The Birth Day

I started this post over a week ago and am finally finishing it. I'm starting to wonder if Reed hates blogging. He doesn't let me get very much done. Even when I tell him that I'm writing about him! I was going to back date it but here it is. With random photos of Reed's first few days.


On one hand I can't believe it's been two weeks since Reed was born and then on the other hand it feels like he's been here so much longer. I've been wanting to write how it all went down since Christmas but with recovering from his birth (I'm feeling so much better) and getting the decorations put away, it just hasn't happened yet.

I guess if 'birth stories' are not your thing, just scan the pictures (some of which I look quite scary in). I've never written about the other boys births (don't worry it wont get graphic) and I really want to write about his before I forget the details.

My mom got here on Fri night (12/21) and on Sat we had Kyle & Heidi here with their kids. My mom made her famous (to us kids anyway) clam chowder and we just hung out here all day. Heidi, my mom and I went out shopping to a few stores and they left just before dinner. When the kids went to bed, I convinced my mom we needed to finish our shopping that night instead of going out on Christmas eve. We left for Wal-mart (our only store remember?) at 8:30 pm. It wasn't that crazy thank heavens but we ended up being there until 11:20 pm! The whole time we were walking around I kept telling my mom that I was having contractions and to feel how rock hard my belly was. She was totally focused on Christmas and was like 'Yeah, yeah, I've had kids. I remember how hard it gets.' Thanks mom, now we know I was in labor!

Milo and I stayed up until about midnight and of course he fell right asleep. I was having weird pains only on my left side. After about an hour, I called Anna (yes it was almost 1 am!) and asked her if she thought it was labor. I have never gone in on my own, with both the other boys I was induced and never felt what the start of labor was. We talked about it and went back and forth with calling the hospital. I tried to wake up Milo and he said to do whatever I wanted as far as calling the hospital and fell back asleep. Why is it so easy for them?

Finally I called at 2:30 am and they said to wait another 1/2 hour (no idea why) and to then come in. At 3:30 I woke up Milo again and said we need to go in to the hospital. I was in so much pain on only my left side that I thought something could be wrong with the placenta or something like that. I took NOTHING with me (repeat...NOTHING) to the hospital but an attitude that we would be coming back home. I just wanted to be monitored to make sure everything was fine with the baby.

It went from getting checked out to make sure everything was OK to getting checked in as a patient. I was NOT ready. I did hair that last week before Christmas and felt fine taking the time to do that. I still had two whole weeks with plenty of time to take care of all that graced my list. Like I said before, I've never gone into labor on my own so I 'knew' I had plenty of time to get it all crossed off. So not true this time! On that Sat I was only focused on Christmas and finishing what needed to be done. I had BIG plans for the 26th. Take down decorations, highlight & cut my mom's hair, wash baby clothes and get them put away and maybe squeeze a nap in. Can you say....Yeah Right!!

When I first when in I was at a 2 and having contractions that were not consistent. 2 minutes apart then 5 then 3 then. The nurse wanted me to walk around for 30-45 minutes. Since always being induced and hooked up to pit I have never spent time 'walking' to get it all moving faster. I was so motivated that I got down to business! With my 2 hospital gowns on (to avoid over exposure and total embarrassment) and black dress socks and black shoes (classy I know!) I walked the stairs for 45 minutes. I started to feel like a lab rat because I just went in the same direction for that whole time. But oh well it worked! I would have gone home but was worried it would then happen on Christmas day and that would have been an even worse birthday.

As for delivery, everything went great. ONE push and he was here! And I'm not sure if it's because I went on my own or what but recovery has been much easier too. I was really worried coming home to 3 big kids but it hasn't been bad (yet). Milo and my mom have been great. She is doing way too good of a job staying up on the laundry. I told her the baskets are feeling lonely because they usually stay full for way too many days. I was shocked that it was over so fast. And at 8 lbs 15 oz, two weeks early was such a blessing.

It was so fun to have the kids come up to the hospital and meet Reed. During my pregnancy I worried that they would be wild and not careful but they were so good! And so excited to see him and me (that made me feel good. right away Dane told me me missed me, ahhhh). They didn't even know his name when they came into the room. And when we told them his name Milo and I both gave each other a 'look' making sure that we were both on the same page and that was really going to be his name. I'm so glad we found a name that fits him perfectly ( I was beginning to have my doubts because it took so long to settle on one).

~The kids brought Reed this dinosaur and they think he was looking at how cute it was, maybe he was~

We came home from the hospital on Christmas Eve around 5 pm. Everyone at Marion's house helped out (a million thank yous!!!) and it was so great not worrying about where the kids were or who they were with. She fed them a great dinner on Christmas eve and then they met us at home. It was such a hectic time to deliver and if I were to choose a day, is it bad to say I would have chosen a couple days earlier or a couple days later? We did talk about 'moving' Christmas to a day later but just decided to push through all the wrapping and setting up that needed to be done. Thankfully, we made it through Christmas Day but it was tiring!