family pic

family pic

Thursday, August 28, 2014

13 Years Ago...

  13 years ago tonight was the beginning of our experience with c-sections! I'm sure most of you are familiar with my story, but for those who aren't well I guess I can tell it again! ;) 
  I was one week away from being due with baby number 4, helping my aunt get ready for her daughter's bridal shower. I was standing on a stool (yes, I was a little young and "thought" I was invincible back then) tacking a balloon in the ceiling when I felt my water break. I jumped (again, the young invincible me) down and went in the bathroom... WELL it wasn't water, but bright red blood. I hollered for my cousin to get her mom and sat back on the toilet where it kept on coming! Seriously, it sounded like a horse peeing!! I couldn't get off the toilet, my aunt called 911 and away I went in the ambulance! A quick ultrasound showed complete placenta previa, which we did not know about as having no insurance we didn't have an ultrasound that pregnancy!! So in to the OR where Shiloh James was born exactly two hours after the 911 call was placed! And that is how my c-section story began! 
  It is hard to believe that my first "set" as I call my older kiddos, are all teenagers!! It is almost like having two families, the big Kiddos and the Littles!!
 

This picture is old, but it's the best I could find. Time for new pictures!!!

Monday, August 25, 2014

Chase Allen





  

        My c-section was scheduled for 12:30 on August 4th. On Sunday the 3rd I woke up in the morning and noticed I was losing my mucuos plug and I was having some contractions. This concerned me a little as I have never gone in to labor early and we were really still one week from being due! I called the Birth Center and they told me just to keep track of the contractions and if they got 5 minutes apart for 2 hours or my water broke then to come in. So we decided to stay home from church and lay low. The contractions lasted all day and night, but were irregular as my labors tend to be. (That's why I havent been able to do a VBAC) During the night they were pretty uncomfortable so me being the nervous person I am, called the Birth Center again. They told me the same thing so I tried to get some more sleep. I did take a shower about 1 AM and that helped relax me. Surprisingly I was able to sleep during the irreularity of the contractions. We woke up Monday morning and I finished getting my last minute things in my bag then headed out the door at 10. We arrived at the hospital and I was all prepped with IVs, blood draws, yucky drink (to clean out my tummy) and all that fun stuff. I did start to feel panicky for awhile there, but I survived!! ;) The doctor was running behind about 20 minutes so we had a little more time to wait. Once I was in the operating room I was nervous, but just recited the Lord's Prayer and 23 Psalm over and over while I got the spinal. Once that was done I felt a lot better, but didn't like the heavy feeling in my chest. That is a normal feeling with a spinal, I just needed a little more time to relax I think! Tim was brought in the room then and I relaxed after that. Then at 1:03 Chase Allen was born, Tim peeked over the drape and told me "It's a boy" I thought to myself "obviously" even though I had thought maybe he was a girl as his pregnancy was a bit different than the others. I'll admit, I was hoping for a girl, but as soon as I saw him screeching away there was no doubt in my mind that he was meant for me!! Then when Tim carried him over to me and I kissed those soft baby cheeks, my heart melted and I was completely wrapped around his little finger!
       Tim was able to leave the OR with Chase while I was stitched up. They gave me a little something to relax me and I slept through the stitching. I am glad I did, cuz I guess I bled a little more than normal and I would have been nervous listening to them deal with that! They wheeled me toward my room where down the hall I could hear Chase crying. We got settled in there and I fed him while doing skin to skin time. That is the most special moment, holding my baby for the first time ever!!!


   
     I ate a little bit of toast and fruit, but ended up puking that up. Not sure what was different, but both boys births that I had here I ended up puking. Maybe a different type of medication?? Anyway our kids all came and of course they all fell in love!! I puked again while they were there and I don't think they liked that very much!! Laban (14) went and hid in the bathroom, he does not like to see any pain or sickness. Floyd and Gloria, Danica, and Janessa came to visit that evening!

Roses from Anya and Kathy
    Tuesday I woke up feeling much better and was able to eat fine! Anya and Kathy came to visit and also Teresa. It was nice to have staggered company so we didn't get restless or bored. Course I was just enjoying my little guy and getting some rest in there too. The kiddos all came to visit again then Tim took them out for supper.



In Love!!!
     On Wednesday Tim had to work for awhile so the kids came and hung out with me, we watched a movie together and they all loved up on baby Chase or "Baby Jase" as Konner calls him!! :) That evening Travis and Sonja came by for awhile! Then on Thursday morning we were discharged and home we went!! It is crazy to think that it was 3 weeks ago today that he was born!!!