Let me just start by saying that the past 7 months have been amazing, splendid, joyful, surreal, wonderful, and simply just perfect. Connor has brought so much joy and happiness to our lives. I know this is so cliche, but he has been the most perfect addition to our family. He just fills that fourth spot so amazingly. Still 7 months later, I am in awe of the fact that I have two of the most sweetest baby boys in the entire universe.
So, let's go back to October. I had been having contractions for a few weeks, which I didn't have at all before Parker was born. This whole "being in pain" thing before actually being IN labor was so new to me. Contractions=baby is coming soon, right? Nope, not right. Not right at all. About 2 weeks before Connor was born I was 90% effaced and 1/2 cm. dialated. None of that really meant anything in the whole scheme of things, except that yes, a baby was coming. I had a feeling he would be joining us on or around his due date, but really didn't think he would come early, since Parker was 5 days late. On Monday October 21st Parker and I had such a great day together; we went grocery shopping and then out for coffee, and the lucky little guy even had himself a little cappuccino, aka whipped cream in a fancy tea cup. It was these small details of our few days before baby #2 would join us, that I hold dear in the bottom of my heart. Parker probably won't ever remember being an only child for a short first 16 months of his life, but I will never forget the memories we made together. Anyway, we spent the day just truly soaking in each other. Little did we know, a baby would be joining us very soon. That night after Parker went to bed my contractions, that I had been having for a few weeks now, seemed to be getting a little bit more intense and closer together. Every time I had one my husband would say "do we need to go to the hospital??? I'm taking a shower and getting a bag ready. We are going." Finally at 9pm I decided that MAYBE this was it. Maybe I was in labor. This whole "maybe" word is where I was wrong. Problem #1, if you THINK you are in labor, you aren't. My contractions were 3-5 minutes apart, but were just not that intense. I just so badly wanted to meet my second son, that I think I thought that if I went into the hospital, he would surely come, right? Wrong. So my mom came to our house to stay with Parker while we went in. Sure enough I was only 2 cm dilated. Not the news I wanted to hear. By 12am I was given the choice to either stay and walk for a while or to just go home. I decided I would walk to maybe get the contractions and dilation moving along. Welp, that didn't work. Back home we went at 1:30 in the morning. My WORST fear, and something I never wanted to do (go to the hospital and return home without a baby). I KNOW what being in labor is like. I just did it 16 months ago. Failure, that is how I felt.
The next morning, Tuesday October 22nd I decided that I would do EVERYTHING to get labor started. Sean took Parker to work with him for a few hours so I could sleep. HA! I guess he didn't know my plan for the day: Operation GET BABY OUT. So, I had time to take a very long walk downtown. I walked (eh hem, waddled) to Starbucks and then got a manicure. A friend told me that drinking red raspberry leaf tea helps labor start, so off to the store I went. I met the hubs and baby boy at a local restaurant for lunch and inhaled a chicken quesadilla, like it was my last meal or something. That evening, like the night before, my contractions were coming, but really were not letting up. At this point since I had gone to the hospital the night before, I was NOT believing that I was in labor. I kept telling Sean that I was not going to the hospital until the baby's head was out. No but really. I was timing the contractions with an app that I had put on my phone, and boy were they close. I decided to put mind over matter and just go to bed. Around 11:45pm (about the exact same time I went into labor with Parker) I woke up to the exact same feeling I had with Parker. I stood up, and kind of felt like a pop. I called for Sean who was downstairs watching TV and went to the bathroom. I thought my water broke but after seeing it, realized that it was all blood. I became extremely scared, lightheaded, dizzy and frightened. I knew I had to keep calm so that I didn't wake up Parker. I called my mom around 12ish and asked her if she could please come to stay with Parker, because I was in labor. She asked me if I should wait it out a bit at home and I told her that I knew this was it. Thank the good Lord that she got to our house when she did because this baby was coming, and he was coming fast. Of course Parker woke up amidst me running around in PAIN, showering, and getting last minute items put in my hospital bag. He was crying when my mom arrived so I wanted to get him back to sleep before leaving. My mom noticed that I was having to breathe through contractions, and I finally looked at Sean and said "we NEED to go." We needed to leave minutes ago. I had to leave the house while Parker was crying for me, which killed me inside. I left the house bawling my eyes out. I missed him already and hated the fact that he didn't understand what was going on or why I left him in the middle of the night. I tried my hardest to breathe through the contractions on the very short drive to the hospital, but I was in pain, and alot of it. My husband is a very cautious, speed-limit follower kind of driver. I told him as nicely as possible that he needed to GO and that if we got pulled over, we would get pulled over in the hospital parking lot. After my water broke with Parker, we stopped for coffee on the way to the hospital. Yeah, that was NOT happening this time. We made it to the hospital at a screeching halt. We had to go through the ER since the other main door is closed after 8pm. I jumped out and checked in while Sean parked. Clearly I was in labor and needed to get up to the birthing center as fast as possible. When you go through the ER, there is a nurse that needs to "check you" to make sure the baby's head isn't coming out. Seriously?? "It's not, but if you wait any longer it will be," is what I really wanted to tell them. When I got to the birthing center I was in a ton of pain, but really trying to breathe through the contractions. I was really praying that pain medication was in the very near future for me. I put a gown on and laid down on the table to get "checked," still bleeding a ton. The nurse knew that I needed to bypass the evaluation room and get right into my own room ASAP. She knew things were moving fast. She let me know who the doctor on-call was, and it was someone I had never met before, but at that point I just wanted any doctor. I was really in a ton of pain. The nurse was trying to start an IV in my arm but was having a lot of trouble finding a vein. They asked me if I wanted anything for pain and I said "YES, I had morphine last time before the epidural, I'll try that again, I mean anything you will give me will be just fine." A second nurse came along and tried to find a vein. I knew that the longer this took, the longer it meant that the pain medication was being delayed. Can't have pain meds without an IV. A third nurse came into my room and finally was able to get the IV placed correctly. They let me know that the anesthesiologist was called and the epidural was ordered. Thank the good Lord, that is just what I needed to hear. At the same time, the Doctor walked in. I felt bad that she had to be there in the middle of the night for me, but hey, that's what they get paid for right? This Doctor's calming presence was everything I needed at that moment. She was so sweet, calm and reassuring. A pretty blond with a bright cheery smile, who I felt safe with, and at that moment it suddenly didn't matter that we had never met before. Then, once the IV was in, she checked me one last time, and gave me the news that I was NOT looking to hear. I could NOT have an epidural. What. Are you joking? Is it April Fools Day? I was dilated to 10 CENTIMETERS. Now THAT explains all of the pain. "Chase you have done all of the work. You are going to have a baby boy here in your arms so soon. You can do this. You have done so great." All I could do was look at Sean in absolute shock. Was this really happening? Never, ever, ever did I think that I would or could ever have a completely drug-free, ALL natural child birth. The thought wasn't anywhere on my horizon. Drug-free, all natural, no epidural, NATURAL.... these were all words that described labors that I had read about on blogs, words that described labors of "hippie" moms, surely not a labor that would be MINE. And as quickly as I was given this news to digest, the room was transformed and ready for "delivery." Wow. I have been in the hospital for all of an hour, and I was ready to push out a baby. Was this really happening? Yes, yes it was. And it was happening....NOW. Just me, my faith in God that he could help me through this, my husbands hand to grip, and the kind, reassuring words of the Doctor who I'd never met.
All I could think was.. these painful contractions will be over and a beautiful baby boy will be in my arms if I can just continue pushing with every little ounce of my being. Now was the time to focus. And focus I did. About an hour and 15 minutes after arriving at the hospital, a tiny little, pink skinned, puffy lipped, blue-eyed, little ball of love entered the world at exactly 3:20am on Wednesday, October 23, 2013. All 7 pounds 4.2 ounces of him were just what our family needed. A perfect baby boy. Connor James Stalls, welcome! The second I laid eyes on him I loved him with all of my being. The moment that he came out of me, he laid right on my chest. All I could do was shed tears of joy, and kiss his warm little head. And those pouty, yummy lips! "Who's lips does he have?" What a lucky guy! Connor was able to nurse right away, and just like his brother, he was a natural at the breast. Fortunately I was able to hold him for the first hour and a half of his life before he was weighed and measured, and before all that good newborn baby stuff needed to happen. All that a new baby needs in their mama anyway, right? I think the hubs and I were in a little bit of shock that our baby boy #2 was here already, and this fast! PHEW!
After Connor's vitals were taken and he was weighed and measured, the Nurse on duty came in to give him his first bath. At first all I could hear were loud cries, but then she settled him down and he relaxed and floated in the sink's water. He loved every second of it. All that I could see from the hospital bed was my husband's beaming face. Full of joy and happiness as he watched Connor James love his first bath. He could only assume that baby boy felt like he was back in the womb.
After a few hours had passed and the sun was rising, we both remembered that we had a first born! Parker Daniel needed to come meet his new baby brother. I won't go into too much detail about that, but will just say that the moment he met his brother, was just truly magical. He didn't really know what to think, except I could tell that he loved him already. He wanted to hold him, and love on him. It was a bit bittersweet for me. Parker looked like such a grown being, at only 16 months of age, after just holding my new 7 pounder for a few hours. And that my friends, is the story of how Connor James entered this world.
Fastforward 7 months...
Little (ehh, not really so little!) Connor has been such a blessing to our family. He is the SWEETEST, happiest, easy going, calm, little boy. He wakes up smiling and goes to bed smiling. There is not a lot that upsets this little guy. Connor's favorite things are his big brother Parker, playing on the floor, going on walks, getting one on one attention from people, baths, nursing, eating solids, being outside, and this list could go on. When I say that Connor is rarely fussy or upset, is truly an understatement. He has been the EASIEST baby that we have been so blessed to call ours. We love you little one!
Love,
Mom
The next morning, Tuesday October 22nd I decided that I would do EVERYTHING to get labor started. Sean took Parker to work with him for a few hours so I could sleep. HA! I guess he didn't know my plan for the day: Operation GET BABY OUT. So, I had time to take a very long walk downtown. I walked (eh hem, waddled) to Starbucks and then got a manicure. A friend told me that drinking red raspberry leaf tea helps labor start, so off to the store I went. I met the hubs and baby boy at a local restaurant for lunch and inhaled a chicken quesadilla, like it was my last meal or something. That evening, like the night before, my contractions were coming, but really were not letting up. At this point since I had gone to the hospital the night before, I was NOT believing that I was in labor. I kept telling Sean that I was not going to the hospital until the baby's head was out. No but really. I was timing the contractions with an app that I had put on my phone, and boy were they close. I decided to put mind over matter and just go to bed. Around 11:45pm (about the exact same time I went into labor with Parker) I woke up to the exact same feeling I had with Parker. I stood up, and kind of felt like a pop. I called for Sean who was downstairs watching TV and went to the bathroom. I thought my water broke but after seeing it, realized that it was all blood. I became extremely scared, lightheaded, dizzy and frightened. I knew I had to keep calm so that I didn't wake up Parker. I called my mom around 12ish and asked her if she could please come to stay with Parker, because I was in labor. She asked me if I should wait it out a bit at home and I told her that I knew this was it. Thank the good Lord that she got to our house when she did because this baby was coming, and he was coming fast. Of course Parker woke up amidst me running around in PAIN, showering, and getting last minute items put in my hospital bag. He was crying when my mom arrived so I wanted to get him back to sleep before leaving. My mom noticed that I was having to breathe through contractions, and I finally looked at Sean and said "we NEED to go." We needed to leave minutes ago. I had to leave the house while Parker was crying for me, which killed me inside. I left the house bawling my eyes out. I missed him already and hated the fact that he didn't understand what was going on or why I left him in the middle of the night. I tried my hardest to breathe through the contractions on the very short drive to the hospital, but I was in pain, and alot of it. My husband is a very cautious, speed-limit follower kind of driver. I told him as nicely as possible that he needed to GO and that if we got pulled over, we would get pulled over in the hospital parking lot. After my water broke with Parker, we stopped for coffee on the way to the hospital. Yeah, that was NOT happening this time. We made it to the hospital at a screeching halt. We had to go through the ER since the other main door is closed after 8pm. I jumped out and checked in while Sean parked. Clearly I was in labor and needed to get up to the birthing center as fast as possible. When you go through the ER, there is a nurse that needs to "check you" to make sure the baby's head isn't coming out. Seriously?? "It's not, but if you wait any longer it will be," is what I really wanted to tell them. When I got to the birthing center I was in a ton of pain, but really trying to breathe through the contractions. I was really praying that pain medication was in the very near future for me. I put a gown on and laid down on the table to get "checked," still bleeding a ton. The nurse knew that I needed to bypass the evaluation room and get right into my own room ASAP. She knew things were moving fast. She let me know who the doctor on-call was, and it was someone I had never met before, but at that point I just wanted any doctor. I was really in a ton of pain. The nurse was trying to start an IV in my arm but was having a lot of trouble finding a vein. They asked me if I wanted anything for pain and I said "YES, I had morphine last time before the epidural, I'll try that again, I mean anything you will give me will be just fine." A second nurse came along and tried to find a vein. I knew that the longer this took, the longer it meant that the pain medication was being delayed. Can't have pain meds without an IV. A third nurse came into my room and finally was able to get the IV placed correctly. They let me know that the anesthesiologist was called and the epidural was ordered. Thank the good Lord, that is just what I needed to hear. At the same time, the Doctor walked in. I felt bad that she had to be there in the middle of the night for me, but hey, that's what they get paid for right? This Doctor's calming presence was everything I needed at that moment. She was so sweet, calm and reassuring. A pretty blond with a bright cheery smile, who I felt safe with, and at that moment it suddenly didn't matter that we had never met before. Then, once the IV was in, she checked me one last time, and gave me the news that I was NOT looking to hear. I could NOT have an epidural. What. Are you joking? Is it April Fools Day? I was dilated to 10 CENTIMETERS. Now THAT explains all of the pain. "Chase you have done all of the work. You are going to have a baby boy here in your arms so soon. You can do this. You have done so great." All I could do was look at Sean in absolute shock. Was this really happening? Never, ever, ever did I think that I would or could ever have a completely drug-free, ALL natural child birth. The thought wasn't anywhere on my horizon. Drug-free, all natural, no epidural, NATURAL.... these were all words that described labors that I had read about on blogs, words that described labors of "hippie" moms, surely not a labor that would be MINE. And as quickly as I was given this news to digest, the room was transformed and ready for "delivery." Wow. I have been in the hospital for all of an hour, and I was ready to push out a baby. Was this really happening? Yes, yes it was. And it was happening....NOW. Just me, my faith in God that he could help me through this, my husbands hand to grip, and the kind, reassuring words of the Doctor who I'd never met.
All I could think was.. these painful contractions will be over and a beautiful baby boy will be in my arms if I can just continue pushing with every little ounce of my being. Now was the time to focus. And focus I did. About an hour and 15 minutes after arriving at the hospital, a tiny little, pink skinned, puffy lipped, blue-eyed, little ball of love entered the world at exactly 3:20am on Wednesday, October 23, 2013. All 7 pounds 4.2 ounces of him were just what our family needed. A perfect baby boy. Connor James Stalls, welcome! The second I laid eyes on him I loved him with all of my being. The moment that he came out of me, he laid right on my chest. All I could do was shed tears of joy, and kiss his warm little head. And those pouty, yummy lips! "Who's lips does he have?" What a lucky guy! Connor was able to nurse right away, and just like his brother, he was a natural at the breast. Fortunately I was able to hold him for the first hour and a half of his life before he was weighed and measured, and before all that good newborn baby stuff needed to happen. All that a new baby needs in their mama anyway, right? I think the hubs and I were in a little bit of shock that our baby boy #2 was here already, and this fast! PHEW!
After Connor's vitals were taken and he was weighed and measured, the Nurse on duty came in to give him his first bath. At first all I could hear were loud cries, but then she settled him down and he relaxed and floated in the sink's water. He loved every second of it. All that I could see from the hospital bed was my husband's beaming face. Full of joy and happiness as he watched Connor James love his first bath. He could only assume that baby boy felt like he was back in the womb.
After a few hours had passed and the sun was rising, we both remembered that we had a first born! Parker Daniel needed to come meet his new baby brother. I won't go into too much detail about that, but will just say that the moment he met his brother, was just truly magical. He didn't really know what to think, except I could tell that he loved him already. He wanted to hold him, and love on him. It was a bit bittersweet for me. Parker looked like such a grown being, at only 16 months of age, after just holding my new 7 pounder for a few hours. And that my friends, is the story of how Connor James entered this world.
Fastforward 7 months...
Little (ehh, not really so little!) Connor has been such a blessing to our family. He is the SWEETEST, happiest, easy going, calm, little boy. He wakes up smiling and goes to bed smiling. There is not a lot that upsets this little guy. Connor's favorite things are his big brother Parker, playing on the floor, going on walks, getting one on one attention from people, baths, nursing, eating solids, being outside, and this list could go on. When I say that Connor is rarely fussy or upset, is truly an understatement. He has been the EASIEST baby that we have been so blessed to call ours. We love you little one!
Love,
Mom
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