The Birth Story

Before time gets too much away and I forget, I want to write down the story of Jadeyn's birth. We checked in to Lakeside Women's Hospital on Sunday, April 26 at 7pm, after a yummy meal at Johnnies. My doctor wanted to start cervadil on me Sunday night to help soften the cervix to prepare for labor/delivery on Monday. Sunday night was pretty uneventful. We had a ton of papers to sign and frankly, that evening was the most uncomfortable part of labor. Putting the cervadil in was NOT FUN and they had to get the IV started also. A very bad experience if you ask me. My poor nurse (she was so sweet, but it was her first night) and she just couldn't get my IV in. She started trying on my arm, but the vein kept moving, so she decided to do it in my hand. Ok, hand is pretty much made up of just bones - not a fun place to get poked and prodded. So she tried sticking me two different times and I just bled and bled. Finally, her superior came in and tried my other arm and got it in the first time. I tried not to say anything because I didn't want the first nurse to feel bad or get in trouble, but boy, was I glad when the IV finally worked! After that, I got set up with a monitor on my belly to track contractions and Jadeyn's heartrate. Suprisingly enough, I was actually contracting (about 10 minutes apart) but had no idea. I got to take some really good sleeping pills and slept great Sunday night. Jimmy didn't get the greatest rest, but he did alright. My parents came to visit for an hour or so that night also. Then, early Monday morning, they woke me up to take a shower and get ready for the biggest day of our lives so far! We started the pitocin about 6am and we could see the contractions coming. I still never felt any, but decided to ask for the epidural about 9am, because frankly, I just didn't want to experience one. Jimmy said the needle for the epidural was ridiculously long, but the doctor did a good job of keeping it hidden from my view and it didn't hurt too bad going in. After that, the contractions got stronger and quicker and the epidural was my best friend. We had our family (all the grandparents, one great-grandparent, aunts/uncles) arrive and had a long wait. After not a lot of progress and a few scares, my doctor came in about 5pm and said we should start thinking about a c-section because I was still only dialated to a 4 and not progressing like I should be. I didn't really care either way, honestly. Jimmy was out of the room and I think I said "ok". After that, literally, nurses and the anesthegeolgist came in and got me prepped and I was in the surgery room in like 10 minutes I think. I remember seeing my parents and they both kissed me I think. I never saw Jimmy - they said he was getting dressed. I had to drink some awful tasting liquid, which I threw up before the surgery. Once I was laid on the table, everything was fine. Jimmy came in and I saw the curtain go up. One doctor was behind my head talking to me and I think I just made a lot of jokes and he kept saying he wished other patients were as calm and laid-back as Jimmy and I both appeared. It really was weird. I could not feel a thing, but I was very much aware that there were hands in my stomach area pulling a baby out. I don't know how to explain it. And it happened so quick. I remember wanting to hear a babies cry so badly and when I heard it I was just really excited. They told Jimmy he could look and I heard him go "Whoa". hahhaa, it was cute. The nurses kept reminding Jimmy to take pictures and then asked him to go take a picture of when she was being weighed. They held Jadeyn up over the curtain to show me her, but I don't remember thinking much except that she wasn't covered in as much goop as I had pictured and I was relieved. I think somewhere in there we had our first family picture, but I don't remember it. I must have been out of it, because I really don't remember anything until about 8:30 or so. Jadeyn Rose was born at 5:33 p.m., so the surgery really did happen fast. Although it technically wasn't an emergency c-section, I am under the impression it was sorta important to get her out because her heartrate had dropped significantly twice in about 30 seconds at one point, and that was when Dr. Hall came in and suggested the c-section. I gave her props though because I didn't sense anything was wrong, so she handled it all well! The next few days in the hospital were fine. We got a little ansy and were ready to go home on Thursday. Unfortunately, we were soon back in the hospital early Friday morning because I ended up with a spinal headache (which is the worst pain I have ever experienced - yes, worse than the cervadil and IV combined). But they fixed me right up with a blood patch and the headache went away immediately. Doctors are truly amazing. Since then, life has been good. I'm convinced Jadeyn is the sweetest, most laid-back, peaceful, and adorable little baby ever made : ) We've had some ups and downs with feeding and I think I've experienced some crazy post-partum hormone stuff, but we've had some great support from family and friends. Jimmy is the world's best daddy. He is head over heels in love and it's obvious to anyone who is around him for 2 minutes. This was way longer than I intended, but I'm sure I'll appreciate having it written down in detail years later. Yay for those of you who actually read it all!
Jadeyn, we love you more than we ever thought we were capable of, little one. More than our love for you, how great the love of the Father is for you. Thank you Jesus, for loaning us this precious baby girl. We recognize she is not ours, but yours and you have intrusted us with her. May we honor you with how we raise her and how we live our lives as a family. Please start drawing her to yourself early on. Please call her name, Jesus.