Dustin and I made predictions about when our little boy would make his appearance. We were both wrong. Dustin's birthday is the 19th, so I thought I would start labor on the 19th, but he wouldn't come until the 20th because he'd be just as stubborn as Dustin. Dustin thought he would come the 23rd. He got closest. I was actually having contractions with a little bit of an edge on the 19th, but I was able to keep my composure. Dustin wasn't too keen on going to church on Sunday because they were getting stronger, but knowing that I was looking at weeks cooped up in the house, I was determined that we were going. Mom came up Sunday night, only to decide that it was way too early. My mood shifted big time. I was down in the dumps because I really thought we were going to the hospital that night. I had contractions throughout the night on Sunday. When I had 3 around the time my alarm, and then the snooze went off, with quite a bit more edge, I knew I wouldn't be able to keep my cool at school. I kept Mom updated, and Dustin kept calling me from work to check on my. I tried to nap.
While reading labor stories, I thought people were crazy if they were able to sleep in between contractions. I was thinking about the high I would be on knowing that my baby would soon be coming. Turns out, I was able to sleep in between them for 2 nights, and various naps for 2 days.
Mom came up late in the afternoon and talked me through my contractions and help keep the time. Everything was already loaded in the car, so it was just time to wait. Finally, it was time. Dustin was scurrying around, Mom was asking us questions to make sure we had loose ends tied up, and I was working through contractions. I had to tell Dustin a few times to go slow...we have a few sets of train tracks en route to the hospital... and then we were there. I remember having to stop in the middle of the parking lot for a contraction. Becky, our Lamaze teacher escorted us to the labor room, and man was it busy! There were 7 girls born between Monday and Tuesday, and our baby boy made 8 babies in total.
They decided to keep me and Mom joked about missing half of Wheel of Fortune by the time the nurses were done with their run through. What a long night! I made sure to walk every now and then, bounced on the ball, and tried to sleep. I had dreams about food since all I could eat was ice chips. The hours just seemed to drag on. About 8am, the doctor came in and broke my water. I wasn't planning on having an epidural. I talked with my mom. the nurses told me pros and cons. I talked with my mom. I finally decided to have one. I had one about 10, and I was able to nap for a while. Finally, they said it was go time. The nurse went to get everything ready, Mom went to update Dad, and Dustin and I were left alone for a few brief minutes. He laid his hand on my belly, and prayed. We were both flooded with excitement and peace. It was the calmest Dustin had been since we left for the hospital.
That moment when they held him up, the tears streamed down my face. And then to have him on my belly, I just kept kissing his hands until they took him to the warmer. While they cleaned me up, I just stared with the biggest smile on my face as Dustin looked at him, and August held onto his finger.
Introducing him to family and friends has been such a joy. He has changed so much in 3 weeks. Dustin is so convinced he looks like him, but then I showed him my baby pictures. He's the boy version of me. We gave him the name August after Dustin's Great-Grandpa Schuett. We gave him the middle name LeRoy after my Grandpa Goudy's middle name. I have a feeling he is going to be very long and lean like Grandpa was.
There are certain things I will never forget about that day. I don't think I'll ever forget the icky new plastic smell of the BP cuff I had to wear. I will never forget the sound of his little heartbeat on the monitor all night long as my lullabye. I will never forget the taste of the veggie pizza I had. The first food I had in over 24 hours. I will never forget the sound of pride in Dustin's voice as he named our little boy, mixing with August's first cries. I wasn't wearing my glasses, but I will never forget the sight of my son under the glare of the overhead lights, the first time I saw him.
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