Well, Hello Again!

The last picture of our three part family. 

It has been a while since I have posted. A long while. I am afraid to look at the date of my last post, but I think it is safe to say that it has been over a year. Since our last update we have introduced little Wyatt into the family fold. He is a month old as of January 24th. He made an exciting arrival on the 24th of December. I can safely say that this past Christmas has been the best one of my life.

Can you tell I look so comfortable?
This was me waiting for the epidural. 

Dr. Lewis stripped my membranes on the 21st and so we waited anxiously for labor to start. The 23rd rolled around without much action, just mild cramps. We had been out visiting the atrium at the Bellagio and walking around the casino. I was tired from walking; plus, I was also fighting a sinus infection. Let's just say I was feeling awesome. ;) I finally determined that I was going to put myself on bed rest for the next 48 hours. The morning of the 24th came and I was going the bathroom and had a coughing attack. This wonderful attack happened at the same time my water broke, but I wasn't sure if I peed or if it was my water. It is unfortunate that the water broke at the same time that I happened to be using the bathroom. lol

The Delivery Support Group: Beth, Sarah, me,
Erin, Mike, and Stacy. 

I waited a few minutes and received definite confirmation that it was indeed my water. We headed into the hospital and Delaney went with Grandpa Garrard to hang out. Wyatt was anxious to arrive in time for Christmas, which Grandma Beth LOVED because it coincided with her Christmas Eve vision. lol At the hospital they checked us in and quickly confirmed that I was indeed in labor. Our first nurse was a talker. She talked and talked. Mike loved it. So much. Luckily I had an excuse to be quiet.

I received an epidural when I reached 4 centimeters. My epidural was uneven. My left leg could have been cut off and I wouldn't have know. I had more feeling in the right leg. 4:00 pm rolled around and it was time to start pushing. My sisters-in-law and mother-in-law were there with us for the delivery.

Delaney's first time holding Wyatt. 

Daddy and Wyatt's first moments. 

Dr. Lewis was quite the coach through each push. She would yell and cheer me on to keep pushing. She was very involved. It took two hours pf pushing to get Wyatt out. I was exhausted. I hadn't eaten a lot the previous 24 hours because I was so sick which made me even more tired. We pushed and pushed. Mike described Wyatt's reluctance to come out as prairie dogging. He would poke his head out a little bit and then slip right back in when the contraction was over. (You're welcome for the mental image.) It was finally thanks to the vacuum and two big pushes that he came out. It was two hours of pushing. Wyatt arrived at 5:49 pm. He was 8 lbs. 13 oz. and 20 inches long. One of my favorite moments was when he was handed back to me after the cleaning and measuring. He was crying but as soon as he was on my skin, he calmed down. It was the most peaceful moment.

The moment he came out was full of shock and peace and love. Shock that he was real and in my arms. Peace because of the special spirit that he brought into the room with him. Love because he was and is mine. Talking about a baby coming for 9 months is exciting, but it doesn't become real until the baby is actually in your arms. It was the same way with Delaney. Just shock, peace, and love.

Mike was face timing with my family as soon as Wyatt was out. I just relaxed in the bed and let everyone else do the work after he arrived.

Wyatt and Delaney, both just minutes after they were born. 

One of the best decisions I made was to formula feed Wyatt. I had postpartum depression after Delaney was born and I feel very strongly that breast feeding made my depression more severe. With bottle feeding, it has been a completely different experience.

Christmas was spent in the hospital, but I loved it. I was able to relax and bond with Wyatt, Mike, and Delaney. Santa delivered Delaney's Christmas presents at the hospital. We opened presents together in the hospital. I was able to have quiet and peace. It was a pretty good gift from Wyatt. Mike spent the first night with me and Wyatt in the hospital. Delaney met Wyatt on Christmas Eve. She was so sweet when she met him.