Hayden Arrived!

I know this is over two weeks late, but I finally have a breather and could sit down to blog about his birth.

Hayden Robert Ambrose was born October 10th at 8:18 P.M.
He was 7 pounds 4 ounces and 19 1/2 inches long

So about the delivery: October 10th was his due date, but our doctor had suggested not to induce but to have me go into labor on my own. Kyle, my mother in law, and I went in for the 40 week doctor's check up at 2:30 P.M. Everything was looking great, and I had been contracting irregularly and dilated to a two for the last two weeks. For one last check, our doctor wanted to see how much amniotic fluid was left around him. She checked it, and said she would probably send us home, but wanted to have me checked on a newer machine to be safe.

So we were walked into a delivery room in the hospital, where they proceeded to check my fluids. At this point (3:30 PM), we were told there was essentially no fluids around him, and that we were having this baby today. I was nervous and was not expecting to have this baby today. I was instantly admitted into the hospital and was put on the lowest dose of Pitocin to induce my labor. Short Version: I was dilated to a 6 within three hours, taken off Pitocin and given my epidural. At that point Hayden's heart dropped, and I was given some meds that would raise my heart rate and stop the contractions to try and raise his heart rate.

In another hour, I was at an eight, but his heart rate dropped again. It went from a 130 to 50 on the monitor. It was scary! This time, about seven people rushed into the room. I was asked to get on my forearms and knees to get him off his cord and raise his heart rate. It didn't work. I was asked to sign a consent form, and within a minute was rushed off in tears into the operating room.  I was injected on the short walk to the operating room with more medications so I could go into surgery. Kyle barely made it into the operating room, when seven minutes after being rolled into the O.R. Hayden was delivered. Here is our first family picture:

I was closed up ten minutes later. It was all a blur, but I remember all the scary and overwhelming emotions. In a matter of about six hours, I became a Mom. People keep saying that they were sorry that it happened the way that it happened; but you know what? I'm not. I'm grateful. I will always remember Kyle stroking my hair and holding my hand, and thinking that we (Hayden and I) were going to be okay only because he was there with me. I was glad it was just the two of us. It allowed me to become closer to him in a whole new way. I know Kyle was stressed beyond belief, and worried sick, but we had each other.


These days, Hayden is such a happy little baby! He is gaining weight quickly (about 1 1/2 pds per week) and has the cutest smile in the world. He LOVES to be held, and is awake and alert more as the days go on. At night, he sleeps in three hour stretches between each time I nurse, which is really great! I will add more pictures of him soon.

I know this post is really long, but I just have one more thing to say. I am the luckiest girl in the world, surrounded by the most fun, happy, and handsome boys. They are my world, and I love watching them together. Life cannot get any better. Today, I am grateful for eternal families, and the promise that if I live righteously I can have my family with me forever.