I didn't sleep much the night of May 14! How could I? As Byron drove us to the hospital that morning, we were full of emotions, both scary and excited emotions. We got checked in and everything happened so fast! Once hooked up to all the monitors, the nurse said I was already having contractions about 2-3 minutes apart! Dr. Wood came in the room about 6:45am, and broke my water and started the pitocin. At this point I was dilated to a 3 already. As the pitocin started working immediately, I felt for the first time ever a TRUE LABOR PAIN! As I laid there listening to LB's heartbeat on the monitor, I was scared. I was realizing that this world is a scary place and me and Byron were about to bring a child into it. Am I strong enough to protect him? Will he be bullied ? What about pneumonia or chicken pox? I became worried about so much, but all I wanted at that moment was to hold him tight in my arms. I want my son to excel in life. I want him to find a strong passion in life-- sports, hunting, fishing, music-- and enjoy every bit of it. As I laid there, my active labor started at 7:14 am, and LB's heartbeat was calming, healthy, strong, and real. I'm thinking to myself, I've got this, I'm ready to be a mommy. Contractions became stronger, and closer together. I was already to a 4cm by 9:30, and call me a baby, but that's when I asked for my epidural! Getting the epidural was the most painful part of the whole day. As I sat up in bed, squeezing Byron's hands, tears rolling down my eyes, I saw the first tear of the day from Byron. It was painful for him to see me hurting, but I wouldn't have wanted anyone else by my side during the whole labor. Finally about 10:30am, the epidural started working (my body takes a while to feel the affects of numbing)! So at this point, I'm relaxed, visiting with family and friends who were there to support us and welcome little Byron into the world. My doctor came in about noon, and I was at an 8 cm.... I thought he was kidding! LB wasn't messing around! IT WAS ALMOST TIME TO PUSH! LB was in the perfect birthing position, we were just waiting on one tiny part of my cervix to finish thinning! About 1pm, the epidural was no longer keeping me from feeling some pain.. At the point, I got the shakes... So much adrenalin! Byron and I decided we were going to be the only ones in the room during the actual birth. About 1:30pm, all our family and friends went to the waiting room, after praying over our little family! Finally about 1:45, Dr. Wood came in and checked me and it was go time!!! I started pushing at. 2:00 pm... 6 pushes later at 2:21 pm, i heard the sound we had been waiting on for 9 months.... A strong cry. The doctor immediately placed LB on my chest, and as I began crying uncontrollably, tears were running down Byron's face and he was able to cut the umbilical cord. He was crying, shivering and looking directly into my eyes. He was all ours! We spent the first 20 minutes staring at him, touching his tiny little fingers, and telling him we loved him. He quickly calmed down, and as Byron and I bonded with him,Byron said a prayer right there, thanking God for a healthy delivery and praying for us as we started this new journey as a family of 3! Our little boy weighed 8lbs and 4 ounces and was 20 inches long. Pure perfection. A full head of dark brown hair, and the darkest blue eyes! Family and friends swarmed our room the next 24 hours! We got to come home Friday afternoon, just shortly after LB turned one day old.
LB is a week and one day old now! I feel like I've known him so much longer! How can someone so little have such a big personality already! He crinkles his whole face while sleeping, he loves reading bedtime stories with his daddy, and he loves being held really tight and close! Oh, and he's just like his daddy...HE'S NOT A MORNING PERSON! We never knew we could have so much love for someone we just met! He had his first pediatrician appt on Monday May 19...he lost 10 ounces since birth and now weighs 7lbs 10 ounces, but doctor said that was normal and we will be coming back for weekly weight checks for one month. He also had shrunk to 18 3/4 inches, nurse said it was because he had a cone head :) At one week old, LB had his first photo shoot! I can't wait to get the pictures back so I can hang them all over the house!
We love you LB!
