Sunday, December 11, 2011

Gabe Martin is here!



Well, Monday night was a big disappointment. I was scheduled to go in for the induction around 9:00 that night, but got a call around 7:30 to let us know they didn't have beds and were going to have to push back the induction. It was a big blow, first of all because I was having deja vu of my induction with Brynn being pushed back for almost two days. And I just felt like the time my mom was able to be here was really going to be ticking away if we had to wait that long. So Marty and I took a short date to Fry's to get a Redbox and some ice cream to try to take our antsy minds off of just waiting. I really did not feel like being at home. But then when we got out and about, I realized I really didn't want to be there, either. I only wanted to be at the hospital. So when we got home I just decided to go to bed early and try to get some sleep. Marty and I tossed and turned all night, not knowing if they were going to call at two in the morning that night or two days later on Wednesday. But we got the call Tuesday morning at 10:50.


We got to the hospital at about 11:30 and of course had all the checking in and everything to do. After I was finally admitted and ready we found out I was only at a 2. We started the pitocin at 1:00 and it seemed to be fairly slow going as at 5:00 I was still only at a 3. Although, considering the labor and delivery I had with Brynn, "slow going" is relative.

 Leading up to the epidural I was having a lot of back pain, which I don't remember having my other two deliveries.  It was a big relief to sit/bounce on the exercise ball.  But pretty soon after that I had progressed enough on my own and decided I was ready for the epidural.  This is the first pregnancy I've had where I've really considered trying it without one, but by the end of this pregnancy, I decided I had been through quite enough pain, thank you very much.  After that, things went pretty smoothly.  There were small things - like how the anesthesiologist forgot to turn on the pump for the epidural.  So after the first dose of medicine wore off I asked my doctor (she came in to break my water at 7:00 pm) why nothing was really numb or anything anymore and she snooped around and said, "Hm, maybe because the machine is off and you're not getting any medicine."  The other crazy thing was that anytime I tried to either sit up or lay on my back I'd get extremely light-headed and nauseous and my blood pressure would go way (way way way) down.  I think they decided it was the way the baby was putting pressure on the veins or something.  So I had to spend most of the delivery from that point on on my side, on ephedrine, and with the oxygen mask, which really bothered me.  But I suppose there is a reason they call it labor, right? ;)  As my three labors/deliveries have gone, I would place it somewhere in the middle.  Brynn's was super traumatic, Bryce's was ridiculously easy.  This one wasn't bad either.  Funny though, as difficult as the experience is, the overwhelming feeling is one of a beautiful, sacred sacrifice.  Anyway, by 11:00ish pm I knew it was time to push (and not a minute too soon).  I pushed once and there was his head, pushed a second time and there was my sweet baby Gabe!!  He was born on 11-29-11 at 11:07, weighing in at 7 lbs 5 oz and was 20 1/2 inches.  And was perfectly healthy and handsome!

 Hehe, look at his old man hair!  Bald on top, hair around the edges.  Before I had this baby, I predicted him to be my first redhead, and he just might be.  His hair is much lighter and less thick than my other two babies.

 So, he does resemble my other two babies, but he has his own look, too.  When I first saw Bryce it was the strangest feeling because it was like looking at an exact replica of Brynn.  I was like, "Wait a minute, I already had this baby a couple years ago, where's my new one?" :)  And to me, B & B still look SO much alike.  What/who are you going to look like, baby Gabe?  I think he's a Johnson....

 My wonderful doctor, Barbara Newman, who has delivered all three of my babies.  I absolutely love this woman.  She is so easy to talk to, never makes me feel stupid for asking questions, lets me call the shots, and in general she just takes really good care of me.  I remember when I was in labor with Brynn, Marty was hungry but kept putting off going to the cafeteria because he didn't want to leave me.  It was just a few days before Christmas, but she said, "Go ahead and eat, I'll just hang out."  So she just sat and chit-chatted with me about Christmas, what I was going to eat (morning sick the whole nine months - I couldn't WAIT to start eating again!), and other little topics.  Then just before this last pregnancy they built a hospital which is literally just down the street from me, but she doesn't deliver there.  So I tried another doctor - just once - and remembered how much I loved Dr. Newman enough to make the long drive out to her office and the other hospital.  She wasn't going to be on call over the Thanksgiving holiday, but she gave me a special card to take with me to the hospital in case I went into labor that weekend.  She said, "You drove all this way, and I am going to be the one to deliver this baby.  You make sure they call me, even if it's on Thanksgiving day." 
And Marty, of course, was amazing as always.  He's gentle when he needs to be, backs off when he needs to, holds me when I need it, sticks up for me and my preferences, and is so intuitive about the whole thing.  I love the feeling of being so "in this thing together."  It's beautiful (I'll try to stop using that word, now).


I know it's hard, but just try not to be jealous of how great and non-icky I look in this picture (ugh).  The first time the kids met their brother is definitely on my top 5 list of best parent moments ever.
 They were both totally smitten.
 THANK HEAVENS Grandma was around.  I don't know what we would have done without her.  The day after I had him she spent a good part of the day at the hospital with me and let Marty go home with the kids.  She was so calm and has such a gentle quiet voice and mannerisms.  She loved on my baby while I slept and got anything I needed before even telling her I needed it.  That's such a mom thing.  She also worked her tail off at my house which was a huge relief considering how anxious I felt about getting so behind on everything.  Bryce was broken-hearted when she went back to Utah.  He was weepy and pouty all afternoon after Marty took her to the airport and has said multiple times since she left:
Bryce:  Mommy, where's Grandma?
Me:  She's back in Utah with Grandpa."
Bryce: (pause).....I neeeeed her!"






What can I say?  We are in baby heaven!!!