Our family was blessed with a beautiful baby boy! After two girls, finding out that Gavin was coming to be with us thrilled Scott and I! The girls were also so excited about having a boy. Adelle was telling people about him before I was even pregnant! Lilly was also tickled that she was going to have a baby brother that she named him Peter Pan, and picked out his first outfit.
Life was really crazy for our family at the time as we were exploring career paths for Scott and we were not quite sure where we would end up. As the interviewing processes were under way we became more and more nervous about Scott being there for the birth. We prayed and prayed. Scott was offered a job and was to report Aug. 13, 2009 in Laurel, MD. My Due Date was Sept. 2.
"Okay I can do this" were my thoughts at the time of his job offer. And Scott and I continued to pray that by some miracle he could be there for the birth. When Scott was offered his job he was instructed to call a man in Maryland to get details about what he needed to bring, specific times, flight arrangements etc. As Scott discussed details on the phone with him Scott asked about the possibility of him returning home (when he had a break) to be there for the birth or meet his son (whichever the case was going to be). The man then talked more with Scott about my pregnancy, due date etc. and instructed him in a way that he could get into a later class. Scott jumped at the opportunity, and was able to get into a later class.
On Tuesday Aug. 11, 2009 Scott dropped my off at my doctors appointment. There Dr. Macy checked me and determined that I was dialated to three centimeters, but still very posterior. I then told her I was having this baby tonight. She told me she didn't know, and that I wasn't in position.
So I called my Cosmetologist sister, Amanda, to rub my ankles (it helps induce labor) I ate the spiciest thing I could think of, the $6 Jalapeño Burger from Carl's Jr. I jumped on my parents trampoline. I went out and bought an exercise ball and bounced on that for a while. Then finished putting my hospital bag together. I knew "Peter Pan" was coming. The biggest reason I knew was because Adelle prayed that he would come that night.
At 12:45ish I started timing my contractions. at 1:45 I decided we should get to the hospital so we wouldn't have the baby at home.
We dropped the girls off at my parents and headed to LDS hospital. Upon arrival the nurse set us up in a delivery room and checked me...three centimeters 70%-80% effaced and still very posterior.
So they wanted to watch me for an hour. After the hour was up the nurse checked me again...no change. I thought for sure they would send me home. Luckily my doctor was on call and told the nurse to have me walk for an hour. Scott and I started to walk at first with a little discomfort but eventually I needed to stop every five minutes or so to get through the contractions. After the one hour walk...no change! I knew for sure they were going to send me home. By the way I was in pain and having good contractions.
But my "angel" doctor suggested taking a bath to see if the contractions would go away and then check again. At the one hour check...NO CHANGE!!!
We'd been there three hours with not change I was getting tired at this point and so was Scott. So he gave me a blessing and we both were at peace and knew the baby was coming that day.
Dr. Macy had one more trick up her sleeve...Morphine! (To get my body to relax enough to progress or stop the contractions) After I was given the Morphine I remember thinking "Wow my contractions aren't getting any stronger. They are staying the same and then I looked at the monitor that was keeping track of my contractions and they were like a roller-coaster! (That's why they feel the same. They would be really painful if I didn't have this drug in me :)
After an hour Dr. Macy came in. What happened next I don't know if it was Dr. Macy's knowledge of the situation, her knowledge of my deliveries (she delivered all three of my kids) or her mercy or if the nurse didn't know what she was doing and I really had changed, just not enough for her to notice or the morphine did its job. But I was at four centimeters, 80% effaced mid (instead of posterior) and at stage -1. In English our prayers were answered by a merciful Heavenly Father and we were having the baby!
I was hooked up to the pitocin and it began.
They put me on a low dose, because I would go too fast. I got my epidural (hallelujah!) and shortly after Dr. Macy came and broke my water. She turned up the pitocin and said "I'll be back at 5:30 and we'll have this baby"
And that is not what happened. At 3:30 I felt the need to push. The nurse came in checked me and I was at a 9.5. She then called my doctor who was in surgery, and couldn't get away. So Dr. Gemmel came and delivered my boy!
He came in at 4:28 p.m. weighing 7lbs 4oz. and 20in. long. He had a lot of hair and the biggest embilical cord the doctor and most of the nurses had ever seen. He didn't really cry, just squawked here and there even when they gave him his shots. He was so beautiful and I of course fell in love instantly! There was a bond there (still is) that was different from my girls and I can't explain it.
That's my Gavin's story of how he made it into this world and I am so glad he did! He is a wonderful, happy, sweet, smart, determined, beautiful, blue-eyed momma's boy, who loves books, spinning wheels, banging things together, knocking things down, being thrown around by his dad, his sisters and his mom. He is, truly, adored by all (as long as mom isn't too far. Did I mention he's a mommas boy?)
I love him dearly as does his dad and sisters, and I thank my Heavenly Father daily for sending me this angel boy!!!
Happy Birthday Sunshine, Gav-Man, Little Boyfriend, Stinky, Momma's Boy, Gavin! We love you!
