The last week has been incredible… incredibly hard, incredibly stressful, incredibly joyous, and most of all, incredibly happy! I can’t quite believe that it has been a week already, but here we sit on my birthday, wishing our beautiful baby boy, Graham Edward Reece, a wonderful 1-week birthday!
Graham’s birth story actually started on Saturday, October 23 when we made what was to become the first of three visits to the women’s pavilion at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital. Saturday morning, I woke up with some bleeding and wanting to be as proactive as possible, we headed in to be checked out, knowing full well that we weren’t yet in labor. A few hours on the fetal monitor and an ultrasound later, we were reassured by midwife #1 (Kim) that everything was fine. We had a full term baby who was healthy, and my body was just finally getting everything ready and organized for his/her grand entrance.
We returned home and spent the remainder of the weekend alternating between walking laps around the neighborhood and speaking lovingly to my belly reminding Baby that “any time now” would be good. Baby must have gotten the message because I woke up around 2 AM Monday morning with contractions that were unlike those that I had experienced before. While I wouldn’t say they were overly painful, they were strong enough to let me know that this was the beginning. Chris and I both called in at school and spent the day walking around the neighborhood, stopping to collect a few pretty autumn leaves for the Baby book and talking about how our life was changing. Although we remained focused and tried to be positive, we were both a little frustrated as we were not able to establish a strong, regular labor pattern. My contractions were lasting for about a minute, but would come every 5 minutes, then every 12, then every 7, then every 3, etc.
Around 4:00, we decided they had moved closer together than they were before, so we went back to TMH. Of course, the instant they had me lay down and put me on the monitor, the contractions slowed WAY down. Even after spending an hour walking laps around the labor and delivery floor, I was checked by midwife #2 (Erin) and only 2.5 cm. However, I was 95% effaced and told that I was definitely in labor, just not progressing far or fast enough to be admitted. She gave me a painkiller shot and told me to go home and relax, as the shot would take the edge off the contractions I was having and would allow me to relax enough to hopefully establish a more regular labor pattern. We were told to keep our regular weekly appointment, scheduled for 3:45 on Tuesday afternoon, unless my water broke or I had contractions lasting at least 1 minute that were 3-5 minutes apart.
So, we were homeward bound once more. Chris and I were both extremely deflated and frustrated, but tried to remain optimistic and excited about the fact that we were assured that labor was definitely beginning. After becoming a little belligerent (at least according to Chris), I gave in to the effects of the medication and slept from 11:00-4:00. When I awoke at 4:00 AM, it was apparent that the drugs had achieved their desired effect, as my contractions were much, much stronger than they had been the day before. They were lasting at least 1-1 ½ minutes at that time, but were still randomly spaced out. Chris and I tried to settle into the walking/exercise ball/rocking chair pattern we used the day before, hoping desperately that my contractions would occur more frequently as time went on. Unfortunately, the intensity of the contractions didn’t really allow me to enjoy any of those activities for long, nor did the contractions come with any increasing frequency.
At 1:30, I had a contraction that lasted for almost 3 minutes. I begged Chris to find a way to make it stop, and he decided that it was time to call the midwife. He explained that we either needed to come in before our 3:45 appointment time or we needed to go to triage and asked which they preferred. They sent us to labor and delivery triage once again. We were told that we would meet midwife # 3 (Debbie) there and it was on the way that I became finally convinced that we were having a boy! It seemed like fate to me because a few weeks ago when we had an appointment with Debbie, she asked if we had any questions. We asked if it was a boy, what should we name him? Without missing a beat, she said "Graham" which was one of our favorites too! It was weird to hear someone else, unsolicited say the name and I think it was what pushed it over the edge as the name of our precious bundle! Upon arrival, Debbie told us that she had talked with Kim and that we would be able to schedule an elective induction on Wednesday or Thursday, but that she wanted to check me first. When she checked me, she said, “Honey, that isn’t going to matter now. You are already at 6 cm and we will have this baby today!” I told her she was my new best friend and Chris said that he would kiss her, but he was afraid I might get upset! At that point, I think I wouldn’t have cared at all!
So, finally, at 3:00 pm on Tuesday, we were admitted to labor and delivery. Although we had all talked about doing a natural birth, by that time, I was so tired from laboring for over 36 hours that we decided an epidural was the way to go. At 4:00, I got the epidural and Debbie came to check me (I was at 7 cm) and break my water. We were told to take a nap and relax, and that we would have the baby before midnight. It was such a relief to know that the end was in sight, and Chris and I were so excited that it was hard to relax amidst the excitement. After calls to both sets of parents, informing them that they would in all likelihood be grandparents by midnight, Chris left for the cafeteria and I spent some time listening to Jack Johnson, Jewel, and Dave Matthews. It was so nice to be able to concentrate on and enjoy music, rather than the pain of contractions that I had experienced for the prior 2 days.
When Chris got back, we decided to put in a DVD and watched Pete’s Dragon while we were waiting. The nurse came in around 5:30 to add some pitocin to my IV cocktail. It seemed to do the trick and shortly before 7, something in my body told me that it was almost time. Sure enough when Debbie came in during the 7:00 pm shift change, she checked me and informed the new nurse that she needed to get ready because we were going to start pushing SOON! After some practice pushes, the real work began around 7:15. It was hard work, but everyone was so calm and positive. Using a mirror, I was able to see the top of a head full of blond hair (?!?!?—who would have figured given the paternal side of the family?!), and it was such motivation to push and get the baby here. We pushed through each contraction, relaxing and watching the end of Pete’s Dragon during the “breaks”, until Baby was almost here and Debbie told me to just go ahead and push contraction or not. Despite not really knowing how he would respond, Chris was phenomenal during all of it and ended up helping deliver. Just before 8, Debbie told me to go ahead and push regardless of whether I was having a contraction or not, and at 8:01, Chris and Debbie delivered him, I heard, “It’s a boy”, and then most amazing sound I have ever heard. His very first cry…. Welcome to the world Graham Edward Reece.
So, there you have it. In that one instant, our world was changed forever for the better! Graham Edward Reece was born at 8:01 pm on October 26, 2010. He weighed 5 lbs. 13 oz. and was 19.1 inches long, with apgar scores of 9. The NICU nurse was called in just to monitor his breathing, which was a little fast. Upon observation, she said that he was fine (in fact, he took that opportunity to introduce himself and peed all over her!). Apparently, Graham picked a rather popular day to be born, as there were 3-4 other births within about 30 minutes on the floor. According to the nursery nurses who came to do his measurements and scores, he was “a little peanut” in comparison to the others (the one they measured immediately prior had been almost 10 lbs.!). Chris and I just thought he was perfect! His name was a combination of one of our favorites, Graham, and the name of my grandpa's (and Uncle's middle) names, Edward.
We spent the next two days in the hospital getting to know our little man. He had several visitors including; Brenda, Natalie, Melissa and Quinn, Jessica and Nick, Danielle, Trey, and Pastor Marda, along with various nurses, doctors, hearing screeners, photographers, dieticians, lactation consultants, etc., etc. etc. He handled all the attention extremely well and has remained bright eyed, alert, and attentive! We have struggled a little with eating, and as Chris has so lovingly put it, initially, Graham “sucked at sucking”. His suck reflex was extremely disorganized, and we all struggled to get him to eat event he smallest amounts. However, since leaving the hospital and coming to the more calm and much less disruptive home environment, he has learned and grown a ton!
We are all still adjusting to the differences Graham has made in our life. Frankie and Rescue are doing much better and will actually stay in the room with him at all times. The only time they are a little off-put is when he really starts to wail, which doesn’t happen all that often at this point, as he is a pretty mellow guy! We even have to wake him up to feed and change him! He definitely comes by his love of sleep naturally. We are taking the time to enjoy every minute, knowing that it will never happen again. We look back now and realize that Graham has had a pretty amazing first week of life...first birthday, first Hawkeye game (way to go Iowa!), first Halloween, first election day, and first birthday for Mommy! Not bad for a week and we are looking forward to a lifetime more of laughs, tears, and more love than we ever thought possible. So, definitely Happy Birthday to me!
Happy Birthday Graham Edward!
First Family Picture
You look nice...Are you my mommy?
I'm a boy...a very sleepy boy!
Finally headed home...representing the Hawks of course!
Mad air guitar skills in my tie-dye nonetheless!
Me and Herky hanging out before my first Hawkeye Game!
My first Halloween--It's a boy!
Mommy has this thing about putting me in outfits with things on the rear!
First Birthday as a mommy!
Happy Birthday Mommy--Don't I have great taste already? Check out the bracelet!
PS--So, I didn't quite get this posted on my birthday, but didn't I say many months ago that by posting so infrequently, I was setting up realistic expectations?!?! Thanks to everyone for their love and support!
Loved all the pictures. Graham is one handsome boy. I too can't resist outfits with things on the rear. Air guitar= one awesome kid. And of course he was decked in Iowa gear to watch his very first game- we wouldn't expect anything else. :)
ReplyDeleteI really don't think you could have had a happier birthday. :)