Neal's Arrival

This is the biggest I have ever been before having a baby!We arrived at 7:00 am and found out they were expecting us two days before, and not today, so we had to wait until 12:00 for a room.  Christian and I wandered around campus, had breakfast, read scriptures and just chilled.  Then we got our room.  Two hours later they started me on Pitocin!

I wanted to have this baby naturally, so I was prepared--or so I thought.  I had a birthing ball, and the movie Elf (I somehow thought laughing through labor would be fun?) and of course, lots of card games!  Unfortunately the nurse wasn't very practiced at giving IV's(it was only her second week of work and we were in a school hospital), so after missing in my arm, she had to stick it into my hand.  That meant card games were less fun because Christian was winning all the speed games :).  I labored for 12 hours naturally.  Tyson had been born after eight and Austin after six, so I was not prepared for such a long labor!  Watching a movie was a good idea except that Elf is so funny--and laughing actually makes the contractions hurt worse!  So I had to keep looking away so I wouldn't laugh.  I just love that movie!!  Finally, I told Christian to go to sleep on the bed since I knew I would need his help later.  The contractions got worse and very close together.  I had been doing a good job relaxing through them, but the bands around my belly kept falling off, the blood pressure cuff was driving me insane (especially as it would go off during contractions!) and the IV was the worst of all.  Every time I wanted to move, I was tripping over cords and pulling on needles.  Finally, I snapped.  I threw the blood pressure cuff on the floor (making a loud long beeping noise that was ignored for quite some time and it was more annoying than the cuff itself!) I told Christian that he had to get up! (Which wasn't really nice since he was sleeping so peacefully!)  He was grumpy and asked if we would be doing this all night. I told him to go get a coke (which he did--and was the best decision of the day).  Then, the doctor checked me (the nurse said she was busy doing paperwork, so that's why she was several hours later checking on me than she said she would).  I was only at a 6 (I hadn't dialated at all in 6 hours and yet the contractions were much worse than before).  Needless to say, I was discouraged.  I wanted an epidural right away so I could get some sleep.  Unfortunately, the guy was giving someone else an epidural, so I had to wait...for an hour.  I was about to truck down the hall to get him, but Christian, bless his heart, stopped me.  (He was much more supportive once he had his coke :) ) The anesthesiologist gave me a most painful epidural that only worked on my right side.  I thought for sure I wouldn't feel a thing since my contractions were so close together, but I was wrong!  It was so hard to hold still!  When it didn't really work, I was so panicked!  They said to move to the side, so the medicine would drip down.  I could feel both of my legs, and still feel contractions, although it was numb on one side.  Then they broke my water.  Within fifteen minutes, I was in the worst pain, but I didn't want to call the doctor since I was only at a six!  Finally, the doctor came in on her own accord and said I was ready!  I had been wanting to push, but was second guessing my instincts since I thought I had been progressing so well before.  So, I started pushing, and because I wanted him out so badly, I kept pushing even when they said to stop.  I didn't want to stop!  That baby had to come OUT!  I kept yelling at Christian, "Is he out yet?  Is he out yet?"  Christian knew there wasn't a right answer.  He wanted to say, "You would know if he was out"  But luckily didn't :)  I just needed to know something was happening!  I just wanted the Dr to reach in and pull him out!  Finally, he came (within five minutes) and I was so relieved!  I have never been so relieved!  The Dr asked if I felt better, and I said, "No!  I do not feel better!"  (She also asked if I liked the birthing ball. At that moment I didn't like anything!)  It wasn't until the placenta came out that I felt total relief.  I tore quite a bit along my old episiotomy scar because I pushed too hard.  I was so grateful she stuck me with Lidocane before sewing me up because I could definitely feel the shot (which means the sewing up would have hurt much worse without it)! After that, I never wanted to have another baby again.  In fact, I am still scared, (but not against the idea.)  But, he was totally worth it.  I wanted to feel.  And I did.  I never want to feel it again, but I did and I was ok.  I really did feel and I was ok (I'm sure it would have hurt much worse without the epidural, but this one was so different than my last two, where I basically woke up from a nap and had a baby!)  He was 9 lbs 2 oz and 21 inches long.  He is so beautiful!  I still look at him with wonder and awe and think.  You were so worth it!

Look at his chubby cheeks!

He was so beautiful!

They let me hold him for the first hour without taking him away.  It was Heavenly.

He was sweet then and he is still so sweet today.  He is my calmest baby.

Christian is so good to me!

My mom came with the boys later that day!  She is so kind to come and help.  She's the only person I ever want when I have my babies and I am so grateful for her!

Tyson is such a great big brother!

He looked like a groundhog to me.  His little chin would quiver and he'd just look around!

Tyson thought he was pretty great!

Austin just liked to climb all over and eat the hospital food!  I can't believe he was my little baby such a short time ago!

I love my boys!!

I love my mom!

Austin had to grow up over night.  He would cry for no reason at all and I think felt pretty displaced.  My poor baby!  He has since come to love Neal and is an awesome brother, too.

I love Christian so much!  He is the best father!  I can't imagine being more supported by anyone.  I am so blessed!  So, I have had name-remorse after each of our babies, so Christian said I could name this one!  After hours of searching, Christian googled, "Normal Baby Boy names"  Neal was on the list and we both liked it!  Thurman, was my first choice but after a horrendous nightmare where a doctor (who the last thing had said to me was, "I think Thurman rocks!") tried to kill me and my family, was a liar, and was dating my sister-- I then decided Neal was the safer choice :)  Christian was quite happy with that and Neal Christian Francis became the newest addition to our family.  I love that he's named after Christian.  I love him so very much! We thank God everyday for this wonderful gift!