His original due date was Nov. 2, 2009. On October 17th, the day after Shaun's birthday, we were at Olive Garden with the contractions really started to come. My mom and Shaun's mom were both giving me the worried eyes with every 'oooh' noise I made. They were both thinking he was coming that night, but I kept saying that it wasn't time. The next evening me and Shaun went to Khols and Target and walked and walked. One contraction in Target made me have to sit down. That night in bed I started timing the contractions. They were about 10 minutes apart, then 8 minutes, then 7 minutes... then I fell asleep.
The next day (Sunday) we went to Shaun's parents house and the contractions were coming strong again. Shaun's brother David and his wife April were there too. Me and April were given a whole bunch of Longaberger baskets from Shaun's mom. Everybody was saying that tonight was the night...except me. I was still adamant that he wasn't coming yet. That night was the same as the previous night. Contractions getting closer and closer, then I fell asleep again and they stopped.
Monday was a day like any other. I went to work at 12:30 and was getting mild contractions and mentioned to my boss that I felt like I was leaking. She was worried but I told her I had an OB appointment the next day and would ask then. Monday evening me and Shaun hung out, watched TV, and went to sleep like normal. No contractions, no anything.
Until... 5:30 Tuesday, Oct 20th, morning! Shaun had left for work about an hour earlier. I was dozing in bed and felt wet. I honestly thought I had peed myself! I hustled to the bathroom and checked out the situation. My underwear were pretty wet, but not what I thought water breaking would look like. So I went back to bed.
I laid there for a few minutes and thought it wouldn't hurt to make a call to the OB. She called back in 5 minutes and asked if I was still leaking. I said no. Then more trickled out and she said to come on in to be checked out. She wanted to be on the safe side. I called Shaun and got to say the cliche 'It's time!' He was so excited and headed right home. I took a shower, did my make up and ate some breakfast. I was in no hurry to get to the hospital, but since I had Group B Strep I needed to get on an IV for antibiotics.
We packed up the car and made the drive. We called all the future grandparents and my work on the way. We had to park far away and I walked the whole trek from the car. I was having very mild contractions at the time. We checked in and went to a small room for the nurse to see if I was leaking amniotic fluid. After two tests it was confirmed! I was having Gage!
At 7:30 am we went up to the delivery room and settled in. I got my IV inserted (which was so painful and uncomfortable the entire time). They checked me and I was already at 3 cm! The nurse said she was surprised since I was so happy. They were talking about starting Pitocin, but I asked to try and move things along the natural way. Me and Shaun started walking laps. I wanted to do 20 laps which equals a mile.... I lasted 7. The contractions were coming so strong and fast that I kept buckling over in pain. When we got back to the room I was checked again. I was 6 cm already!
At about 10:00 am I got an epidural. Right before it I was in so much pain I was vomitting into the worlds heaviest trash can (which poor Shaun was holding up for me). Full on contractions feel like someone is ripping out your insides and taking all the breath from your lungs at the same time. The anesteologist didn't give me much warning before he jabbed me. Anyone who says they dont hurt must not remember, because that needle burned! But it was so worth it because by 10:30 I was happily sitting in bed watching HGTV and laughing. My mom came at that time and I was checked again, 7 cm. I fell asleep for a little while and when I woke up it was about 1:00pm. After another check I was fully dialated! I had to have an oxygen mask because the baby's heart rate was dropping because he was coming so fast. I also had to keep turning from side to side (not an easy feat when you cant feel a thing below your chest!).
The nurse had me give a few practice pushes and she could already see the baby's head. However, when she went to get the doctor she told me she was doing a c-section and we would have to wait. This seemed awful at the time, but it actually allowed Gage to make his way out a little more on his own. At 2:00 the doctor came in and it was time to push! Shaun held a leg for me and we prepared to meet our son!
I was expecting a long time of pushing, especially because my epidural was turned up so high I couldn't even feel the contractions. Apparently the threat of having to turn down the epi made me an excellent pusher. I just pushed with all my might! I had to have Shaun count so I had an end point to each push. I pushed for 4 sets of 3. The last set I pushed 4 times, and out popped my beautiful boy! I looked at the clock and saw I had been pushing for the grand total of 12 minutes! Not bad for a first time delivery!
They put Gage right up on my chest. I cant believe the flood of emotions that washed over me. Relief, fear, happiness. It was the most overwhelming moment of my life. I burst into tears and again, couldn't catch my breath. As the doctor finished up on me, I watched as my husband, the man who has always been so strong and calm, cried as he saw our son. I watched the nurses weigh and clean Gage. He was 7lbs 3 oz (which, amazingly, was my exact guess) and 19 1/2 inches long. Shaun cut the cord, which he was nervous to do the whole pregnancy. They took his tiny foot prints and wrapped him in a blanket.
As Shaun brought our baby over to me I felt like my heart grew about 10 times as big. This tiny little perfect thing was mine. Those little toes were what had been kicking my rib cage for 3 months. I couldn't believe how tiny he was, but at the same time how big he seemed, to have been in my stomach. I held him and cried some more at the perfection of the day. I had a fast labor, an easy delivery, and the world's most beautiful little baby to call my child.
We waited about 45 minutes to have any family come in. We wanted to have those first few moments for ourselves, to cherish the arrival of our son. We just stared at him, in awe that our love for each other could make something so precious. Gage snuggled against my chest and nursed for the first time, and my lifetime bond to him began. I felt so much love and protective instincts toward him. In those first few moments, I felt my life truely begin. I cannot describe the love I immediately felt for him. After so many months of waiting and imagining what he would be like, Gage was here, and he completely exceeded all of our expectations. We had no idea how perfect and beautiful this little man would be.
Welcome to the world Gage! We will do everything in our power to give you a wonderful life. Thank you for making our lives complete.
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