Birth Story

Caleb Benjamen’s birth story May 4, 2009

Sunday (5-3) morning I started having contractions that came every 2-3 minutes that lasted about 2 hours. But they ended up stopping even though they were pretty intense. They even stopped enough for me to go back to sleep around 7:30 am. When I woke up, I still had a few occasional painful contractions through out the day, but never ones that were very consistent. Most of them felt like the ones that I had been having the past 4 weeks or so. Annoying and really, really tight. After we put Luke to bed close to 9pm, I started to have them again. Just like I had that morning. Except this time they were about every 3-8 minutes apart, and not quite as painful as before. So, I took an Ambien and went to bed trying to get some sleep. We didn’t want to call the doctor only to have them tell us to come back into to the hospital and then send us home. So we waited to see if anything else would happen.

I woke up again early Monday (5-4) morning, around 5:30am, (almost the exact same time as Sunday morning) and started having them more frequently, around 2-3 minutes, and definitely more painful. They lasted about an hour and half, and I was able to go back to sleep…again. When I woke up in the morning around 8am, I woke up to a pretty intense one, but they weren’t coming as frequently as 2-3 minutes, they were more like 5-9 minutes. So, I just started to go about my day, took a shower, and then decided to put a call into the doctor just so that they knew what was going on. They told me that they wanted me to come into the office to be checked; just to “make sure” those contractions didn’t do much since I had been dilated 1-2cm for the past 4 weeks.

So, I called my sister in law to see if she would watch Luke for me while I ran up to the doctor’s office. And Brandon offered to come, but asked if I could handle driving up there myself since he had some work he needed to get done, and I told him I could and that it probably was nothing. I just wanted to make sure all was okay. My mom, mother in law and sister all were either working or had school, so none of them were available to watch Luke or even go with me. So off to the hospital I went. All by myself.

I got there, checked in and had to wait for probably 40 minutes before going back. All while my contractions were picking up again and coming consistently. Maybe 5 minutes apart or so. They called me back and my doctor checked me. She said I was 3 cm! I couldn’t believe it. She then asked me “how do you feel about having a baby today?” To which I replied, “really?” She said she would give me the option of either being admitted or going home and seeing “what would happen as the day progressed” I told her I would rather just be admitted. So, she called over to the hospital and told her I was on my way and off to Labor and Delivery I went around noon. All by myself!

I called Brandon and everyone else in the family to let them know what was going on. Brandon had to finish up a few things with work and my mom and sister headed straight over with Luke. (They both left work and school and picked Luke up from Kayla’s). They told me initially I would have my csection between 4-6pm that day, but it kept getting bumped back as the day went on because of other ladies who were more of an emergency than I was. When I got there they gave me Nubain for the pain, and then I got my epidural around 2:30pm. I finally felt so comfortable after a month of having constant contractions.

The rest of our family finally arrived and we waited around until they said it was time. They finally took me back to have the section around 8:15pm or so and Caleb Benjamen was born at 8:51 pm. 7lbs 7oz, 21 inches, and a head circumference of 13.5 inches! He was a big boy and Dr. Gaudreau said that because he was so big, he more than likely wouldn’t have fit and that is why my contractions never dilated me more than they did. He couldn’t push as hard on my cervix as he needed to. And after lying there all day in the hospital, I had only made it to 4 cm when they took me back. So, I’m glad I had opted for a csection anyway.

We stayed in the hospital until Friday (5-8) afternoon and came home around 2:30pm. He lost some weight at the hospital, he went from 7.7 to 7.4 to 6.13 back up to 7.1, which was great news, he was already gaining weight when we left. He is doing great at nursing and wants to eat about every 2-3 hours. Round the clock. We feel so blessed to have this little boy here with us and healthy. Our family is feeling complete.

Baby Boy's room

Looks like we may be just about done with Peanut's room. Luke said we were.....

We got his new crib in, and things are coming together. I've finally hung a few things on the walls...

and all the little diapers are in place and ready for that sweet baby bottom!

Some of his clothes are now hanging in that huge closet, which makes his clothes seem even littler than what they are! (but...they are really really little....)

Now, if he'd only get here! A little less than 3 weeks now! We are getting very anxious!

Eventful week

34 weeks 6 days till now has been very eventful. With 4 trips to Labor and Delivery and one regular OB appointment, this peanut has kept us on our toes. We know he is doing well, is healthy and strong (as he HATES to have the contraction moniter sitting on top of him...he has literally almost kicked it off every time) and definetly has his own timing for when he will make his debut into this world. :)

My 36 week appointment went well yesterday. She checked me again, (for the 5th! time this week) and has said their hasn't been any change in my cervix. I am still a loose 1cm, 75% effaced, and at 0 station. Which is good of course, because we didn't want this baby to come and have to be automatically admitted to the NICU because he was under 36 weeks. But at the same time, it's getting really difficult to be having contractions all day long, every day, and know they are just not sufficient enough to make anything happen. *sigh*

I just feel ready physically and emotionally. I want to be able to get up in the middle of the night and hold this sweet stubborn boy instead of make my drowsy, dizzy way to the bathroom 3+ times. I want to see Luke hold his baby brother instead of kissing my belly and hugging my belly button. I want to see Brandon hold both his boys and love on them. I am soooo ready to be a mommy to two.

Like my doctor said yesterday, good news is, is that this pregnancy MUST end. It's just whether it's going to be this week, next week, or that final 3rd week on my scheduled day. She said she doesn't think I will make it to May 12, but the other doctor in her practice didn't think I would make it to my appointment yesterday! It's just a waiting game now. :)

At the appointment yesterday, she was taking measurements of my belly and listening to the heartbeat when Luke shouted, "no no no no Guke's baby!!" and lifted up his shirt. So my doctor went over and pretended to measure his "baby" and put the doppler and gel on his "baby" to listen to it. He just thought that was the coolest thing. So that made him feel important. It was hilarious though.

so, this baby will be here, regardless, in 3 weeks. Which really....isn't that far away. We just hope these contractions that aren't making me make any progress actually stop...or slow down enough that I don't feel so tired!

Just so tired....

I am just to the point of exhaustion most days. Just worn out and tired. It's hard to really do much around the house anymore. I'm just soooo tired of being sooooo tired. I can't sleep well at night, Brandon has officially moved from our bed to the couch, just so he can get a decent nights rest, and I can well, not worry about waking him up with every move I make. I probably am getting up at least 3 times a night to go to the bathroom, and my hips are hurting from sleeping only on my sides. I'm just so done. I am wanting so bad to enjoy this time, especially since we are now officially under the 5 week mark, but I just want to feel half way normal. I know that when this baby comes, I will be getting up to take care of him in the middle of the night too, but at least I will get to see my sweet baby's face instead of the toilet. That's a lot more rewarding! heehee.

I know it sounds like I am complaining, and to my husband I apologize for that, because I have done it a lot lately. But waiting for baby number 2 to make his debut is so much different than waiting for baby number 1 to make his. We know what to expect this time around, we know what middle of the night feedings entail, we know about the diaper changes, the laundry, and the new sweet baby smell. We cannot wait to finally have him HERE with us....enjoying him for all he is, and watching our first born interact with his brother. As much as I know he is safe and sound inside of me right now, feeling his sweet movements, and having him all to myself, I am soooo ready for the next phase.

32 week appt

I had my 32 week appt and Peanut is doing well. My belly measured in at 30 cm...which is an increase of 3cm in just 2 weeks! Which is good because now I am only about a week and half to 2 weeks behind as opposed to a whole month. His heartbeat sounded good and everything looks great.

I have been having some pretty intense pubic bone pain. (is that tmi??) and my doctor said it's because I have Pubic Systemasis Disfuntion. I don't know if I spelled that right. Basically it just means that my pubic bone hurts really bad. But it's really very common and the only cure for it is birth. great. That is at least 5-7 weeks away! So until then I have to start physical therapy and wear one of those pregnancy support bands to help ease the pain. Because really, it is pretty intense at times. Like I can't even walk or get up from where I am sitting. So at least I know why now. Anyone have any experience with this?? Just wondering how you handled it and if it really went away after you had your baby.

Also all the Braxton Hicks contractions I have been experiencing are normal. But she did say that I need to time them when I am resting because I will have to call her if I have more than 4-6 in a hour at rest. Which I haven't done before, but I still definetly have them when I am sitting with my feet up. I am just so nervous this little one is going to make an early experience that I think I am noticing them more and more.

So, other than that. Things are going well and we are still just playing the waiting game for when he gets here.

And, this may sound crazy, because we have already ordered a crib, set it up, and put his bedding in it, but we are going to be ordering a different one! HA! We found on we liked better that actually goes with his other furniture in his room much better. And we figured since he will have this furniture for a while, we might as well be happy with it. So....hopefully it will come in on time!

Rewind Part 3

It's been awhile since I have blogged about the first parts of this pregnancy. So, here is another one so that we don't forget. Read the first 2 here

Rewind Part 1
Rewind Part 2

Even though we couldn't find a shirt anywhere in our neck of the woods that had anything remotely to do with Luke being a big brother, we went to plan B. When we were pregnant with Luke we had an excuse to come over and see our family because we found out the night before Valentine's Day and brought them all Valentine's Day cards. But this time was different. We had no special reason to just show up at their houses at like 7pm.

So, we called Brandon's parents and said we were dropping a kid off from Brandon's soccer practice at a house near by and thought we'd stop in to visit for a minute. (He coached soccer at that time). So they really didn't think anything of it. Well, we walked in and of course all their attention went straight to Luke, which always happens with all his grandparents. and Brandon, being his witty, funny self, decided to make hints the whole time to see how long it would take for them to pick up on it. So, as he was fixing Luke a drink he said something like, "Wow mom, your new fridge would hold a lot of BREAST milk in that door right there." To which his mom replied, "well, I guess it would if you needed it to." NOTHING. He acted like he was looking at their new microwave and opened the door and said, "wow, you could heat up a lot of bottles or baby food in their at one time," to which his mom replied, "well, yeah, you could." NOTHING. Luke kept their entire attention the whole time. Brandon's dad talked about his foot and how he needed to take it easy, and Brandon said something like, "yeah, Sarah might need to too." NOTHING.

That went on for literally 30 minutes before Brandon's mom said, "wait, why would you want to store breast milk in my fridge" (or something to that effect). Smiles ensued, and they knew. I couldn't help but laugh out loud the whole time because it was so obvious what Brandon was saying, they just never got it. It was hilarious.

After that, we headed over to my mom's and used the same excuse as we did with the inlaws, except this time it was closer to 8pm. So we showed up and my mom did the exact same thing with Luke. Scooped him up and it was all about him. So Brandon went to work on letting the cat out of the bag, saying pretty much all the same things he said to his mom and dad. It took my mom and sister about 20 minutes to get it. And then they didn't believe us! My sister ran upstairs, grabbed a pregnancy test, and made me take it. To which of course there were 2 big lines. It was so funny. Mom pulled out a book she had been saving for Luke about a big brother and how his parents brought home a new baby. And the big brother's name in the story was Luke. She dated it and wrote a little message in it. It was too cute.

So, needless to say, even though we didn't get to tell them exactly how we wanted too, it was probably the funniest thing I have ever seen watching and listening to my husband spill the beans and both sets of grandparents not get it for a loooooooonnnnnggggg time. heehee

29 weeks!

Well, I have made it to 29 weeks. Feels good to know that in exactly 10 weeks from today we will definetly have met this little man. I am feeling good, except for a few feelings of a bruised belly from this kid kicking me so hard from the inside. I swear he drags his entire heel across the length of my entire belly. Luke never ever kicked as hard as this one does, and I always felt him more up in my ribs, where this one I sometimes feel there, but it's usually always on the my far right side of my belly almost all the way towards my back. It's crazy how far back I can feel him move. My belly button is pretty much gone....and I really don't know if it will ever come back again. It is so stretched that it's hard to believe that this belly is going to have to stretch even more in 10 weeks.

I have another doctor's appointment tomorrow. I like when you start having them closer together....it makes the time go by faster and you get to hear his heartbeat more often.

I'll let you all know how it goes!

28 week appt

I had my 28 week appt today. And it went well. Gained 2 lbs. Which is no fun to see those numbers on that scale just keep going up and up and up..... Baby is good. We heard his heartbeat, but the thing that caught me off guard is that I am measuring a month behind. so at 27 weeks 4 days I am measuring 24 weeks. (my doctor said she could fudge and maybe say 26...but I told her not to fudge....even though i wish i was bigger...only because it makes me worried)

so, because I am measuring a month behind, she wanted me to go in for an ultrasound to check up on this little peanut. She said she isn't worried by any means and that a smaller measurment can happen, but to just ease my mind and be safe to have an ultrasound done. and seriously, who would turn down an ultrasound?? we get to see him again! So we go on Friday at 9am to check up on him...and see why in the world I am measuring the way I am. Good thoughts and prayers would be appreciated to ease my mind that he is okay. Dr. G said that everything else looks good and he was measuring right on at my 20 week scan (even though i was almost 18 weeks) so that is good news.

Other than that, I passed my 3 hour glucose test! It was a long and very tiring day, not to mention how nasty that orange drink tastes...but I passed. and so it was all worth it to make sure he is doing fine.

I will keep you posted on the results of the ultrasound...stay tuned for Friday!

third trimester!

I have officially made it. The last trimester. Man that is a good feeling. :) I am already getting tired much easier than before...and have noticed that the belly seems to get in the way quite often. Poor Luke has had to figure out a new way to sit on my lap when reading our books now. I have been having several braxton hicks contractions lately, and some of them last night were a little bit painful. Like I could feel them in my back....it was either that, or my back just hurt. It's hard to tell.

I took my Glucose Test on Wednesday and failed with flying colors once again. My score was 145 and it needs to be below 140. So, on Monday morning I am going back to take the 3 hour glucose test. Hopefully I will pass that one, and won't have gestational diabetes this time around. When I was pregnant with Luke, I failed the one hour test (with a score of 149) and barely squeaked by my 3 hour test (one of my numbers was pretty high, and for you to be considered having GD, you have to fail 2 or more of the blood draws). I am just trying to stay optimistic about it. If I have it....I have it. And I would rather know so that this little peanut is healthy when he makes his entrance into this world.

I am also a tad bit anemic this time around too. My score was 11.2 (needs to be above 12.5) and that was pretty much the same with Luke too (11.4). So that didn't suprise me at all. We will see if Dr. G wants me to take an iron supplement when I see her next Wednesday. She didn't have me take one with Luke, so we will see what she says this time around.

On this day 3 years ago, we found out we were going to be parents. Why does 3 years sound like such a short time, but feel like an eternity??? heehee. I don't know, must be chasing after our 2 year old...who is technically almost 2.5! When did THAT happen?

So, we are still trucking along with this little peanut. I start seeing the doctor ever 2 weeks now, so that should make the time go by a little faster, and March is going to be a busy month with 2 showers I am helping with, my birthday, my sister's birthday, and maybe a little get away with just Brandon and Luke. I'm excited!

24 weeks and counting

I am officially in my 25th week! whoo hoo! These pictures were taken on Saturday when I turned 24 weeks. It feels good to be at this point...it just means that in 3 months or less this little man will be here. I cannot wait to hold him and see him, and just snuggle him. Soak in all that baby cuteness and good smells....awww....it's going to be soon!

Anyway,

here is my and my grandpa (peanut and Luke's great grandpa) getting a belly shot together.


and then he asked my mom to take a "serious" picture of him, ya know, without him sticking his gut out. He was seriously making me laugh so hard!


And then we needed one with my stepdad...Papaw Jeff!

And then Luke had to get in on the action. But apparently he can only kiss the baby when my shirt is pulled up. He does it everytime.

We ordered peanut's crib and dresser last night from JC Penny and they should be in very soon. Which makes me so excited because I am feeling like I need to get everything done! I never really had that "nesting" experience with Luke. Maybe it's because I felt like I had all the time to get it done (even though he came 4 weeks early) because it was just me and Brandon. Now I feel like I am running out of time!

We need to move Luke's room upstairs with the baby, get the baby furniture, set it up, decorate their rooms, move the closets around, move the office to the other bedroom since Luke is taking the office upstairs, and then make Luke's old room into the playroom, and make the dining room what it was intended to be! AGH! stresses me out to think about it all. I know it will all come together, and that it really won't take a lot of time, especially because I will have Brandon to help me and my mom and sister have offered to help too. It's just knowing that I won't be able to do as much as I want since my belly just keeps getting bigger and bigger and bigger.....and I get tired quicker already! It will all come together. right????