The Story of Carson's Arrival

The Story of Carson's Arrival

(Before we left for the hospital)

I ADDED A PHOTO ALBUM ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE BLOG. IF YOU GO UNDERNEATH THE PHOTO OF CARSON YOU WILL SEE WHERE IT SAYS, CARSON'S PHOTO ALBUM. I HAVE ALL THE PHOTOS IN THERE STARTING FROM THE LABOR UNTIL NOW. I CONSTANTLY ADD PHOTOS TO HIS ALBUM AND WILL UPDATE IT EVERY SO OFTEN FOR EVERYONE'S VIEWING PLEASURE. ONCE YOU OPEN THE ALBUM, AT THE TOP THERE IS AN OPTION TO HIT SLIDESHOW. THERE ARE LOTS OF PICTURES, SO ENJOY!! IF YOU HAVE ANY PROBLEMS, JUST SEND ME AN EMAIL. XO

Time line:

Monday: Contractions, Mommy stayed home with me and we walked and cleaned.

Monday night, induction massage.

Tuesday: Contractions, Mowed the lawn and then Danielle came over and we walked Sawgrass mall.

Wednesday: previous blog..Spent the day at the hospital..

Wednesday night: walked, walked, walked, walked and walked...

Contractions picked up Wednesday evening around 1:30 a.m. I couldn't sit still so I decided to lay on the couch. I started keeping track of my contractions and at that point they ranged from every 1/2 hour to sometimes every 15-20 minutes and only lasted for 15-30 seconds. By about 7am, Geoff's alarm clock went off for work and I told him, I don't think your going to work today. The contractions definately started to pick up and became more intense. I took a shower, did my hair and I started putting things together, while I could. We called Jen and told her it was about time she came over.

Jen came over around noon and helped time the contractions and keep Geoffrey cool, calm and collected. After laying down for awhile my contractions started to slow down so Jen had me outside walking the blocks. That definately picked things up. We went around the block twice, came back to the house for some water, pee break and went back again. One the second trip around the block I felt like I had to pee, so I said, let's stop and we'll go back. On my way to the bathroom, my water "started" to break. Then it continued to leak. I jumped back in the shower again since I was all sweaty from the walking. I had been getting contractions at this point every 5 minutes, especially during the walks. I got out of the shower and I was standing in the hallway dressed and ready to go and Geoff is on the computer. In the middle of the contraction I said, Geoff, I think you need to get up, get showered and we need to go. Geoff pushed and sat there, but not for long. During the next contraction, I must have went into Jeckyl Hyde mode..I looked at him and I swear my eyes were shooting beams at him and I screamed..Get the *&%& up and get in the *%&#(*& shower now!!! We were out of the house in the next 20 minutes. Jen's last entry of contractions was at 3:01 and at that point, they were 1 minute apart.

We arrived at the hospital and Geoffrey got me a wheel chair because there was no way I could walk and make it to the 2nd floor without completely scaring the crap out of someone. This little old man came down, hospital volunteer, and wheeled me up, as sweet as he was, he moved slower than a snal and he was seconds away from me telling him about the snail that just passed us. When we arrived to labor and delivery is when S*&T hit the Fan!! My water completely broke...EVERYWHERE!! I was sitting in the chair and Im apologizing to the nurse, I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry. She didn't pay much attention to my apologies.

I checked in at 7 cm...20 minutes later I was at 9 cm. Things went so fast, there were so many nurses in the room, so many things going on. I remember feeling like I was screaming at the top of my lungs, but Geoff said I barely made a peep other than when I was begging for the pain to go away. I was already pushing at that point, this incredible urge to push took over just like the books said. Carson must have become entangled in the cord because things were not going so well at this point. I was given the epidural and Dr Goldberg came in right after that and said he didn't like the way things were going but was going to give it a minute to see if things changed.
Next thing I knew, I was getting ready to be wheeled out for a C Section. They said I was very lucky to have that epidural otherwise they would have had to give me general anesthesia. From the moment I was wheeled out and until they pulled Carson out, it was 7 minutes!!

Carson was born at 4:34 p.m. at 7lbs 5 oz 19 in.

Seeing Carson for the second that they whisked him in my face to take pictures was beautiful and amazing, but nothing compared to the first time holding him once I was out of recovery. He is an angel, he is my dream come true. I enjoy every single moment of staring into his eyes. I had dreams of him, that perfect little boy in my arms and now he is here. Words cannot describe the love I have for him.

We stayed in the hospital from Thursday: 10/08/09 until Sunday: 10/11/09. We had many visitors and lots of beautiful flowers and gifts from loving family and friends.

I still swear by the Bradley Method AND staying at home as long as possible. I was able to relax at home and get through those contractions. I could do it, it got harder, but it was do-able, at home. Once we got to the hospital, it seemed to blur because the pain was so intense and the pushing happened so fast, that I thought I was dying.

If there is a 2nd time around, I would do everything I could to try natural again, given there are no problems. But finding a dr that would do that after a C section would be tough. I know now, when things get tough, get out of that bed!!!

I hope you enjoy everything. I will soon be updating the blog every month with all the wonderful news and all of Carson's firsts!!

Lauren, Geoffrey and Carson

What an ordeal

39 weeks..7 days to go

Today turned into such an ordeal. From what turned out to me just wanting to change my appointment, we ended up in triage at the hospital.

First things first..I haven't been to work all week because I've been getting contractions. Contractions strong enough, to where there is no way I want to be at work or within the vicinity of anyone or any phones or anything. I can't sit still and I am constantly up and moving. Monday, Geoff went to work and my mom stayed home with me and "babysat". Monday night I had the induction massage. Which was very relaxing and hopefully will do its job soon. If not, at least I had a very relaxing evening.

Tuesday, Geoff went to work. Danielle was coming over to "babysit" and walk, but not until the afternoon. I decided to keep myself busy. I got out the lawn mower and mowed that yard. Well that definitely brought on some pretty strong contractions, but again, they didn't stick around consistently. Danielle came over and we walked pretty much the entire Sawgrass Mall. I would get contractions during the walk, but I kept going, I knew the walking was working. Tuesday night, Geoff and I walked and walked and walked. Poor Turby's tongue was just hanging out of his mouth by the time we got home. Diesel was looking at us like..Hello..home is that way...Again, I continued with contractions, but nothing consistent. Those dogs slept like babies!

The ordeal::Well this morning I woke up, Geoff went to work and I was still getting contractions, but not as strong. I called Dr. Goldberg's office just to reschedule since I wasn't working, I figured I could go in the morning. If I knew then what I know now.. So I called and they said sure you could come in today, but then asked any reason why you want to change..Shut your mouth Lauren!! Well, I said, I've been getting contractions and I haven't been working. That was that. She called back. Ugh. Go straight to triage and have them monitor your contractions. I said well I know they are not consistent, what is there to monitor. That is when the nurse said at 39 weeks if your having contractions, the dr wants them monitored before you come in.

Needless to say, I called Geoff, he came home from work and off we went. I checked in at 2cm and 50% effaced and by then I was getting some heavy contractions, probably 1 good strong one every 15 minutes. Enough that 2 of them brought tears to my eyes. Geoff and I noticed that the contractions were stronger when I layed down instead of sitting up. Weird. We asked the nurse and she said sometimes that happens. She came back an hour later and I was up to 2.5 cm and 70% effaced. Things moved along, but not enough..WHICH I ALREADY KNEW. My aggravation level was rising because at this point I wanted to go home and this was taking forever. She had us get an ultrasound, everything was fine, and then they finally sent us on our merry way. At least now we know the protocol of what to do at the hospital.

After all that, I still have the same dr appt Friday at 400pm. So of course, I am going to call tomorrow and try and change it, but now I know what to say and what not to say.

Best wishes for our friends Justin and Lindsey. Lindsey is being induced tonight and should have baby Trace with her by tomorrow!!!

For now, we just wait and see how things go..But if I have somewhere to go or somewhere to be..I'll be waaaaalkin (Forrest Gump) hehe...

38 1/2 weeks..11 days to go

38 1/2 weeks.. 11 days to go..

11 days to go or possibly sooner?? Today was my 38 week visit with Dr Goldberg. I gained 2lbs since the last visit, but since I lost a lb last week, I guess I really only gained 1lb. So my total weight gain is 25lbs. And for the big news... I am 2cm dilated..I know that can go on for awhile, but...we'll see about that. My contractions and lower back aches have really started to intensify as this past week went on. I knew something was going on, I just needed to hear it from the doctor. At least now I know, I'm not crazy. All these aches, pains and pulling feelings have been going on because I'm dilating and Carson is getting ready for his big arrival.

On Monday night, I am going to see Dawn. 2 girlfriends and a friend of one of them have gone to her at the very end of their pregnancies when they were already dilated. She does what is called an induction massage. Basically, a really good massage, but hits all the pressure points which can send you into labor, naturally. All 3 women went into labor within 2 days. I talked to Dr. Goldberg about this, and he was ok with it, he actually knows her. We planned it out, so I have the massage on Monday and he is working at Mem West on Wed and Thurs, so if I go into labor then, he will be there already. So fingers crossed and we will see how it goes. This may be my last blog entry as Lauren and the next one will be as a Mommy..

My nerves have been starting to get the best of me. I am so excited to meet our little man, but I am getting nervous about everything that comes along with it. Are his cries because he is hungry or is he cranky, maybe its neither and he's crying because he can. Then what? Or what if he is sick. Is he getting enough food? Maybe these are questions all first time parents have and the only real answer is, trial and error. You figure things out along the way. What works for one baby, may not work for Carson. Then there are the exciting things I think about and chat with my girlfriends about..like how I can't wait to play with is fingers and toes, stare into his eyes, change him in his gazillion outfits he got from so many people who already love him so much. I'm exciting to put him in his stroller and walk around the block, I can't wait for the dogs to meet him. I am so curious to see their reaction.

This was also our last week of Bradley classes. It is so hard to believe how fast 7 weeks went by. But after 7 weeks, Geoff and I are ready to go. I am confident about the labor, I am confident that I can do it without the drugs and best of all..I have Geoff by my side to remind me, that together, we can get through this. There is no room for negativity when that day comes, it will be left at the door.

It really is just amazing how fast this has all really gone by.

Carson's room is finally completely finished. All his fishies are up, clothes washed, sheets washed and folded, blankets in their spot and diapers stacked away. Below are a couple pictures of the nursery.

Carson's room

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As you can see, our bags are packed and we're ready to go.

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Carson's library. Thank you to all our loving and caring family and friends for helping us to build his library. Each book is from someone different and was chosen with love. It is a gift that we will always cherish.