Jacob's Story

Ryan and I woke up and got to the hospital about 6am on Wednesday the 21st. Around 6:30 or so, my doctor broke my water. Around 8 am, nothing had happened so we were allowed to walk for about 20 minutes, then come back to be monitored for 20 minutes. Still nothing was taking place, but my parents and Ryan's dad came up with Natalie. We visited for a bit and then I took another walk. I only got about a lap or so in before I started getting pretty painful contractions. We toughed them out for awhile and the nurse said I wasn't really changing at all and might have to start pitocin. Mind over matter must work, because the contractions kept coming and I asked to be checked again and to get the epidural. It was around 10:15 and I think I was 5 centimeters. Well around 12:15 and lots of yelling later, I got the epidural and was at a 7. By 1, it was 9, and at 1:36 I was a 10. By the time the nurse got the bed ready and the doctor arrived, Jacob was born easily at 1:54 pm.

His cord was up over his shoulder, down his back, and wrapped around his right leg, then his left, then his right again! Ryan said it looked like a pretzel, but I didn't really get a chance to see it. He was healthy and happy so that's all that counts. No birthmarks, no conehead, everything was great. I felt much better this time. I leared that epidurals usually go in your vertebrae at an upward angle, but my vertebra only needed to go straight in and that's how I ended up with the headache last time. I did have a lot of tailbone pain trying to sit and stand so I got an x-ray yesterday and it's not broken again like last time, in fact it might actually have been pressured into a more normal position. So it's probably sore now just from being bumped around and laid on in the bed. I am so thrilled that I might recover much faster this time!

Jacob had his circumcision today. They didn't numb or do a pain block, nor does he get any Tylenol. Poor little man. It looks really painful, but the nurses say it's healing up so far and the worst part is over for him.

His sister is in love with him and oh so proud. She sang him Happy Birthday in the hospital and everyone started crying. Anytime she sings he just stares at her. She's going to be a great helper for him!

In other news, Ryan drove my mom to meet my dad to go see my grandpa in the ICU. He had a fall yesterday and has some bleeding in the brain. Please pray for him and hopefully I can update soon.