On Thursday morning, June 23rd, the same day as Nick's and my ninth wedding anniversary, we were scheduled to check into the hospital at 7:00 a.m. to have our third son.
I slept surprisingly pretty well the night before, except for a trip to the bathroom and one bout of contractions at 1:00 a.m. Our alarm was set to go off at 5:45, but around 5:00 I woke up filled with excitement and anxiety and knew there was no way I was going back to sleep. I fixed myself a cup of tea and enjoyed my daily devotional in my office. It was such a calm, peaceful way to start a day with so much to be thankful for.
Around 12:15 my contractions started to pick up. I could tell they were becoming more intense and uncomfortable, which was exciting because it meant things were happening! Kim checked me and I was 3 cm and 70% effaced. She had me lay with a big, inflated peanut ball on each side for 45 mins. to help open up my pelvis. At that point I really didn't feel like walking around or doing much of anything anymore, and I was starting to shake like I was cold but I wasn't. I think I read somewhere that means you're having some kind of hormone surge. The only thing I cared about was eating. I'm telling you, I've never in my life felt so hungry! I was STARVING! Unfortunately the only thing I was "allowed" to have one was frozen cherry chill, but that just wouldn't cut it. I pretty much demanded that Jaymi and Nick go find something of substance in the snack area and not come back until they had. They both brought in packs of crackers and peanut butter, and I devoured them. No food has ever tasted so good! I was kind of feeling nauseous and shaky, and despite the rules, I knew I needed to eat something. I felt much better after my snack, but I did get busted later when the nurses saw crumbs in my bed. Oops! Luckily at that point they didn't say much about it. Nick was so sweet to rub my back and hold my hand during the big contractions, and Jaymi and my mom rubbed my feet.
(In between contractions, right before the epidural ^^^ all of those!)
I got my epidural around 2:30, and like the last two, I had really good luck. It was just enough to take away the pain, but I was still able to move my feet and legs without having that heavy sensation. The numbing shot always stings, and you feel the pressure when it's being inserted, but it's such a welcome relief it doesn't even matter. Instantly I went from being in quite a bit of pain to completely relaxed and at ease. I must have told everyone a dozen times afterward, "I am SO glad I went ahead and got that! I can't believe the difference! Wow! I feel SO much better now!"
Everyone was out in the hall about to leave for dinner, and Kim came to check me one more time. I figured I had probably made a lot of progress, but I was absolutely shocked and thrilled when Kim lingered for a while and then said, "You're at a 10! It's almost time to push!" I honestly couldn't believe it!!! Kim said the baby was still a little bit high so I could lie on my side for about 30 minutes and let him drop down even more and pushing should be pretty easy.
I had Nick run out in the hall and tell everyone not to go anywhere! He also called his parents (Teri had gone back home), and told them they could bring the boys up in the next hour or so because it was almost BABY TIME!!!! I just remember being so overjoyed and surprised and excited I cried happy tears. I honestly couldn't believe how fast and easy my labor had gone, and I hadn't even needed Pitocin or anything! That was definitely a first! From 12:00-2:30 I feel like labor started, and I had some pain. And then from 2:30-5:30 I basically went from 5 cm to 10 cm and was suddenly ready for the baby! With Logan I labored for over 18 hours before the c-section, and with Everett my water broke on Friday night and he wasn't born until Sunday morning... it was so hard to wrap my mind around the fact that I was actually having a fast, easy delivery! I loved it!!!!
I'm also going to fess up and admit at this point I had Jaymi give me some lipgloss and a little make up touch up. Another thing that definitely never happened when I had the other two! Listen, if you can... why not is all I'm saying?
At 6:35 PM they placed our precious, dark haired angel on my chest. We later found out he weighed 7 lbs. 12 oz. and was 21 inches long. He was absolutely the most perfect thing. He was BEAUTIFUL! I could tell he was bigger like Logan had been and he had the sweetest cry and big, full lips. It was a feeling of complete joy and happiness, just like when his brothers were born, and just like when I married his dad on that same night nine years before. Absolutely perfect!!!!
Nick went out and told everyone he was here and healthy, and even though they were practically beating down the door to come in and see him (mom!), we spent the next hour with just us in the room. I held Beckham for a few minutes and took it all in, and then the nurse cleaned him up and did all of his assessments.
Finally, around 7:30 Nick went back out and told everyone they could come meet our newest member of the family! He carried both of the boys (in their pj's) down the hall and he said Logan wanted to hide his eyes for the big surprise (SO SWEET!!!). The rest of the family followed closely and anxiously behind!
Introducing Beckham to his big brothers is something I'll remember forever! They were both completely overjoyed!
Logan was dying to hold him, so he got to be first.
The next little bit was the icing on top of a great day! I've never had a baby during normal waking hours, so it was absolutely incredible to have all of our family there to greet Beckham and celebrate his arrival.
Having everyone in the room could have been stressful or crazy, but it was absolutely perfect. Again, it was just like what I had always imagined having a baby to be like. The room was bursting to the brim with joy and a sense of calm. As everyone passed Beckham around we were all so happy! It was one of those fleeting moments in life (like our wedding reception!) when everything feels absolutely perfect and right.
Later that night Kimba came to meet Beckham and brought me the most delicious strawberry limeade on the face of the earth! Chuy's was brought in for dinner, and it too tasted like manna from heaven!
Logan's Birth Story
Everett's Birth Story
