overjoyed: October 2008

Although my story is the exact opposite of how we had planned, it is still such a miracle and we are more than blessed with such a beautiful healthy baby boy. It is hard to explain how amazing the experience of a child coming into the world is, and even more so your own child.....so it was October 2, 2008 when Thad and I decided to go get some spicy food at a local mexican restaurant to try and get labor started. We ordered our meal and Thad said something funny.....I laughed and my water broke all over the resteraunt booth! I ran to the car as Thad payed for his drink and got applauded by others around us who knew what happened...very embarrassing! :) We could hardly believe this was finally happening, I was starting to feel like I was going to be pregnant forever. It was only about an hour later when I was in the shower that contractions started. (about 8:30). We went out to target and walmart to get a few things and quickly headed home for I really started to feel contractions getting stronger and closer together. Our doula, Vicki, arrived and helped me cope through each contraction; she and Thad alternating pressing on my back. Things seemed to be moving fast; having front and back labor at the same time was becoming unbearable and I began feeling really sick to where we thought maybe I was moving into transition stage so we called Kim, my midwife, and she got here as soon as possible. Checking me when she got here I was dilated at 7 cm....so we thought it wouldn't be long...but the night seemed to go on and on forever, now of which I recall being a blur. I labored at home for 28 hours!! I got to 9 cm and never felt the urge to push. They gave me a little more time to try and progress but then after checking me again Kim realized that I backtracked to 7 cm and she thought the baby had turned posterior, and we could not get it turn back. The only way we all felt comfortable at this point was going to the hospital. It was not what I wanted to happen, but my birth team was tired and I could not hold on much longer in this pain having not slept or eaten anything in a couple of days. Everyone at the hospital was so great in letting me stick it out a little longer so that I could still have the chance of delivering this baby naturally...but 12 hours later with no progression at all they decided it was becoming dangerous for the baby being a couple of days since my water broke. He was at high risk for infection, the only choice was a c-section. At this point I was exhausted and wanted whatever was best for the baby. The doctors had to give me a spinal anesthesia, and wow! I never felt better. I couldn't feel anything in the bottom half of my body and after 40 hours of labor this was amazing! I went in for the surgery and 5 minutes later the baby was out! William Thad was born on Saturday, October 4, 2008 at 12:42 p.m. at 7 lbs. 4 oz and 20 inches long. I could hardly believe how fast it happened. Thad watched, announced the sex, and was the first one to hold the baby. He was able to bring him over to put him up to my head while they stitched me back up. The whole experience was so surreal I could hardly believe that was the baby inside me. The reason I was not progressing was because Will's head was tilted sideways not allowing it to drop any further. Unfortunately because my water had been broken for so long, Will had an elevated C Reactive Protein count (a marker in the blood for inflammation) and had to stay in the intensive care for 7 days on antibiotics. Once again it was not what we had planned, but he progressed so well and we got to take him home today. It was kind of emotional when he got his IV taken out and all the cords from the monitors taken off...he was finally free! We have never appreciated being home so much, and we are so thankful for this beautiful, healthy baby boy. Thanks to all of you for your prayers. Here are a few new pictures...

Daddy and Will.....