Sunday, February 16, 2014 It was a beautiful, sunny Sunday. It was the day before your due date, February 17th. Daddy had expected you to come on February 5th and I had thought you were coming around February 11th. Keira had been 16 days early and Sierra a week, so we were more than ready for your arrival! Not to mention one of my best friends, Jessica Averett, and her family had left for their move to Saudi Arabia the previous Monday and she had really wanted to meet you. But you just weren't ready yet. Keira, Sierra, and I had a wonderful day at church. Well for the most part. Sierra had been having a hard time going to nursery and she was sick, so she stayed with me and sat on my lap for a lot of the time. I had a couple of contractions I considered were Braxton Hicks during the morning but really didn't think anything of it, perhaps it was just Sierra squiggling around on my lap.
By about 12:00 pm I was trying to round everyone up to head home. I was having some back discomfort and felt like I needed to have a bowel movement. We got home from church around 12:15 or so. Around 12:25 Stephanie Tucker just happened to stop by to let us borrow some of her boys' clothes for you. She said that I didn't look so good. I told her I had been having some GI issues and really felt like I needed to go to the bathroom but couldn't. Her family was in the car but she stayed for a few minutes before heading home. Right before she left I laid down on the couch because I wasn't feeling very well and she told me to call the doctor and Daddy.
12:33 pm. I texted Daddy. I told him that I was having some GI issues and felt like I needed to go to the bathroom but it could possibly be labor.
12:43 pm. Daddy had been on a call and called back. I told him that it might be labor and he said to call the doctor.
12:48 pm. I called the nurse line at Red Rocks OB/GYN and they would have the doctor call me back.
12:54 pm. Dr. Overly, the doctor on call, returned my call. I said that I'm not sure but I might be in labor. I was having some lower back pain and felt like I had to go to the bathroom. She said that I should probably go into the hospital so they can check me and could always send me home if need be.
1:01 pm. Daddy was almost back to the station and called to see what the doctor had said. At this point I knew I was in labor- I had started having contractions and still had the back pain. I was disappointed that he wasn't on his way home yet and considered telling him to just come home in the ambulance. But he said he would be back to the station soon.
1:10 pm. Stephanie had texted earlier and said she was on her way back. I was SO grateful for her. My contractions were starting to get more painful and I was trying to change and pack some last minute things and get the girls some lunch. She totally took care of your sisters and brought my suitcase up from downstairs and other little things like that. I really don't know what I would have done without her. As the contractions got stronger she even pressed on my back to relieve some of the discomfort several times.
1:25 pm. Daddy finally got home from work. Thank goodness! As he walked up the stairs I was having a strong contraction and he came over and pushed on my back to relieve some of the pain. He gathered up some of his things while Stephanie reminded him that we needed to get going.
1:30 pm. I had another contraction half way down the stairs and then again outside before getting into his Jeep. We left for the hospital.
1:32 pm. Just a couple of minutes after leaving for the hospital, before we even got to Union Blvd my water exploded, not just broke. What a terrible feeling it was and I didn't even want to think about the mess. At that point Daddy asked if we should just go home. I have to be honest, I was slightly worried about you and wanted to deliver at the hospital. My fundus had been measuring 1 cm small during my pregnancy but at 37 weeks it measured 2 cm small, so they did an U/S to make sure you were growing. Of course you were! The U/S showed that you were about 7 pounds 3 ounces and were at least 60%. But they did find that your left (I thought) kidney was enlarged. I think it was almost twice as large. So that just made me a little nervous and I wanted you at the hospital just in case there were any complications. So anyway, I told Daddy to keep going.
I'm pretty sure I was having the "pushing" kind of contractions all the way to the hospital. They were quite strong. I was sitting in the front seat with my hand out of the window, yes a beautiful sunny February day in Colorado. Of course I was trying my hardest NOT to push and toward the end I was saying "no" during the contractions. Daddy said that at many lights people looked over at us like he was kidnapping me. Shortly after we pulled onto 32nd Ave my contractions were really getting strong. Daddy said he should check me but I didn't think he should be doing that while driving to the hospital so I told him to keep going and hurry! Later I found out that he had wanted to pull over at that point to deliver you!
1:45 pm. When we were only a few blocks away from the main hospital, up by West Pines, I couldn't dismiss or ignore the urge to push. No sooner than I pulled down my pants, out popped your head. I wasn't scared and both Daddy and I were perfectly calm thanks to our medical experience. I did think for a moment, oh no, his head is stuck. But within a couple of seconds, out you popped! You cried a little the second your body came out and I immediately placed you on my chest. My eyes swelled with tears of gratitude as I looked at your perfect little body resting on my chest.
(I later learned that Daddy had wanted to pull over to check and probably deliver you. He was pretty disappointed that he didn’t get to. And I had no idea it would happen so soon. I thought for sure we’d make it to the hospital. I feel really bad about it. But everything worked out perfectly.)
Daddy continued driving and pulled up into the front entrance of Lutheran Medical Center. He hopped out of the car and grabbed your blanket from your car seat behind me and bundled you up on my chest. Although, being mesmerized by you, I don't remember any of this. Daddy ran inside to get a wheelchair. Being Sunday, not many people were around so it took a couple of minutes before they arrived. Daddy ran back and to admire you more and untangle the umbilical cord with the seat belt and prepare us to go inside.
An out of breath nurse came running over with a wheelchair. She and Daddy helped me out of the car with you in my arms and sat us down on the wheelchair. She wheeled us up to Labor and Delivery and I stared at you in awe of the miracle we had just experienced.
Once upstairs, the team of nurses got me moved onto the bed and got you wiped off a bit. A midwife arrived and delivered the placenta and then placed a few stitches in me. As soon as possible I asked if I could hold you again for some skin to skin and tried to nurse you. You latched on quite quickly! Apparently you got a little chilly with me so they had to keep you on the warmer for what seemed like a long time.
3:20 pm. You weighed 7 pounds, 8 ounces and were 20.25 inches long, head circumference was 13.5 inches. They got you all washed up and gave you some erythromycin for your eyes and your first Hepatitis shot. You did awesome and handled everything like a champ!
4:45 pm. They moved us upstairs to the Mom and Baby Unit, Suite 26. I was thrilled that our nurse was Season Bealls who is in the Young Women Presidency of the Quincy/Dartmouth Ward. I had met her at camp last summer and then a couple of months ago for a Stake Leadership meeting. She was very sweet!
5:00 pm. Shortly after Aunt Laurie arrived with your sisters. Aunt Laurie had been snowboarding that day and came home early to take care of yours sisters and come meet you! I was very grateful for her! I was extremely grateful that she was able to help out so much. With Keira it was love at first sight, from the first time she saw you. You couldn't remove the smile from her face. Sierra was excited but also kind of ignored you. She had no idea what having a new baby in the family would do for her attention, etc. ;-) Or maybe she did. ;-)
7:00 pm. The girls and Aunt Laurie finally got packed up and left. It was a little crazy there with everyone, especially your little tornado sister Sierra.
You were just perfect, a little angel sent straight from Heaven to our family. I can't even describe how happy I am to have you here. You are such a blessing to our family.
Colton, I love you so much and am so incredibly grateful for my baby boy.
