James' Birth Story

I want to write down James' birth story while it is still fresh in my mind. We were so blessed that all went well with the labor and delivery. James' due date was on Dec 2 but I was hoping he would come a little early (who doesn't wish that?). Thanksgiving was on Nov 28th this year and I thought he was going to come then but no baby. That night Bryson gave me a blessing that when labor came it would be a safe and quick labor. Bryson and I are not big shoppers and definitely not Black Friday shoppers but there were a few sales we wanted to check out at Joanns and Target this year. That morning I had a few small contractions but I had been having contractions for weeks so I didn't think anything of it. So we got ready and went to Joanns. While we were there the contractions kept coming and I started to think that it may be real labor. The contractions weren't bad at all though so we kept shopping. We finished up at Joanns and headed over to Target. By then the contractions were big enough that I had to stop walking when one came. I wanted to keep walking so when we got home at 12:30 pm Bryson, Leslie and I took a walk around the neighborhood. We stopped and talked to our neighbors Jim and Pam and they were so nice and gave us some of their leftovers from their Thanksgiving. We went home and ate. I wanted to make sure I ate while at home because when you get to the hospital you don't get food and I was so weak and hungry with Leslie. By this point the contractions were getting more regular and intense but I still didn't want to go to the hospital. Leslie was asleep so I figured we would head over when she woke up from her nap. By 3 pm though the contractions were getting stronger so we called the Gibsons, who were going to watch Leslie while I was in the hospital, and Jessica came over to get Leslie. After she picked up Leslie, Bryson and I got ready and headed over to the hospital. The contractions I had in the car were intense but I was lucky that they didn't last too long. We got to the hospital at 4:15 pm or so. Something got mixed up at the check in desk so I was waiting there for probably 10 minutes but it felt like forever to me! When we went back the nurse checked me and said I was at 8 cm and my water was about to break! I couldn't believe it. I had planned on getting an epidural but once she said that I knew it was too late. I was scared but the nice thing about labor is there is no stopping it. So I had to press forward. They took me to the delivery room and my doctor came in. I started pushing right away. It was really intense. That is really the only thing I can think to describe it. I wasn't sure if I could do it but I knew I had to. Thankfully I only had to push through 3 contractions and then he came. It was so wonderful to hear him cry for the first time. They put him on my chest and I felt such an overwhelming rush of love for him. Bryson told me after that James had the umbilical cord wrapped all around him and the doctor was ready to call the emergency people but it wasn't around his neck and he was fine. James was born at 5:20 pm on Friday, November 29th. So we were at the hospital for less than an hour and he was born!

James was a great baby from the very beginning. He nursed great right away . He weighed 8 lbs 1 oz so he seemed like such a big boy to me. Bryson was able to stay the night with me since the Gibsons were watching Leslie. It was so nice to have him with me. The next morning Bryson went and got Leslie and she came to meet her new baby brother. She was so cute. She was interested but didn't quite know what to think. It was so precious to see them together.