took me away!! In the room as they were prepping me, I remember I was FREEZING cold laying on the bed. And I was shaking uncontrollably I'm guessing from being cold and from all of the medication I had been given. It seemed like it took forever but I think that whole process actually went pretty quickly.

Finally, my baby boy arrived at 7:59 AM on Sunday, December 26, 2010. They showed him to me over the curtain then I literally knocked out!!! I was out like a light! My work was done! They tried waking me to take a picture with Corey and Rex but I was not having it! I stayed asleep! When I was in recovery, I was still knocked out. Everyone got to hold my baby before me, which still makes me a little sad but I also wouldn't have it any other way. He got so much love the second he came out. I finally woke up around 11 AM, I think! My mom was there, Corey was asleep. And that's when I held my baby for the first time! It was so surreal. I was holding MY baby boy! This little person was inside me just a few hours before and had been living in me for 9 months and he was finally here! Little stinker cried the first time I held him and I couldn't do much to soothe him because I was fresh out of surgery. My mom calmed him down then I held him again and he was just fine. My favorite moments by far were holding him skin on skin. Those were special Mommy and Rex moments that only he and I have. I will cherish them forever. He was a little jaundiced so he had to be in the baby tanning bed for a day or two. Looking back, that was my first sign that he would be such a calm, easy going baby. He just hung out in there and never really cried. And that's exactly who he is still. My calm, easygoing baby. We stayed in the hospital a few days and were discharged on December 29.

The last year has been pure joy. The best moments for me are those little moments between me and him that no one else catches. The moments when he gives momma kisses after I eskimo kiss him and the moments when we lay in bed in the mornings on the weekend. Rex sleeps in his crib but sometimes wakes up around 5:30 or 6 so I'll get him and put him in bed with me. He wakes up around 8 each morning and wakes up happy and talking, just like me. I absolutely love watching Corey be a Daddy. What an amazing Daddy he has become and will continue to be. and Rex sure does love his Daddy! Lately, he has started talking with his hands  a lot and his facial expressions are starting to show more. I can't wait to see more and more of his personality coming out. I know the real fun is just beginning.

If you made it through this looooooooong entry, I applaud you and also thank you for reading my special story! Looking back, I'm so thankful that I got to experience my water breaking because I likely will never have that experience again. Any future babies will be delivered via scheduled c-section since Rex was a c-section. I wouldn't trade my experience for the world. It is me and Rex's special story and he was my special present on Christmas 2010.

Happy Birthday Rex Adrian! Mommy and Daddy love you more than words can say!