Tanner's Birth Story

Tanner Lucas
December 15, 2012
7:12 a.m.
6 lbs. 12 oz.
19 1/4 inches

On December 15th I woke up at 4:00 a.m. having a contraction.  I tried to fall back asleep but 10 minutes later I had another one, and then 10 minutes later I had another one.  I wasn't sure what to think yet because I'd had some random ones throughout the week.  8 minutes later another one came, followed by another one 5 minutes later.  At this point it was almost 5:00.  Josh had gotten up with me and I looked at him and asked him if he was ready to have a baby today.  He called the doctor, and they wanted to talk to me.  It's a little awkward talking to a stranger on the phone while having contractions.  So after that we waited for the hospital to call and give the ok to come in.  Meanwhile, Josh was running around trying to get stuff ready.  I had packed my bag a few days earlier, hoping to have the baby on 12-12-12, but no luck.  At least I was ready.  As soon as we heard from the hospital we dropped the kids off at our friend's house.  By now it was about 5:30 and those contractions were steady at 5 minutes apart.  On the way there they increased to every 3 minutes.  We got to the hospital at 6:00, and as we followed the nurse down the hall I could barely walk anymore, the contractions were even closer together.  So as they are prepping me for surgery and having me sign all these forms, my contractions were back to back, and I'm throwing up.  Not fun!  But I do have to say, compared to the pain of Jayden's birth, these were not as bad.  Definitely painful, yes, but with him I was screaming and making inhuman sounds that still ring in both me and Josh's ears.  There was no doctor at the hospital, just a midwife.  She checked me, then calmly called the doctor who was on call and told him I was at an 8.  I couldn't believe how fast everything had gone.  We had to wait for the doctor to get there, and I kept asking if he was there yet, when would he get here??  So he finally arrived after what felt like an eternity.  I was all prepped for surgery.  I got to the OR about 6:45-ish, if I remember right.  There were a couple of times I could hear the doctor getting frustrated with people, particularly the anesthesiologist, who wasn't keeping me comfortable enough and I threw up again, then wiped it all over the side of my face.  Gross.  Sorry for the details, but it is what it is. 

 

Tanner was born at 7:12.  He sure did cry when he came out, but I love that first moment of life.  It really is special.

 

After he was born, and they weighed him and all that, they sent him off to our recovery room with Josh.  I was pretty drugged up and tired, but then I heard the doctor saying weird stuff.  I was trying to ignore most of what they were saying.  I don't like to think about being cut open while I'm awake, it's really kind of freaky.  But he started saying stuff that didn't sound familiar from my last baby.  Then I heard him say he would need at least another 45 minutes to fix it.  No one told me what was going on at first.  When they did, I found out that my bladder had torn during the surgery.  Apparently with repeat c-sections, it can happen.  It's not that common, but it is a risk.  So instead of what's normally about a 45 minute procedure, I was in the OR for about 3 hours.  It was a while before they told Josh what was going on too, so he was getting pretty nervous as well.  The doctor sewed it up, but wanted a urologist to look at it to make sure it was done right.  So we had to wait for him to be called into the hospital, and they were saying they might have to put me under because my spinal block might wear off if he didn't come soon enough.  So I'm laying there extra drugged up and praying that wouldn't happen.  Thankfully it didn't.  He showed up, gave his approval, and then they finished up with me.  I got to my room a little after 10:00 and spent the next 3 nights in the hospital recovering.  Because of the complication I had they sent me home with a catheter.  I had that in for 10 days.  It was pretty awful, but had it taken out after they made sure I had healed properly.  I'm still not completely normal yet.  I'm waiting for my head to clear completely.  I got off one of my pain meds as soon as I could because it made me so drowsy, and being drugged up on top of being tired from lack of sleep is pretty rough.  Dealing with pain is easier than dealing with medication.

 

Tanner lost 11 oz. in the hospital.  He just got so hungry, and we started supplementing with formula.  The nurses in the nursery said they have never seen a baby drink so much.  They also said he was the quietest baby in there.  That was nice to hear.  Now he's up to 7 lbs. 2 oz., he loves to eat.  Maybe he'll be a little chunker.  And by the way, he was the exact same weight as Sidney, just a little shorter.

 

We are really enjoying our new little man.  I'll get more up about him in the next few days.  Even just sitting here at the computer is tiring.  But we love him.  He is a good natured little baby.  He only cries when he has his diaper changed.  He doesn't like to be cold.  When he's awake he's pretty content to just lay there, but he loves to snuggle, and we love to snuggle him too.  He looks a lot like the other kids did as newborns.  He has more hair then they did, which still isn't much.  We think he's the cutest little thing.

 

We didn't take a lot of pictures in the hospital.  I couldn't get out of bed without help and I was so beyond exhausted it just didn't happen.  Josh probably has some on his phone.  The kids love him, I'll have to write more about that later.

This is What I Feel Like

I could really use some Oompa Loompas to help me roll out of bed in the morning.



Muddy Buddies

They say Christmas comes a little earlier each year, and isn't that the truth for me!  I have been counting down until Christmas for 34 weeks, so the Christmas decor hasn't appeared soon enough in the stores.  When Josh got home from work tonight the kids and I had just finished making muddy buddies and were listening to Christmas music.  I don't care- I'm a little anxious and excited.  And aren't we supposed to have the Christmas spirit in our hearts year round?  I'm totally ok with Christmas music in July too.  Anyway, we had a fun little evening together.  Our nights lately haven't always been that pleasant.  I'm usually tired and just done with the day by the time bedtime hits and the kids are too.  Mostly it's me, I'll admit.  But tonight we were all in really good moods so we made one of our favorite treats.  Yummy!

And you're welcome for this picture.  Jayden asked me why I had chocolate on my shirt.  I had no idea, I can't see down there.  I keep underestimating how big I am and can't stop bumping into everything.  Everything!  It is driving me insane, I swear I have bruises on my belly.  What's also scary is how huge I must appear to my kids from their point of view.



Boy

At the end of July we found out we are having a boy!  We are so excited for the little guy to join us.  I had such strong feelings that it was a boy, so I felt I knew it before we went in for the ultrasound.  I kept having dreams about it and I kept saying "him" without thinking about it.  With Jayden, I thought it was a boy, but I think that was just wishful thinking because I had always wanted a boy first.  I thought Sidney was also a boy, but I was wrong there.  But something about this time was different, I just knew. 

Jayden couldn't be happier.  Sidney, on the other hand, cried her poor little heart out.  She wanted a sister soooo bad.  Whenever she would outgrow her clothes she would say, "Well, we can save it for the baby if it's a sister."  She would talk about having a sister to play princesses with, and so her little world was shattered.  We had tried really hard to prepare her for a boy, and I thought we had gotten there, but I guess not.  A couple of days after we found out, we were sitting in church and she asked me to draw a picture of our family.  I included the baby and she started punching it.  Then I drew a heart next to it, and she drew a big X on it.  She's starting to become a little more accepting, but she is still sad about it.  We have a lot of work to do or else we will be having problems.  I know she'll love him, but it will take some work.  There is a part of me that is sad too, simply because I can't imagine not having my sisters, and if this is our last, she might not get one.  But Heavenly Father knows what he's doing, so I'm not too worried about it.  I am thrilled for another boy!

We also told the kids a couple of days ago the name we have picked out.  I was afraid they would complain about it, because they want some say in it, but when I told them they both got these little smiles on their faces (even Sidney), and they loved it.  We have had a boy name picked out for a few years now, but had zero girl names on our list.  I know I keep saying things like it was meant to be, but I just can't explain it any other way, I just know it was meant to be.  Even the reaction from the kids told me this little boy is going to fit right in.

As far as my pregnancy, things are starting to get better.  Right before my 20 week mark the nausea was noticeably less, right on time.  It's still there a little, but it's not 24 hours a day.  I've been able to start eating a few more things again.  I was basically a vegetarian.  I only ate meat a couple of times, and honestly, I don't really miss it. The thought of it still grosses me out.  The one thing I missed the most was bread.  One of the first things I did when I started to feel better was make a batch of rolls. 

So that's that.  Now that I'm over half way I feel like I can make it.  I feel bad we've had kind of a boring summer.  The kids have been real troopers though, and I think they're enjoying seeing me off the couch more.  I'm even enjoying cleaning again.  Who would have thought?

December.....Again

Most people know by now, but we're having another baby!  I can't begin to express how excited we are, and especially shocked!  The first 3 times took between 13-18 months to get pregnant, and after my miscarriage I was pregnant in less than 6 months.  At the beginning of the year I decided that this was a year of fulfilling our dreams.  We have already been able to do several things to make that happen, and in my mind I figured we would end the year by getting pregnant again.  I never in a million years expected it to happen so fast, especially since we decided not to try any fertility treatments yet.  So instead of ending the year getting pregnant, we'll be ending it by welcoming a new one into our family.  You know how there's that "secret" out there that whatever you put out into the universe you will receive, or however it goes.  I know the real secret: prayer and fasting.  Where would I be in my life without it?  It has taken a lot for me to feel more at peace with my miscarriage.  I was supposed to be having that baby this week, but I really feel that everything that was supposed to happen, happened in the way that it should.  I think a little piece of my heart will always be up in heaven, waiting for me, but I also have felt a comforting hand, helping me along.

We found out 5 days before our cruise I was pregnant.  I started panicking, called the doctor that day and was in for an appointment that afternoon.  She assured me things would be fine.  I had a blessing, and I knew it would be ok, so we went without any problems.  Luckily my morning sickness didn't hit until after we got back, so I was able to enjoy myself.  By my 6 week mark I had 3 ultrasounds and heard the heartbeat, to set my mind at ease that everything was progressing as it should.  And when they told me my due date was Christmas Day, that for me was another sign that this was meant to be.  Both Jayden and Sidney were due in December, and to top it off, all three were due on Tuesdays.  And even though I thought another December baby was the last thing I wanted, it's actually really comforting, and really not that surprising. 

I have been really sick again, and if it's like the last 2, it will last until 20 weeks.  Pretty much nothing works, not even saltine crackers.  Ice cream has been my one saving grace, I'm sure I'll gain a hundred pounds.  I am an expert on puking, ask me anything.  I used to be reluctant to even have another baby because I get so sick, but I survived before, I can do it again.  And it's not true what they say-- that you forget how bad it is.  I don't think anything could ever erase my memory.  It's nice to finally have Jayden home to help play with Sidney.  They are both so excited.  We told them on Mother's Day while we were playing charades.  It was a fun way to tell them.  Of course Jayden wants a boy and Sidney wants a girl, but she keeps saying it's a brother.  We'll see.