Connor's Birth Story

** This post is long over-due. I am just now finishing it up, with a cute little baby boy in my lap too! Connor is almost a month old! I cannot believe it! Be aware this post is very long! **

Monday, February 27, I went to bed anxiously awaiting my 41 week appointment the next morning. I was ready to ask my doctor to induce me that day. I wanted to meet my little man and I was getting to a breaking point of being pregnant. I figured my pregnancy would end in an induction the following day. Little did I know what was in store.

Around 4am, Derek had just came to bed...yes... Derek had been playing play-station all night long! We chatted for a few minutes and I was having some painful cramps. They were consistent, but tolerable & not time-able. I got up to use the restroom and the cramps continued. At 5am, as I laid in bed complaining to Derek about my cramps and while asking him 'do you think I'm in labor?', completely naive to what labor felt like... MY WATER BROKE... all over our bed!! There was no more questioning "is this labor?" I WAS indeed in labor. Seconds after my water broke, contractions began. Within seconds I went from moderate cramping to painful contractions 4-5 minutes apart. Being a week overdue, having my bag of waters broke and contractions coming quick, we (more like Derek being very nervous & secretly freaking out) decided to head to the hospital 30 minutes away.

The car ride was painful. I kept feeling as if I needed to use the restroom with each contraction. I attempted to eat toast that Derek had made for me but eating was the farest thing from my mind. With each contraction, now coming every 3 minutes, I felt derek drive faster. Luckily it was 5:30am and few cars were on the road!

We arrived at 6 am to Kaiser and my parents were already there. I was checked and sadly was only 2 cm. I knew I wasn't going to be far along. I had only been having painful contractions for maybe 2 hours at this point. However, since my water had broken and the contractions were so close, I was admitted. My first nurse, Peggy, got my IV started and we discussed getting an epidural. I decided to go walk the halls to progress my labor before I would be restricted to the bed with the epidural. Derek & I walked hand in hand for maybe 20 minutes, taking breaks against the walls of the hallway every 2 minutes or so as the contractions filled my body. Derek was SO good at reminding me to breath! Crazy as it seems, I wouldn't breath. I would just keep saying "oh it hurts" over and over.

As soon as we got back to the room, my nurse ordered the epidural. It was now 12:00 and I was 4 cm dilated. Everyone had to leave the room for it, which made me nervous. Luckily my nurse was really sweet & comforted me. I didn't realize how hard it would be to sit on the edge of the bed hunched over a pillow with a 41 week pregnant belly while having extricating pain fill my body and being told to stay completely still. Sure doc! Well, the epidural took about 20 minutes or so then the anesthesiologist said they were going to administer a "test dose". Within seconds, I felt a rush to my head and apparently my blood pressure spiked from 80 to 120. The anesthesiologist instantly pulled out the epidural! He explained to me it must have not been in the proper location and they were going to have to start all over. Hormonal, uncomfortable me began balling. How was I going to sit still for another 20 minutes through painful contractions that were coming every 2 minutes and lasting a minute? Well, I did. The second epidural worked this time and within 20 minutes I was nicely feeling the effects. I could still feel my legs and mild cramping with each contraction, which was great!

I was warned that getting an epidural could slow down labor, and that happened! My contractions were not coming as quickly and were no longer strong... So in went the pitocin. I always find it so ironic with medicine... it helps one thing, but can cause something else. Anyway, the rest of the afternoon, pitocin was given, then stopped, then given again, then stopped.

Around 4:30 I started feeling each contraction with great intensity. Within 20 minutes it felt as if the epidural had just stopped working... My nurse got the anesthesiologist yet again and he "topped" the epidural off. He explained to me that it could take up to 20 minutes to feel its effects... I painfully waited 20 minutes, 30 minutes, 40 minutes as the contractions grew more intense with no relief. Finally by 6:00, the anesthesiologist said "lets redo your epidural". So yet again, I hunched over and endured a 3rd epidural!

Finally it worked! I was able to enjoy the next 3 hours with a brief nap. The nurse checked me at 9:00 on the dot to find baby boys head on its way out. Suddenly, it was real! It was time to push. I was so overwhelmed with excitement and nerves. I remember looking at Derek the nurse explained to him how to hold my leg... He seemed so ready to meet his baby boy, yet in shock at the same time. I was nervous he was going to pass out so I told him to take off his sweatshirt hehe (yes there I was in labor, about to push out a baby & I was worried about my husband). He said "no im fine" and then a few seconds later said "ok maybe your right". With the next contraction I began to push. Derek reminded me to take a deep breath in and then he counted to 10 for me. Derek was a great labor coach. He encouraged me, praised me and kept me focused. Around 9:25, the doctor came in and quickly got ready. She seems quite surprised that I had only been pushing for 15 minutes and his head was already almost out. 3 pushes later and Connor Jackson Russell was born at 9:35pm.

The joy that was felt as he was placed on my chest is indescribable. It was a moment that I dreamed about my whole life and it was even better than I imagined it. Tears filled my eyes as I saw Derek mesmerized by his baby boy as he kissed him for the first time. In that moment, I've never felt so lucky and blessed.

We spent the next hour as a family of 3 before family and friends quickly said Hi to Connor. Around 11:30pm everyone had left and it was just me & my 2 boys. I think that was my favorite time. Connor was just hours old and so perfect in my arms. I loved staring at Derek as he held Connor completely in love.

February 28th is a day I will never forget. It was the day I became a mom and saw my husband stand by my side for a 16 hour labor with no sleep the night before. It was a day filled with pain, stress, emotions and SO much love. Looking back at pictures of friends and family in the waiting room, makes me feel so special. To know that 15 people waited at the hospital, some over 12 hours, for Connor to be born touches my heart. Im glad it was a day that our family and close friends got to share in the excitement and anticipation. I could have never gotten though any of it without Derek.

Baby boy...

Before you were conceived I wanted you
Before you were born I loved you
Before you were an hour old I would die for you

Many more pictures & posts of Connor's first month to come!

Connor Jackson Russell

He is here & perfect! Connor Jackson Russell was born Tuesday February 28 at 9:35pm. My water broke at 5am that day and I finally began pushing at 9:10pm and 25 minutes later, Connor arrived! Derek was AMAZING during labor and delivery. He stood by my side and held my hand through each contraction & push. There is nothing better than seeing your husband become a daddy. Seeing Connor for the first time was overwhelming. Those 9 months in my belly, plus an extra week, couldn't even prepare me for the love I'd have for him.

I am working on typing up a birth story as well as sharing lots of pictures of labor, our hospital stay, and 1st week at home. Lets see if I manage to actually do all that... For some reason, I have alot less free time to blog all of a sudden ;)

40 weeks= Due Date

(Pictures taken at 39 weeks)

February 22, 2012= Our little Man's DUE DATE!

He has 6 more hours to make his debut, however I've thinking he's on his own schedule. So far I am experiencing no contractions, not even a little crampy :/ However, I know that can quickly change.

It has been a long, yet very easy and enjoyable 9 months but this mama is ready to meet her baby! Daddy is ready too! He keeps saying "can you just have him already?" Oh... I wish it was that easy!

Here is my (hopefully) last pregnancy update!

How far along? 40 Weeks!

Total weight gain: 31 lbs

Maternity clothes? Everything!

Stretch marks? Just a few on my boobs

Sleep: Getting comfy is hard & Im up at least twice to use the bathroom

Best moment this week: DUE DATE! & enjoyed spending time with family these last 3 days

Miss Anything?

Movement: His little foot has been kicking me in the same spot so much it's getting sore!

Food cravings: Coffee which I've tried to resist

Food aversions: Nothing

Gender: Boy.

Labor Signs: :(

Symptoms: Achy & feeling big.

Belly Button in or out? flat

Looking forward to: Meeting our little man SOON, if not TODAY (right Connor?)

Were ready to meet our baby... NOW!

39 weeks today! I say this every week but I cannot believe I am 39 weeks pregnant. We all hear stories of women going into labor weeks before their due date, and as a first time mom, I of course think thats going to be me. I was ready weeks ago to meet my little man. His room is waiting (even though he won't be sleeping in there for a while), the bassinet is sitting lonely in our bedroom, his clothes are washed, the house is full with a bouncer, swing, pack-n-play, stroller and car-seat, while my hospital bag has been packed and repacked for several weeks. Every closet in the house is clean & organized. I washed all the big blankets and sheets for all the beds (several times). Derek even joined in the nesting phase and cleaned and organized the garage. It is VERY clear, we are ready.

As I've said before, I've loved the journey of pregnancy. Being a mom was something I always wanted and from the second I found out I was pregnant, my heart was overwhelmed with love for such a tiny little person. I have gotten to share the last 273 days with my baby boy. I have felt every kick, punch, hiccup and turn of his body. I have felt his little foot dig into my rib and stay there for hours. I've seen him push his hands and legs to one side while his back and booty go to another side, making my belly all lopsided. Needless to say, I feel so connected to him and as if I already know him. I know he will be just like his daddy in SO many ways. I can see him having darker hair, a huge smile and laugh a lot. If he is anything like his daddy, he'll like to stay busy, he'll treat his mama like a queen and occasionally he'll get a pouty face that I think is adorable.

I feel so blessed that I, and only I, has gotten to spend 273 days with our little man. Even though I have LOVED every second of him inside of me and I'm sure I will miss feeling his little feet in me, I am ready to share him with the world. I want to see my husband hold him in his arms for the first time, I want to see my parents as grandparents and I want to see myself with a baby in my arms.

Long story short... WE ARE READY LITTLE CONNOR!

Unfortunately, my great aunt Mary is nearing the end of her life. At 94 years old, she has lived a great life and is now awaiting to spend eternity with the lord. My mom has been very busy visiting my aunt in her final days and getting her funeral, finances, and house in order. It would be ideal to lay my aunt to rest before baby decides to enter the world, however birth and death do not work according to "ideal". All we can do is go with the flow and I know everything will work out the way God had in store. Dealing with my great aunts impending death while awaiting the arrival of my child, teaches me that when one great soul leaves this world, God blesses the world with another and for that I am grateful.

*** About an hour after I wrote this post, my dear great aunt passed away peacefully. Even when you know death is near, it's always hard to accept when someone is gone. However, I know she is now hanging with my grandpa looking over us all. ***

Since I just wrote a novel (can you tell I have some free time on my hands)... I will leave you with a few shots from my final maternity photosess with my sister in law. Derek and I owe her so much (not just money) but lots of thanks for all her hard work documenting our journey & my growing belly.

24

It was my birthday on Super Bowl Sunday

& boy was it fun!

We had yummy ice cream cake

Then the next day this boy took me to the Muir Woods

& we took pictures

& posed inside of trees

& took self-portrits

& felt like complete tourists!

Life lately... According to my iphone

(1) Washing all the blankets in the house (nesting.. I think so) Radar snuck a nap

(2) Pack-n-Play in Family room

(3) Trying out baby monitor on puppy

(4) Dinner & Movie Date Night

(5) DIY Moss Covered "R"

(6) Taking advantage of "Stork Parking"... I felt privileged

(7) The Result of an enjoyable mani/pedi.. Blue for Baby Boy

(8) Birthday Presents & New clothes for after pregnancy!

Nursery Reveal

Baby Connor's Nursery is complete! It was so much fun putting together his room. We enjoyed every step of thinking, planning, making, buying & doing. I wanted something neutral enough but fun & playful for a boy. I had a hard time "stopping" buying cute animals for the nursery. I loved all the giraffe ideas I had seen, but then wanted birch trees & deer. So I did it all! At first I wanted something simple, a few birch trees, a bird house & animals... next thing I know it felt kinda like a Zoo hehe... However, I love how it turned it! Plus, we did a really great job of designing a room that can grow with him & was VERY budget friendly... which is the best part. If in 2 years he doesn't like it then I wont feel bad switching it up!

I also love that the pillows & crib skirt are handmade by my mama & me, the bird house was carved in Chester, Ca.; a fun place we love to vacation too, the dresser, changing table & frames were all "used" & just needed a fresh coat of paint. The curtains were originally in our room but we switched them for black-out curtains & used our old curtains in the babies room. The crib, chair, baskets, sheets & giraffe are all new!

Finally, Here it is!