{My Sweet Elliott Zayne}

{Recent Photos Of My Baby Boy}

{4.28.11}
{3 Weeks & 2 Days Old}

:: Labor, Delivery & Our Sweet Miracle ::

Where do I begin?

My due date was April 2nd, 2011. My family came a few days earlier & we were trying EVERYTHING I could possibly do to start my labor process. Let's just say Elliott wasn't havin' it :-). I did squats, lunges, walked miles, did the Chinese Fire Drill, drank Castor oil, sat in a massage chair at the mall,  & other things I won't mention....

I woke up at like 5am on his due date with contractions, that at the time I thought were bad, that were 4-8 minutes apart... went into the hospital & was checked into triage. I got all hooked up to the monitors & was checked only to be told I was dilated to a one. This Momma was not happy... so the midwife told me I could walk for two hours or they could give me a morphine shot for the pain & I could go home to rest. Well, I wanted some good rest, but even more so I wanted to have my baby already! So, my sweet hubby & I walked the hospital halls for two hours... I came back to triage to be checked to find out there was no progression! Talk about FRUSTRATING. So I get the lovely shot in my bum & go home. The shot was WONDERFUL... took the pain away & gave me hours of great sleep & totally made me loopy ... I laughed at the DUMBEST things, sometimes nothing at all. But nonetheless, I was in a *Happy Place* ... Ha!

So, that evening my mom comes into my room & wakes me up & wants to go walking to try to get my labor started again ... I was still SO sleepy, I did NOT want to walk. Especially because nothing happened when I walked the hospital. But, we did. We went to the track across the street & walked for a while - My mom, sister & best friend. . . while my hubby & dad played basketball. After a while we went back home that evening and nothing was happening. I had random contractions but not super hard ones or ones that were close together. . .

So, from this point until the 4th of April we did all that stuff I mentioned earlier to try & bring on the labor. On the 4th we went to the mall to walk & I got in the massage chair (which was AMAZING - and worth 3 grand...). That evening I started having contractions & by midnight they were HARD contractions and getting closer and closer together. At this point I decided to take a hot bath to see if the contractions would intensify or decrease... the whole time I had my phone by me texting my sister a blank text when I had a contraction so she could keep track of the time. My dad & sister were the only ones awake at this time & I think knew what was coming. I came out of my room after I took my bath & realized my contractions were 2-3 minutes apart. These contractions were COMPLETELY different than the ones I had before. I knew I was in active labor. So, I woke up my hubby & mom and said it's TIME! We all went to the hospital & this time I had to  be wheel chaired into triage... We got all checked in, went through the same routine & was checked only to find out I was only dilated to a T W O ... To say I was angry was an understatement. I was in SO much pain & the dumb midwife (same one I had before) came in to tell me I was still in pre-labor & could either walk or get the shot again. I wanted to STRANGLE her. I knew I was in active labor. This was SO COMPLETELY different from the time before when I came in. So... we walked. We had planned to walk for two hours. First it was my mom, my hubby & me walking... and this time I was stopping every 4-5 minutes grabbing onto the wall in excruiating pain ... We went back up to the waiting room an hour later & Joey sat with my Dad while my Mom, Sister & I kept-a-walkin' ... I thought this process would NEVER end...

The contractions were SO bad I just knew I had to be dilated to a ten! Haha.. So I told my mom at that point I didn't think I could do it anymore. I was full of emotions, I was sick of walking & so fed up with the midwife telling me I was in pre-labor. We ended up walking for 30 minutes more & I was stopping every minute to cringe in pain... It was bad & I needed SOMETHING for the pain. So we go BACK to triage for me to be checked to see if I dilated any more & made any progress. I was only a 3! If the midwife gave me the same two options again I might've committed a crime! Lol! So, long story short I was finally admitted to my room & was given an epidural. It was FABULOUS. That gave me rest and took the pain away, thank goodness. All of my family was there by my side & so was my best friend, Lavel. When I woke up (we're now into the 5th of April)... The midwife came in to check me and I was dilated to a 8. PRAISE THE LORD. That was the best news I had heard in a LONG time :-). The midwife would come back in an hour and a half to check me again. Told me to try and get some rest because I would be pushing soon. I was THRILLED. I was in and out of sleep and before I knew it she was back in & telling me it was time.

My husband, mom, dad, sister & best friend were all in the room. I wouldn't have changed it for the world. I had my Joey by my side encouraging me, my mom & Lavel holding my legs, my Dad holding my neck & my sweet sister fanning me & getting me water when I needed it. Before you know it I started pushing & gave it ALL I had for an HOUR. He had a rather large head and wasn't coming out... I had to get an episiotomy. I didn't WANT one, but at that point was EXHAUSTED & throwing up & felt dehydrated and just had no "push" left in me. I told her to do whatever she had to to get him out quickly. After that process, he was out within ten minutes. . . .

The pain is HORRID but the joy of holding your baby for the first time takes the excruitating pain of labor & delivery away & makes everything indescribable. Holding Elliott for the first time was the most amazing bonding experience I've ever had, and I feel like saying that is a huge understatement. There are no words. <3

Elliott was born April 5th, 2011 at 1:17pm & weight 8 pounds 6 ounces & was 20 inches long.

(We all had guessed his weight depending on how I carried him and what the nurses and doctors were saying. Everyone guessed around seven pounds - boy were we surprised!)

I stayed in the hospital over night & left the next night. Ever since we have been home & enjoying life to the fullest. I'm breast feeding & Elliott had a perfect latch from day one. (Also, an amazing bonding experience...) He now weighs 9 pounds & is 21 1/2 inches long. He is over 3 weeks old, my how time flies!

We are so blessed in so many ways. The joy of having a baby is so indescribable! What a miracle God has blessed us with. Elliott is so healthy & I'm healing well! I have the most amazing husband supporting & loving us unconditionally. . . I couldn't ask for more!

Here are some pictures of our journey:

:: Our Finished Home & New Furniture ::

To say The Lord has blessed us is a huge understatement. We are loving our new home & all of our new furniture. Furniture Row was having a great deal & we were able to get a new couch, love seat, coffee table, end table, TV stand, bed frame, dresser with mirror, chest of drawers, nightstand & kitchen table. Like I said, we are BLESSED beyond measure. We love it ALL & are so thankful. With the help of friends and family we painted the whole house & got all moved in before Elliott was born & were able to get the wood & tile floors finished. Unfortunately we didn't get our furniture until after he was born. But hey, can't complain :-). So... here are pictures of our house & new furniture! Enjoy :-) We sure are!