Friday September 30th started out like any other Friday morning....
I scheduled a meet and greet with the teacher who would be taking over my third grade class and their parents. As I stood there chatting with parents, I felt what I thought was my water breaking. I thought to myself "Was this really happening? Was it really happening now?" I called Jeff and told him that he needed to come home from the city. Luckily he was still on 95 so he turned around and headed home. I called Dr. Delaney who advised me to meet her at the hospital. I knew I needed a ride to the hospital, so the next people I called were my parents...who did not answer their phones - surprise surprise ;) Luckily, I remembered my sister was home visiting for the weekend and lived right around the corner from the school. She quickly came and picked me up, and as we drove away we heard cheers from the teachers and students that were outside!
Before heading to the hospital, we stopped by our house and picked up my hospital bags (and snack bag of course). By the time we arrived at the hospital, Jeff was already there which was such a relief. We waited patiently in the waiting room but I didn't feel any pain. I knew I should be feeling contractions but I wasn't, which made me nervous. Dr. Delaney came in and checked and said that it wasn't my water that had broken and that I was only dialated 1 cm. She sent me home. I was crushed. She told me to call her when things progressed and walked out of the room. I turned to my Mom and sobbed. I was so excited to meet my little man. I was so disappointed. My mood suddenly went from being so happy and excited to meet Wyatt, to totally devastated that it was a false alarm. Somehow Jeff convinced me to go out to lunch. Something inside of me realized that this was potentially the last weekend we would spend together as the two of us and spending it in a bad mood would be the waste of a really great weekend. So, I decided to snap out of it and get some food in me...
After lunch we came home and took a nap and then decided to take the boys to the dog park. This is our favorite thing to do together! Well, I'm not exactly sure how much Jeff likes going but Ridley, Cooper and I equally love the experience. We got home and for some reason I had no appetite (which was really odd because I ate everything in sight and then some while I was pregnant). We were sitting on the couch with the boys and I felt what I thought was my water breaking for the second time. Because of the false alarm earlier that morning I doubted that this was the real thing. I started feeling contractions almost immediately and still wondered "Is this really it?" I didn't want to get my hopes up and then be disappointed again. My contractions started out 20 minutes apart, then 17, then 15, then 12 and so on. I took a shower and laid down in bed as they got worse and worse. I have never felt pain like that and I'm not sure I could even describe it. With every contraction I could feel his head pressing against me. Everything happened so quickly that I didn't remember anything I learned in my birth class. Jeff timed each contraction as I gripped his arm through each one. I kept asking Jeff to take me to the hospital but he kept saying that we had to wait until they were 5 minutes apart, 1 minute in length for 1 hour. I tried to stay strong and not be a baby but I literally thought I was going to have this kid on our bedroom floor. At this point my contractions were between 5 and 4 minutes apart. I was so scared so I told Jeff that if he didn't call Dr. Delaney that I was going to call 911 and go in the ambulance (not joking at all). I remember barely being able to get dressed and put on my shoes but somehow I managed and we were on our way! This was really it...
We pulled into the hospital around 1 a.m. and had to go through the ER. They put me in a wheel chair and wheeled me up to labor and delivery. I was in so much pain but kept thinking that the nurses were going to check me and tell me I was only 3 cm. Dr. Delaney got there shortly after we did and knowing that I wanted the epidural, they got the IV and blood work started right away. To my surprise, they checked me and I was already 6 cm. I was shaking so much I could hardly control it. The contractions got worse and worse and they were so bad that I couldn't even call my parents to tell them we had gone to the hospital.
The anesthesiologist came in at 3 a.m. to give me the epidural and at this point the contractions were so close together and my body was shaking so much that I didn't think I could sit still. The nurse and Jeff held me still while he put it in. The instant relief was amazing. We called our parents to tell them we were there and they came shortly after. They kept checking my progress but I wasn't moving past 7 cm. Jeff and I decided to rest so he slept while I listened to the play list my sister made me. I knew I should sleep but I had such a hard time relaxing. My Mom came in around 7 a.m. to check on me. Every night for 18 or so years she laid down with me at night before bed. Even when I was in high school she still sat on the edge of my bed so we could talk about my day. I cherished those nights and missed them terribly when I went to college. As she sat there on the edge of my hospital bed I realized that in a few hours I would soon be sitting where she was...
(At least Jeff got some sleep...)
Around 8 a.m. the nurse came in and checked me and said that I had moved from 7 to 10 and I was ready to push. I could literally feel my eyes pop out of my head! Already? All of a sudden the room was filled with baby monitors beds, bright lights and nurses. My Mom brushed the hair out of my face, told me everything was going to be just fine and that I had a job to do...
(The Poppys waiting patiently for our little man to arrive...)
I did have a job to do and it was to get this baby out. So I started pushing, and I pushed and I pushed. I wasn't prepared to have to push this long. I guess I assumed that you pushed once and out popped the baby. After 2 hours I started getting concerned. I kept thinking that at any moment they were going to tell me that they had to use forceps or had to do a C section. I pictured what Wyatt would look like, I pictured holding him, I pictured life with him. I focused on that picture and I pushed. Jeff was amazing. He stood by my side the entire time holding my legs and cheering me on and counting while I pushed. Finally, after 3 1/2 hours of pushing out popped my baby boy. Dr. Delaney put him on my stomach right away and I remember wanting to hear his cry in the worst way. I've never wanted to hear something so badly. After what felt like forever he let out a cry and my heart just melted. I looked at my little baby boy and it was truly love at first sight. I looked at the tears running down Jeff's face and in those few seconds I fell more in love with my husband and more in love with my God. My God who gave me this precious gift. I would give anything to experience those few seconds again, and its those seconds I'll never forget.
Jeff announcing the birth of Wyatt Jeffrey Bryant to our family in the waiting room...
Our first few moments as a family of three...
I'd say he's pretty much perfect...
We welcomed Wyatt home on October 3rd, it was a beautiful fall day (the first one of the season).
Cooper and Ridley were so excited to meet their little brother. Jeff had brought home Wyatt's blankets from the hospital every night and I truly believe they knew who he was :) They were so great when meeting him. They both remained calm and just sniffed, didn't try and jump or anything. They love their little brother...
So there you have it-the first little chapter in our new life as a family. And fortunately, we don't have to change the name of this blog. I love all of my boys...
