Elijah Aaron Graden.

He looks SO much like Alex did as a newborn!

Yes, our little Elijah is finally here!...well and has been for a few weeks now...just getting around to putting up a post about his birth ;0)  I am copying and pasting what I typed in his journal, so there are lots of details.  If you want to read about the actual birth...scroll down near the bottom ;0)

10 March 2013

Well sweet little Elijah, you are here!  You were born just about a week ago, and today while Rach & Starla (Aragon) take Brie to church, you & Alex take naps, and Dad drives to Springfield I’m going to try to record the events leading up to and surrounding your birth.

40 ½ weeks.

Friday, 3.1.13 came and went without going into labor and I was a bit disappointed.  I had been setting my sights on that date…thinking that I wouldn’t make it, but definitely not anticipating passing Friday.   Thankfully I had made plans to go to the outlet Saturday during lunch if we weren’t in the hospital.  Throughout Friday night I had contractions off and on.  Mom, Azhar, Laura and I were all planning on going to the outlet so I called to let them know that they might as well bring their “hospital bags” in case I officially went into labor and we could all just drive over to the hospital together.  It was kind of exciting setting out in Laura’s car, not knowing what the next few hours would bring.  I joked that if I didn’t go into labor that we’d at least have a fun pre-birth team bonding experience.  And that we did!  We had a great time, but the contractions pretty much stopped.  

coming back from the Goodwill Outlet

Saturday night Laura Hintze and I drove over to the adult session of Stake Conference and met Dad there.  We kept saying that maybe tonight would be the night. 

Sunday morning came and I was so frustrated.  I had been so patient all week and tried to have a good attitude about waiting, but why weren’t things happening?!  (especially with my induction date right around the corner.  Why did things need to be this way?)  Even though it was just a day or two, it felt so unfair.    I wish I could say that I kept the faith and a good attitude the whole time, but Sunday morning was difficult for me.  I had a hard time paying attention to the speakers at stake conference, and finally asked my Mom if she’d come walk laps around the church with me.  We walked a bit then she pulled me aside and in her wise and loving mother way told me that she’d been trying to be in tune with the spirit regarding your birth, and that she felt strongly that the timing was meant to be, that it was for the best, and that maybe there were reasons that I needed to be in the hospital for all of my labor.  I was grateful for her faith and perspective.  Then Elder Oaks (in the broadcast) talked about timing and having patience.  I felt like he was talking directly to me.  At some point that day I had a feeling that I would be induced and that I didn’t need to wait around or anticipate labor starting sooner.  That set my mind at ease.  How grateful I am for the gentle promptings of the spirit, even when we’re not particularly deserving of them.  The rest of the day went a lot better.  I decided to just enjoy my time with Bompa & Mémé visiting.  We all went for a Sunday walk to the church stop sign and back; we had dinner and Bompa made Tapioca.  It was a nice evening together.  

 41 weeks (8 days overdue).

Before going to bed I had the thought to run up and down the stairs a few times.  It seemed to at least stir things up a bit.  By 3 in the morning I was having some back labor and some irregular contractions.  I told Bry, we said a prayer and decided to get up and get things ready as if I were going into labor.  We were both excited about the prospects :0)  We came downstairs, had some PB toast and oatmeal, set out breakfast supplies (in case Bompa was here to take care of and feed Brie & Alex), and I ran up and down the stairs a few more times.  An hour had passed, not much was going on and we decided to go back to bed.  I woke up at 6:45 before anyone else and felt like I should get up, get showered and ready.  When everyone else got up we had breakfast together as a little family and we told Brie that Elijah’s birthday was going to be today.  She was SO excited!  So were we :0) 

As planned Dad watched the kids while I headed down to the complex gym for one more workout, with hopes of getting contractions going and still going into labor on my own.  After all, I wasn’t supposed to be called for my induction until at least 2pm.  I headed down and was walking on the treadmill (Laura Hintze was on the one next to me) when I got a call from Crystal at Dr. Smith’s office.  Dr. Smith had called the hospital earlier that morning to find out about the induction schedule and they had a morning opening for me!  She let me know that they’d probably be calling me in the next hour to come in!  YAY!  It was such exciting news.  I called Bompa & Mémé (who were on a little walk at that point) and they headed back to their apartment to get cleaned up.  I called Dad and Azhar and ran into Ruth Anne on the way home.  There was lot of excitement and anticipation from everyone.  

 Dad was great to get last minute things in place around the house, then we spent the remaining time (waiting for the call) as a little family.  I read stories to Brie on the couch while Dad & Alex played the piano---such fun and sweet moments together.   And I felt such peace about everything.  When the time came to leave we got one last picture of our family of 4 then Dad, Mémé, Azhar and I loaded into the van and Ruth Anne followed behind us.  (Bompa walked Alex down to the Lees--thank you Diana for watching him!--and then spent the day with Brie.  It was so nice to know that the kiddos were in good hands and to not have to worry about them at all during labor.) We chatted on the way to Mercy and Mémé made sure to get me loaded up on good, energizing snacks (including Hershey kisses and dove chocolate promises ;0)).

Pulling up to Mercy Hospital

 We walked into the hospital and over to the maternity welcome desk.  They got me checked in and weighed then my nurses, Meredith and Marissa led us up to my room, 7157 on the seventh floor.   I commented on how crazy it was to be walking in with no pain or contractions…but it was also so calm and nice.

I got changed into my hospital gown, they checked to see what I was at (3 to 4cm), they hooked me up to the baby heart and contraction monitors, got an IV started and got some liquids flowing before they got the Pitocin started.  I was grateful to have the IV behind me.  No matter the pain of labor, I still do NOT like needles!  They make me so squeamish.

 

My awesome birth team: Dad, Laura Hintze, Mémé, Ruth Anne Montgomery and Azhar Alghanem

 

While waiting for the nurses to come back in Ruth Anne and Azhar went down to the gift shop.  They came back with a beautiful yellow rose (and a cute little dalmation beanie baby for Elijah).  I explained why their pick was a perfect one...that Aaron, your middle name, meant bearer of light.

When the Pitocin was started (1 drop/hour) I was able to hit the halls to do some walking.  We decided to give it a go to see if it’d help get the contractions moving along.  Laura and I were saying how much it reminded us of Jacob’s labor…we had walked the hospital halls for 10+ hours!! 

It was fun to chat and nice to hold Dad’s hand, but the walking didn’t last long.  It didn’t seem to be doing anything and the nurse (who was temporarily filling in for Meredith and Marissa) was a bit uptight about things and said that she couldn’t pick up the monitors well enough.  Plus there were some other staff members in the halls that weren’t super obliging of us being in the halls.  That was fine.  I’d rather stay in the privacy of my room and not get on their nerves.

I think it was at this point that I decided to get into the tub.  I had requested a room with a bath, had never tried laboring in one, and figured what the heck.  I slipped into the warm water and Dad sat beside the bath, held my hand and got Brie’s birth play list up and playing.  It started off with Bill Cosby’s “Natural Birth” routine and since I wasn’t experiencing much pain at all it was fun to listen to and laugh at :0)  Next came the classical pieces.  There was a beautiful soft light coming in through the large opaque window and it was so relaxing soaking in the tub and listening to the music.  And I loved having a little bit of time with just your Dad & me.  (I couldn’t help but think of what a sweet husband he is...pushing my IV pole each time I needed to use the bathroom, making sure I didn’t get tangled on the lines, helping me into the tub, using extra caution so that I wouldn’t slip.  All of these little actions were so indicative of the thoughtful, concerned, gentle and loving man that your Dad has always been.  He takes SUCH good care of me, he treats me like a princess and I feel so blessed to have him in my life!)  After awhile I thought it’d be best to get dried off and get things moving.

(we joked, "who's in labor here?! ;0))

I decided to give the medicine ball a go.  As they slowly upped the Pitocin the contractions started coming more frequently and with more intensity.  Even though the contractions weren’t super strong we decided to start “getting in the zone”, breathing through them and having people rub my back when they came.  The nurses were pleased to see that my contractions were forming a pattern and that they were getting closer together. I was glad too, but knew that I still had a long ways to go.  None of the contractions had been very painful at all so I figured that they weren’t really doing much good.  After a few hours of this, everyone thought it’d be good to be checked so I’d at least know where I was at…still a 3 to 4cm, just like I’d thought.  We decided to have the Pitocin increased and hit the halls for a few more laps.  At that point the contractions stopped all together.  It was so weird.  What was going on?!  I was puzzled and a bit frustrated, things had been picking up so why had they died off completely?  Marla, the current nurse, said that she’d called Dr. Smith and that she’d suggested breaking my water next.  It was necessary nor did it need to happen right away, but that would be her suggestion.  I was really hesitant to have my water broken, especially after having talked to someone who had had several overdue, natural births and inductions.  She said her one recommendation was to get the Pitocin but to not have my water broken.  Plus I knew that it would most likely speed up and greatly intensify the contractions.  Since I hadn’t even had any painful contractions yet I was afraid of kicking it into high gear too quickly.  I decided to have her up the Pitocin and to return to the medicine ball.  As I leaned over the ball within 10 minutes or so contractions started coming again.  Within what seemed like a matter of minutes they were coming faster and much more intensely.  I really had to breathe through these ones and needed counter pressure.  It was exhilarating and a bit scary at the same time.  I knew what was coming and feared it a bit.  Would I be able to handle the pain again?  I tried to keep my thoughts positive, focusing on the blessing of my body going into labor and things finally progressing, thinking of the amazing medical facilities I was blessed to be using, thinking of my sweet friends and family here to support me, focusing on staying open and loose, remembering what Meredith had said earlier...that the intensity came as the uterine muscles synchronized and contracted together and helped to move the baby down.  Bry was providing the key counter pressure on my mid and lower back.  Laura was talking me through each contraction and rubbing my back.  Azhar and Ruth Anne took turns rubbing my shoulders and giving me ice chips and water.  And my Mom and Ruth Anne made sure to document the event for me.  This went on for an hour or so.  The contractions were getting so strong and intense, but I was trying so hard to listen to Laura’s words (at one point she had misunderstood a comment I had made, thinking that I was thinking of Brie with each contraction, but it ended up helping me to have something concrete to focus on), picturing Brie’s face and Alex in his raccoon hat…the thought of them made me smile :0)  I also pictured riding out each contraction like it was a wave and imagined my body contracting and opening up just like it was supposed to.  For awhile I would have a really intense contraction and then there would be a baby one behind it then a big one next.  I remember thinking that it was a tender mercy, the Lord giving me mini breaks in between.

(I apologized to Dad later on for barking out orders to him.  I really had barked, but his role was KEY!  He was providing all of the counter pressure for the pain and pressure that I was feeling.  I needed him in just the right spots, with just the right motion.  While I was transitioning I kept telling him to PUSH HARDER!!!)

Eventually Meredith and Marissa came in and requested that I be checked.  She announced that I was at a 7.  Everyone thought that was great, especially since I’d been at a 3-4cm an hour or so earlier.  It WAS great progress, but at that time all it meant to me was that I hadn’t transitioned yet like I thought I had, and that I still had that mountain ahead of me.  I got back on the ball and the next contraction came.  Within a minute or two that mountain hit and the contractions got SO intense.  I thought back to the blessing that Bry had given me and how the Lord had asked me to call upon His strength when my had run out.  I prayed, “Father, I need your help, I can’t do it on my own!”  I’m sure that my prayer was answered because as each INTENSE contraction came, with the help of my birthing team, and I’m SURE the Lord’s help, I made it through!  What was even more of a tender mercy is that I seemed to transition so quickly.  I don’t know for sure, but it seemed like those intense transitional contractions lasted no more than 10 minutes.  Before I knew it the intensity subsided and I was bearing down and pushing.  I had made it through transition!!  

Marissa was holding your heart monitor in place, making sure that you were doing OK and Meredith asked if I felt some pressure.  I exclaimed, “I’m not feeling pressure, I’m pushing!”  Somehow I don’t think she understood what I meant because she told Dr. Smith that I wasn’t feeling pressure yet and didn’t convey that the situation was urgent at all.  I continued to bear down and push with each contraction as I sat on the ball.  I can’t remember if the nurses asked or if I just blurted it out, but I told them again that I was PUSHING and that I felt like I was sitting on your head. (I have to add that pushing on the ball was the best pushing experience I’ve had yet.  The bearing down, breathing and pushing came so instinctively and naturally.  I didn’t need any coaching or prompting, it just came and my body knew what to do.  It was so much better than lying on my back, legs up in stirrups, holding my knees back to my ears!!)  I think with that comment that realized that things were farther along than they had thought and they called in the 3^rd year resident OB, Sarah Winters, who was on the floor that night.  I remember thinking to myself that it was a bit humorous that they were now scrambling to get someone in there because they hadn’t understood/believed me. Oh well, the important part is that she came in quickly and within a minute or two they were helping me up onto the bed. Once I was lying on my back they announced that you were crowing!  Oh what blessed words.  Pushing is historically not my favorite part of the birth and I was so grateful to hear that you were already crowning. YAY!  Sarah asked me to push with the next contraction which I did apparently with a little bit too much force…”slow down, keep it controlled, pant…pant!”  I did just that and within a few seconds your head was out, your body followed amidst cheers and tears of my birth team and then they placed you on my chest!  Oh what a wonderful moment.  Because of the way I was laying I couldn’t really see your face, but I was so excited to have you finally here and to be holding you, my little Elijah!!! :0) :0)

If only we could do without the following not-so-favorite moments when I have to be stitched up (because of tearing).  It’s such an unpleasant part of the birth.  Thankfully Mémé held you for most of it.  I'm sure you enjoyed being with her and listening to her gentle, reassuring voice.  As always I was so grateful when it was over and I was able to hold you and look at your sweet face without wincing in pain.  I need to just expect those not-so-fun parts, be mentally prepared for them, and let them come and go without too much fear or frustration.  Next time I guess ;0)

I could not have done it without everyone's help...
especially Bry, my Mom, Laura, Azhar and Ruth Anne.  THANK YOU!

 Brie & Alex coming to see you for the first time :0)

 

The important part is that you made it safe and sound and that you’re healthy!  And I was so grateful to have succeeded in a natural birth even though I was induced.  I really felt like that Lord watched out for me and made it happen.  Such a tender mercy.  Although the actual labor and birth were fast and furious, the whole afternoon leading up to it was amazingly calm and peaceful and even relaxing.  I felt blessed for the way it turned out and that I had the strength to make it through.

20 March 2013
Thanks to Bompa & Mémé (and some friends of ours) watching Brie & Alex at home, your Dad was able to stay with me in the hospital the two nights and day that we were there.  We joked that it was our baby getaway.  Some people may say we're crazy, but we enjoy our time in the hospital before heading back to "real life" at home!  We snuggled in the twin size hospital bed, shared the room service and enjoyed being together and being with you. 

 

You're already over 2 weeks old and other than some probably-gas-induced fussiness, you've been such an easy going and sweet little guy.  I'm soaking up all the snuggle time I can get, your Dad has been so great to help with diaper changes & late night rocking back to sleep, and your sister and brother already adore you!  We're grateful to have you officially part of our family, Elijah.  We love you!