Am I actually finally writing this?? I guess so! Tomorrow our son Jadon Michael Dodson will be one month old. What an absolute JOY he is to my life and to the rest of our family, too! Here's a bit of how he came into this world:
My due date was December 8th. We'd discussed to induce or not to induce. First we decided not to, then changed our minds and decided to be induced on the 8th. Jody didn't want to induce any earlier to ensure that his (we didn't know that we were having a boy at the time) lungs were fully developed, etc. I totally agreed!
Grace (my sweet sissy) came into town the day before and my in-laws did as well. They were AWESOME in that they watched Mikayla and Joseph for us while we were in the hospital- priceless! Early Tuesday morning (all our children were born on Tuesday- even my D&C was performed on a Tuesday- crazy) Jody, Grace, and I headed to the hospital. I had not gone into labor on my own, which kinda saddened me b/c that's what I'd hoped for. It was a quiet, dark ride to the hospital. kinda surreal. Just knowing that we were going to have a baby and to finally find out the gender.
We got to the hospital at 5:30am and I felt perfect. I got my gown on and started answering a bunch of questions. They asked me if I wanted an epidural and I definitely said yes! Anyway, a lady came in to take my blood and we talked about the Biggest Loser. She and her husband tried out for it, but they didn't make it b/c they weren't big enough. ha! Anyway, I got my iv and they started pitocin. Shortly thereafter, before feeling ANY pain whatsoever, I got my epidural. It felt very strange when the anesthesiologist arrived to give me pain medicine when I was in no pain. very very strange.
Since my epidural was my only pain (well, the iv was not pleasant either), and it wasn't even that bad, I'll speak on that for a moment ;o) Grace and Jody (who had gotten some delicious smelling breakfast burritos from Rosa's) exited while the anesthesiologist and the nurse worked together to get the epidural in. When they got it all done the first time, I was relieved to have that part done with. phew! Then there was an occlusion and it wasn't working. rats! I asked if he'd have to redo it. No, he said, the most they'd have to do is switch the tubing (or something like that). Yeah right. They had to do it again. On the second time, I started sweating like crazy got very red, and felt like I was going to pass out. Looking around the room, my vision was very unfocused. It scared me quite a bit. Thank the Lord, that all cleared up fairly quickly, and I started feeling numb. So, Grace and Jody got to come back in the room :o)
Soon after, my dr came to break my water. Didn't feel a thing. It was as if time was going by SO SLOWLY. It was hard to tell by looking at the monitor how the contractions were coming along- the silly thing kept getting moved around. and I couldn't feel a thing. Jody and Grace (and Jody says I) took a nap. Just laying in that bed watching them sleep was pretty funny to me. The whole "labor" was very uneventful. I guess we mainly told stories and laughed as time passed. Grace kept those who were curious up-to-date with texts on my progression.
At around 4:30pm, my nurse Megan (loved her!) came in for some reason or another. Grace asked her how often she checked to see how dilated I was. She decided to check then and I was a 10!! WOW! The whole dynamics of the room changed. Some excitement- yay!! So, my nurse called the dr and he headed over. I was feeling pretty giddy, nervous, excited, READY to meet our newest addition and still not sure if we'd made the right decision to induce. (Being so numbed, I didn't think I'd be able to push the baby out, which is what happened with Mikayla- they had to use a vacuum on her) And having heard that a large amount of inductions end up C-sections, I was a bit nervous. So the dr got there about 4:50pm and he got his gown on, etc.
At 5pm I started the whole pushing process. Not being able to feel contractions they had to rely on the monitor to tell me when to push. ??? Couldn't feel anything!! After my first set of 3 pushes my dr told me to not push in my face. He's always giving me good advice ;o) After 2 more sets of pushes, out came our baby!!! I was so very shocked that he came out so quickly. 10 minutes of pushing. Our baby was born at 5:10pm. I looked down and saw that it was a BOY!! Which was my guess... YAHOOOO!! I would've been just as happy to have a girl, I promise, but seeing that beautiful (actually kinda funny looking!) boy made my heart so happy! Our Jadon Michael had entered the world. He didn't start crying right away and I just lay there... waiting to hear that sound. Finally! after he was suctioned pretty good, he CRIED!
I was so thankful listening to him and hearing him cry, knowing that some mommies never do hear that first cry, but the Lord was gracious in allowing him to be a healthy baby boy. He did have quite a bit of fluid b/c he was born so quickly, and they told me that was normal. I was instantly in LOVE.
I have to say that I had some expert help there in that room. Grace and Jody fed me ice chips like no one ever has before! Really, they were wonderful.
All in all OF COURSE it was a good birthing experience. In a way, I feel like I "cheated." It just doesn't seem like birth should be that easy or pain-free. I thought of how the Lord was very merciful in giving me that birth, especially after Joseph's birth. I was quite traumatized after his. I so wanted to trust the Lord in this, and yet, I found myself fearful of the pain of labor. Should the Lord ever again bless us with another child, I don't think I'll be induced again. I like the whole going-into-labor thing better. One of the definitions of the name Jadon is "thankful." I think that perfectly describes my feelings with his birth. thankful. thankful that the Lord cares.
"Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust." Psalm 103:13,14
And this verse was special to me as well. "He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered: the Lord is gracious and full of compassion." Psalm 111:4
Somehow Jadon's birth made me extra thankful that I CAN have children. So many people long to have children or even one child. People will pay thousands and thousands of dollars in hopes of conceiving a child. I am thankful. God is good and I love the precious children the Lord has entrusted to our care. How I long to be the godly mother for them that I need to be. I am humbled and truly "thankful."
Happy (almost) 1 month, big boy!! Your mommy and daddy and brother and sister are so in love with you. You are a huge blessing and I look forward to feeding you in a few minutes. Thank you for your patience with me as I typed this out :o)
So much has happened in our lives since I started blogging. This evening I'm having a little bit of quiet time. I enjoyed a nice bath and got all lotioned up. I even did some breathing... with no children fighting/wanting my attention. It's been nice :o) I've been thinking about how different my pregnancies have been and what characterizes them:
1st pregnancy (Mikayla)- lots of SWELLING, esp. feet
2nd pregnancy (Jada)- miscarriage
3rd pregnancy (Joseph)- heartburn!
4th pregnancy (Kaitlyn or Jaden)- nausea further into the pregnancy and sciatic nerve pain
I can't believe I've been pregnant FOUR times. unreal. We sat down as a family tonight and made a list of the things we are thankful for. Boy, it sure filled up FAST! We are so very blessed.
To induce or not to induce; that is the ?. I'm pretty sure we've made a decision. At my 36 week appt.(this past Monday) my dr told us that I could be induced on the 1st of December (my due date is the 8th). That would put me at 39 weeks. Ever so tempting, but I do want to go into labor on my own, and I'm pretty sure that's what we've decided. If we DID go that route, we'd have a baby in less than THREE WEEKS. That is quite sobering. Mikayla was born 3 days after her due date and Joseph was born 4 days before his. SO, I'm thinking this one might be a bit early anyways... Only God knows, and I like it like that!
I feel like we are mostly ready. Jody got the tiny crib set up the other day. I look foward to it being filled with a real baby, not Mikayla's plastic one ;o) Last night we watched Mikayla's and Joseph's birth videos. Talk about sobering!! I need to make sure the batteries for the camcorder are all charged up and ready to go. I'm definitely getting excited and (believe it or not) less nervous about going into labor, the pain, if I make it to the hospital in time to get an epidural, etc. I'm sure it's the Lord working in my heart, and I'm so thankful for it!
Enough pregnancy talk for now. Maybe if I can get cold enough, I'll make myself some hot chocolate with marshmallows in it. Mmmm... I think I'll have to step outside for a while for that one. Hope you have a blessed day! I sure am.
Hello, friends! Today marks a very special day for me. I'm 34 weeks pregnant- yahoo :o) The baby weighs approximately FIVE pounds now, and I've gained approximately a LOT more than that. Ahem. Like Grace and I were talking about, there's something about the third pregnancy...
If I go into labor now at any time, the dr will not try to stop it. Talk about sobering. I think the only thing we need to buy for the baby is a car seat. Other than that, we're pretty much set, except for small things. Oh, this is getting exciting!!!
Last night I slept SO WELL. Usually I have to get up about every hour to use the restroom. not fun. Thankfully though I usually am able to fall right back asleep. I'm experiencing plenty of hand/feet swelling. I've stopped wearing my wedding rings b/c of my swollen fingers. My mom so kindly found me a pair of brown shoes that are nice and BIG for my fat feet to be comfortable in. Go, Mom!! She even volunteered to watch our kiddos for an overnight so we can have an evening alone before the baby comes. Yippee! I think she loves us...
Next week we are planning on putting together about a week's worth of meals in the freezer. That way, there won't be so much to do when the baby does come.
Don't forget about the TIME CHANGE THIS SUNDAY! We gain an hour of sleep; who wouldn't be happy about that?! Don't be too early for church :o)
Enough from me. Good night, friends of mine. Hope you are all doing well and enjoying this cooler weather! Our new memory verse: Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength." Isaiah 26:4
Lord willing, in less than 7 weeks, we'll be able to meet the newest addition to our family. To be truthful I'm a bit scared. nervous. anxious. about the birth of this baby. When I think back to giving birth to Joseph (now 21 months old) it almost seems overwhelming to go through that again. In a span of about 5 hours, I experienced the most excruciating/deep pain and the most joyous/satisfying feeling in my whole life. The pain, obviously, being labor and delivering him(without the trusty epidural- I don't know how/why women do that ON PURPOSE) and the joy being after he "popped out." I really and truly wanted to die or for someone to just kill me and put me out of my misery. I thought I had a fair tolerance for pain, but I found I do not!
I don't want to be anxious. I want to trust in the Lord, really just cling to Him for strength. HOPEFULLY I'll make to the hospital in time to get an epidural. All this makes me consider being induced. I've heard lots of negative/positive things about it. With my daughter and son, I went into labor on my own, and I kinda like it that way. However, being induced would "promise" me an epidural. I've got so many thoughts running through my head right now. This I do know: My God does NOT want me to fret and be anxious.
Philippians 4:6 (KJV) Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
Psalms 62:8 (KJV) Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.
