More of Drake in the hospital...

Some more pictures of our sweet boy from our hospital stay. Like I mentioned before, the time I spend in the hospital is so special to me. I love getting to know my new babe. We were lucky that we were able to have the kids come visit him. There was a no children under 14 rule (including siblings) for the entire hospital due to flu season. They were however allowing siblings in the maternity ward until the end of October. We just made it. They kids were so excited to meet their new little brother. They each held him and were instantly in love. 

All ready to go home! I think it is so fun dressing up my baby to leave the hospital. And I was dying over his cuteness!

Lyla was the only kid at home when we got home from the hospital and she took advantage to love on her new little brother. She has taken to the role of big sister so well. To say she loves Drake would be an understatement. She cannot stand to be apart from him. She wants to know where he is at all times and loves to snuggle and hug him. I'm not quite sure if he enjoys it as much as she does! 

 

Drake's Birth.

I've been feeling overwhelmed thinking about blogging about the birth of our new little man. I'm not sure why. Maybe because it is such a special day that I hold dear to my heart (as is the birth of all of my babies) or maybe because it wasn't really an eventful birth. Things went smoothly. But I don't want to forget the little details so here it is...the story of Drake's birth.

I spent my entire pregnancy trying to decide on whether or not I wanted to have a natural (pain med free) birth. Some days I did, and some days I didn't. I would think back to my recovery with Lyla and I just knew I wanted to do a natural birth again. Then I would think back to the pain (and the screaming!) and I never wanted to have a natural birth again. I re-read my Hypno-birthing book. I practiced my relaxation breathing. Just in case. Ultimately I thought I would go natural again. Then the end of pregnancy came and I was miserable. I felt huge. I was tired. I was having contractions all the time. I was stressed. I was experiencing the end of pregnancy blahs. I couldn't imagine waiting any longer to go into labor. I found myself almost hoping my blood pressure was high at prenatal visits so that I would have to be induced early. It never was. And that was good. Truthfully I never wanted it to be. I did however test positive for Group B strep. Prior to this birth I had tested positive for this 2 out of 4 kids. With Ruby my delivery was so quick that I didn't have time to have the necessary antibiotics before she was born. This made it so that my new little baby had to have the antibiotics instead of me after she was born. I didn't want Drake to have to have antibiotics too. I have a history of fast labors, each one faster than the last. I was so nervous that if I went into labor on my own, I wouldn't make it to the hospital in time for the antibiotics so I decided I wanted to be induced. And along with that I wanted an epidural too. I really just wanted this special day to be enjoyable. I didn't want to scream. I didn't want to experience a lot of pain. I just wanted my sweet new baby to cuddle in my arms.

So on October 20th, four days before my actual due date Logan and I headed to the hospital at 7:30 in the morning. We checked in. I changed my clothes and the nurse got my IV going and we started the necessary antibiotics. My doctor came in and broke my water. We were hopeful that breaking my bag of waters was all I would need to jump start my body into labor being that this was my 5th baby. We all thought things would go quickly and we'd have a baby by lunch time. I started having contractions, but nothing painful and I wasn't really progressing too quickly at all. Around 10:00 they started me on a small dose of pitocen. Things continued to progress slowly but steadily. An hour later the nurse told me she was going to up the dose of pitocen and I decided to get my epidural at this time before things got crazy. I hate bending over during hard contractions to have the epidural placed so I thought I would eliminate that and get it early. It was the heaviest epidural ever. My legs were so numb. So, so, so numb. And with the epidural I started to feel really light headed and nauseous. I talked to the nurse about it and she reassured me that my blood pressure looked good. Yet I felt awful. For an hour things were this way. Finally after an hour my blood pressure readings were starting to show what my body had been telling me all along. My blood pressure was low. A couple doses of medication and I was golden again. Around 2:00 the nurse checked me and I was at a 6. I was slightly bummed. I thought for sure I would have a baby by this point. But I knew that transition was right around the corner and that I always progress really fast at that point. Just as those thoughts were going through my head the nurse said, well wait...you're at a 9 now! Yay! They called in my doctor and before I knew it it was time to push. It turns out that the baby was posterior, which led to my longer labor. I pushed a couple of times and Drake Christopher Phipps was born at 2:20 pm. I cut the cord and he was suctioned and wiped down and placed in my arms. He was perfect! I was instantly in love.

My initial recovery was slow due to my extremely numb legs, but once I had feeling again (which didn't happen until early the next morning) I felt great. I just love the time I get to spend in the hospital with just Logan and our new baby and this time was no different. I loved the naps and the cuddles that Drake and I shared. Life at home with five kids is busy and crazy to say the least. I treasure the down times where I can cuddle and soak up this newborn stage of life. 

Birth Story of Lyla Kate :: Her and His Version

Her Version:
The day started out just like any other. I woke up so bummed that it was D-day and I was STILL pregnant. I had a doctors appointment that afternoon so I got ready and mentally prepared myself for no change.

11:30 - I went to my appointment and much to my surprise I had dilated from a 1 to a 3 and my cervix was soft. I asked my doctor to strip my membranes. Luckily, she agreed. We talked about induction {something I was trying to avoid due to the fact that I wanted a natural med free birth} ... she left it up to me. I went home to talk with Logan about what we should do.


After thinking about it more and more I decided that I wanted to be induced the next day {August 19th}. This way if all went well I would be home for school to start and Sophie and Lyla wouldn't share a birthday. Both were major concerns for me. I called to schedule my induction. They had already scheduled the allotted elective inductions for that day but put me on a waiting list and told me most likely they could fit me in in the afternoon.

I went about my day ... making lunch for the kids, helping Logan clean the garage, and relaxing some as well. I was crampy, but knew that is very common after having your membranes stripped.


3:00 - Logan leaves to go do some service work with a foster boy he mentors. I loaded the kids in the car and took Sophie to get her ears pierced {an early birthday present for her}. After getting her ears pierced, we went and made a bunch of copies for my church calling.

We get home around 5:00 - I start making the kids dinner and realize that I am having pretty strong contractions. I text Logan and tell him I am having some pretty painful contractions and that I might not make it until tomorrow! He immediately calls back and asks how far apart they are. I tell him I haven't been timing them, but that I wasn't worried about it being any time soon.


By the time my kids finish eating I am in quite a bit of pain. I am trying to relax with my hypnobirthing breathing. It is hard however, because my kids still need a mom. Collin wants to make an ice pop and Ruby is freaking out about a fly. I decide at this time that I need to tell Logan to come home. I call him and then call my mom to come get the kids. Meanwhile I go upstairs to finish packing my kids bags and my hospital bag.

Soon my parents arrive. I am so glad to see the kids leave. My parents want to stay with me until Logan gets home but I tell them that I need the kids gone! So they leave. I finally feel like I can try to relax ... but still worried that this isn't the real deal I keep moving in hopes that they contractions don't die off.

Logan arrives home at 6:45. He takes a quick shower and we head to the hospital. I am trying my best to do my breathing.


7:30 - We arrive at the hospital. It seems like the longest walk to labor and delivery ... stopping every few minutes during contractions. They send me to triage and hook me up to the monitors. My contractions are every 2 to 3 minutes and I am dilated to a 5.

8:15 - I finally get to go to the delivery room. I desperately wanted to get in the laboring tub and asked them to fill it up right away. I got in and immediately started feeling intense pressure. I kept trying to relax and breathe. Logan would ask me if I wanted to listen to my hypnobirthing scripts but I felt like they would be more distracting than helpful. So I just continued to breathe. I asked the nurse to check me because of all the pressure I was having. I was so nervous about delivering in the tub. I was now dilated to a 7 and decided that I should get out.


After getting back in the bed the pressure continued and I kept trying to breathe ... filling my purple imaginary balloons! Soon my doctor walked in and that is when someone else took over my body. The baby was crowning. My water broke and I was in so much pain. I could not relax. I desperately felt like I needed something to relax me, but knew there wasn't time. All I could do was scream. I remember my doctor telling me in her sweet voice that the baby was coming. And I kept screaming. LOUDLY. I think I shouted "I can't do this!" I remember the doctor telling me that I needed to move down in the bed and shouting "NO!" back to her. In fact I wasn't moving down the bed, but up. As Lyla continued to slip her way out I would push up on my feet almost as if trying to scoot away from the pain.

Lyla was born at 9:35 ... on her due date. She weighed 8 lbs 4 oz and was as cute as can be with lots of dark hair! I had done it! I had my med free birth. I felt so accomplished ... and a little embarrassed. I remember turning to Logan and apologizing for all the screaming. Everyone was telling me how good I did ... I think to help me feel a little less embarrassed! I was extremely emotional. The adrenaline rush was overwhelming.


But the birth wasn't over yet. I won't get into details, but the delivery of the placenta and the stitches that followed were no picnic either. In fact it was worse than I could have even imagined and involved yet some more screaming! But soon it was over and I was holding my sweet baby girl in my arms.

The experience although not what I was prepared for was amazing and my recovery has been awesome. So much better than my other births with epidurals. An experience I will always remember.

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His version:
9:00: Mowed the lawn. Started cleaning out the garage. Who says guys don’t have a nesting instinct?

12:00: Quick lunch and back to the garage.

14:15: Finished the garage and left out the door.


15:00: Picked up Austin. He’s my 16-year-old foster kid friend that I mentor. We had planned to get together and help out his biological mother by working on her car.

16:00: Arrived at Austin’s mother’s house. I had planned on changing the oil in her car, but when we arrived she said that the oil was just changed but she needed new rear brakes. So right away we put her car on jacks and started tearing it apart. It’s a risky business tearing apart some else’s car, when you’re not a pro. What if you can’t get it back together?

17:15: Text from Jenn: “How’s it going?”
“Good, be a couple more hours. Love you babe.”


17:31: Text from Jenn: “I am having a lot of painful contractions. I don’t know if I will make it to tomorrow.”
This was a problem. Here I was, an hour away from Jenn, who was 35 minutes away from the hospital. If I left right then we’d be at least 95 minutes minimum from the delivery room. The new brakes were on the car, but I couldn’t for the life of me figure out how the get the car back together. I was totally stuck wondering if I was going to have to just leave and strand poor Austin with his mother’s car torn apart. I’m running calculations through my head; “What would it cost to get this car towed to a shop and have it finished by a pro? $1000, 1500. Jenn would understand if I wasn’t there for the delivery, right?” After more struggling with the car, and a google search on my phone (how did we function without smart phones anyway?) we figured out how to put the car back together. I quickly packed up the tools and raced for home.

18:30: Racing home. 85 mph, now 90 mph. Would a cop really believe me if I said my wife was in labor? They probably hear that all the time. 75 mph.

19:00: Arrived at home to a calm Jenn. You wouldn’t know by looking at her that she was well into active labor with contractions every 3 minutes.


19:30: Arrived at the hospital. They took us back into a room to do a quick exam. The nurse checked her and quickly determined that we were there to stay with an imminent delivery.

20:15: In the delivery room. Jenn having steady contractions that seemed to be occurring more then they were not. Despite the pain my dear bride is suffering all I can think about was how hungry I was. I kept asking her if it was ok if I left for a minute to grab something from the cafeteria, but it was never the right time. When I finally do get something, the delivery was way too close to even eat it. I know, who cares about the hungry husband when the mom is giving birth. But, I was worried I was going to pass out from all the gruesome stuff and low blood sugar. More contractions. Me: “Do you want to do some hypnobirthing scripts?” Jenn: “No!” So much for hypnobirthing!


21:32: The doctor finally shows up. The baby is ready to arrive. Jenn is now in more pain than she ever imagined. Jenn: “I can’t do this! I can’t do this!” Me: “Your doing great. You can do it.” I’m thinking, babe you don’t have a choice, too late for drugs, no backing out now, you’re committed. At this point Jenn is now starting to scream. I’ve never heard Jenn make sounds like this before. It was a combination of a roller coaster scream and being murdered scream. “WHHHAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!! I CAN’T DO THIS!!!”

21:35: Jenn delivers the baby. Amidst the blood and screaming Lyla makes her way quietly out. Jenn didn’t even push at all, she just came out when she was ready. It was so fast that the doctor didn’t even have time to get ready and change out of her street clothes. She walked in, sat down, and caught Lyla.


It was great. It was beautiful. I loved watching Jenn endure through that experience. She was crying through all the pain, but I had to stop myself from smiling and laughing in front of her as I was so proud and amazed at what I was witnessing. She did a great job. Its rare that you get to see someone you love pushed to the absolute limit of their capabilities and come safely back, bringing a child back with them. Pretty special.