Graham's birth story

So, a warning before you start reading this. It might be a bit graphic or too much information for some of you. So, if you don't want to know all the details of Graham being born, stop now. I promise I won't be offended in the least bit. Here goes.

Jay and I headed to the hospital for my induction at 12:00 midnight Tuesday night/Wednesday morning. The reasoning behind the time was to SLOWLY start me on pitocin and get my 4 hours of antibiotics for Strep B in before Graham was born. Anyway, my OBGYN had forgotten to schedule the induction AND the hospital had that he was on vacation from Wednesday until the end of the month and they couldn't induce me without doctor's orders. They almost sent us home, but I think my puppy dog eyes and huge pregnant belly got their sympathy and the nurse got the head nurse and she called my doctor and told him he would have to push back his vacation until after I had the baby since he had forgotten to schedule it. (Oh, and by the way, a huge part of the reason I had decided to be induced a week early was because he said he was going out of town the weekEND before my due date... not the entire last two weeks before my due date.) Anyway, the nurses were totally awesome and made it work out for me. I almost broke down and cried while we were waiting to hear what they were going to do. Anyway, about 12:30 they admitted me to the hospital and started my IV with antibiotics and pitocin. The contractions were very minimal in pain and Jay and I watched a couple movies (While You Were Sleeping, and started The Terminal). It was great to spend some time relaxed and with my husband with the exciting prospect of what was to come.

Every 30 minutes they upped the pitocin a little and by about 7:00 my pain level was still pretty minimal at a level between 2 and 3 (1 being none to little pain and 10 being completely unbearable). At 7:30 I had the highest level of pitocin going and they called the doctor to come break my water. There was some miconium in it, but since it was more yellow than green they weren't too worried. The nurse now (Darlene - the second nurse of the night) was hilarious and absolutely awesome. She warned me that the contractions were about to get very painful. And she was right! It seemed like with every couple contractions the pain level jumped up another number. Jay was absolutely wonderful and really listened to what I said was working to help me deal with the pain during contractions. He called my mom and she came and it was great to have her support as well. I really can not describe the amount of pain I was in by probably about 9:15 (things were sort of a blur during this part). They checked me and I was at 5 cm. That was when I decided that I wanted an epidural. Thinking I possibly had hours more of this much pain ahead of me was just not a possibility. My mom when out and got a nurse to tell her I wanted the epidural NOW. The anesthesiologist came and I can not believe how still I had to hold while he put the epidural in. It actually gave me some real focus though and knowing that getting it in would make it so I wouldn't feel the pain was enough motivation for me to just be able to do it. So, it took probably about 10 minutes to get the epidural in and the nurse checked me again and I was fully dialated to 10 cm! They gave me another dose in the epidural to try to get enough in so I wouldn't feel the pain so much. The nurse called my doctor and told me to try not to push until he got there. And my Mom remembered that we should call Kara to come (I had completely forgotten I was so wrapped up in the pain I was in). She got there as fast as she could and literally ran in the door as I was starting to push. The epidural barely was taking the edge off the pain when I was ready to push. I was grateful for that much at least though. Graham was posterior so with the first push the doctor turned him around. I pushed through three contractions (picture what those women in the movies are like having a baby... screaming and sweating and that was me) and Graham Taggart Blair was born. He had the cord wrapped around his neck and his body a few times and had breathed in the miconium. The doctor unwrapped him and cut the cord and the nurses cleaned him off and checked his vitals. He had fluid in his lungs still and was breathing too quickly, so I got to hold him for a few seconds and then they had to take him to the nursery and put some oxygen on him and give him some fluids via IV.

Graham weighed in at 6 pounds 15 ounces of absolute preciousness and was 19 1/2 inches long. He is my smallest baby by almost a pound. After being in the nursery for a couple hours he got to come back to me and we really bonded. He had some trouble nursing at first, but is now an expert nurser! I am so grateful for that.

The whole family has fallen absolutely in love with him. Today Graham was sleeping wrapped up in a blanket on my bed and Hyrum came and just watched him for at least 20 minutes in total awe. Maddy keeps wanting to hold him and makes sure he is always covered up. Miles is quickly learning to be soft and is always coming up and saying "baba" (AKA baby) and petting his head or pointing to his nose.

I'm really wanting to add pictures to this post, but it will have to wait until tomorrow. Hopefully I don't forget.

Cleansing tears.

So, back in January my Great Grandma passed away at 102 years old (actually a month away from her 103rd birthday). I found out, ironically enough, on our way to visit her. I cried a few tears when I innicially heard the news, but didn't shed a single tear during her veiwing or funeral. I was touched by those who spoke and knew I would miss her increadibly, but I just didn't feel the need to cry. Yet. Last night I sent my wonderful husband to the store to get some diapers and treats for Hyrum to take to class today. He also came home with a bag of Salt Water Taffy as a treat for us to eat. This is not normally something I buy since I am automatically drawn to anything with chocolate in it rather than, well, not. I was really excited though and turned on the season finale of Dancing With the Stars and dug in to the bag. Not moments later I was pausing the show as a wave of nostalgia hit me and the tears came unbidden pouring down my cheeks. You see, my Great Grandma always (and I mean always) had certain treats at her house for when kids (and, the not so little kids) would come visit. She had homemade fudge (my very favorite), salt water taffy, and hard candy (butterscotch and cinnamon), plus usually some kind of cookie.

So, I think the large majority of times I have eaten taffy before last night was sitting on my Grandma's couch while listening to her tell stories of times gone by and how she used to do things. I missed her more than I could put into words. I missed sitting on her lap and having her rub her calloused hand on my back under my shirt as a child. I missed her hugs and kisses and her telling me "I love you a bushel and a peck" and "Kid, you don't know what love is until you are as old as me". I missed her smell and her house and playing in her front yard. I missed sleeping on her floor on foam egg carton mattresses. I missed her asking if I wanted to borrow a nighty and getting to take a turn sleeping with her in her unusually high bed. I missed her standing in the driveway waving and blowing kisses as we pulled away. I just missed her.

I was talking to my Aunt about it a little bit and she said she thought that Grandma was holding little Graham's spirit in heaven right now (she used to absolutely love to hold the babies) and enjoying him before he came down to us. So, Graham, enjoy Grandma as much as you can for me before you come to join our family. And bring some of her love with you when you come.