Easter Sunday

I know I am behind, but I am playing catch up! A few weeks ago we decided to drive to my parents house to celebrate Easter Sunday with family. My parent's are moving to Tennessee in a couple weeks and we knew this would be one of our few chances to see them before they move. We had a wonderful weekend full of fun! We were able to attend stake conference and listen to the apostle, Russell M. Nelson and his sweet wife talk. The spirit felt there was so sweet. Afterwards, the girl's (Paisley and my adorable niece, Payton) decorated and searched for Easter eggs. What a colorful mess they made! Paisley adores Payton and wants to do everything like she does. Love those two P's. Paxton was a doll and snoozed the entire time we played with eggs. Auntie Chelsea didn't mind holding him at either. What a fun weekend full of everlasting memories. Wish we could live close to family always..

 

 

Paxton Nicholas Garrett

 

As most of you know by now, Paxton Nicholas joined our family nearly 4 weeks ago. I've been wanting to share his birth story for weeks now, but I have simply been too busy enjoying my little guy. I guess since daddy is getting snuggles at the moment, this is the best time to share our story.



 

On Tuesday, April 1st, I went to my last OB appointment. I was 40 weeks and 5 days at that appointment and was on the list to be induced 2 days later. Hoping to go naturally, I asked my doctor for a sweep to help things progress on their own. Little did I know, I would be returning to the hospital only 2 hours later. I was in a great deal of denial when contractions started since the previous 2 weeks were full of false labor. However, when I started timing them I realized after an hour that they were all 5 minutes or less and getting closer. Parker came home in the midst of these and I told him we may be having a baby tonight! I started getting anxious and asked our close friends, Jenessa and Derek to come over as we had arranged for them to stay and watch Paisley for the big day! We love the Kramer's and don't know what we would do without them.




Early Labor Stage

Once we arrived at the hospital, my contractions were only 3 minutes apart and pretty painful. I was admitted around 5:30 pm and dilated to 5 cm. I received my epidural around 7 pm and dilated to 6 cm by 7:45 pm. Following the epidural, my blood pressure started plummeting as low as 50/40. I could tell things weren't going as well as we all hoped as the nurses started panicking and giving me several doses of epinephrine. The baby's heart beat was also dropping. We realized that epidural was the culprit and the doctor lowered the dose in hopes of regulating our vitals. Experiencing more pain than I had originally hoped, we successfully made it to 8 cm by 830 pm and my doctor wanted to break my water. The doctor quickly realized that the baby's hand was in front of his head and held off breaking my water until he moved his hand. By 9 pm, I was 9 cm and my nurses excitedly told me I would be holding my new baby soon and that he would be an April fool's baby! I was elated and the thoughts of seeing him helped in pushing through the pain. Little did we know, things were about to take a drastic change.



Monitoring Contractions

Around 1030 my doctor broke my water as the baby's hand finally had moved. Upon breaking it, meconium passed through and the doctor seemed alarmed, but reassured me that it was normal as the baby's vitals were doing good. I spent the next 2 hours pushing and getting no where. The baby's head was compromised and not moving down into the birth canal like it should have. Exhausted and feeling more pain at this point, the nurses started preparing me for the possibility of a C-section. I was incredibly emotional about it, as I had never even educated myself on one. The nurses told me I would have to stay in the hospital for 3 days to recover following the procedure and I fell apart. The procedure, itself, was never discussed with me, nor the recovery. The doctor told me over the phone why he felt that it was necessary and the next thing I knew, we were being pushed to the OR.

The procedure was quite intimidating and I'm thankful to have had Parker at my side the entire time. After lots of pressure and drowsiness from the anesthesia, our baby boy entered our world at 2:44 am. He didn't breathe immediately and was rushed to the nearest evaluation station and was met by the respiratory specialist as he had ingested lots of fluids and meconium. They showed him to me briefly before whisking him off with Daddy to a recovery room. I fell asleep as the doctor stitched me back together. It was definitely not the birthing experience I had ever imagined, nor something I would ever recommend, but I am grateful for the technology that assisted in safely getting our little boy to us. Looking back now, I know several things did not go as they should have and that the doctor did not do several things correctly; however, the important thing is that my little guy made it into this world and we are both well.

 

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This Guy...

Many of you don't know this man like I do. This goofy, loving, nerdy, caring guy is my best friend. In the short time that we have been married, we have made it through so many obstacles and challenges and I have no doubt that we can make it through anything.

    Our most recent challenge has been the last 9 months. Pregnancy-need I say more?! I can no longer bend over the top of our washing machine to grab those tiny socks or items lingering on the bottom. Loading and unloading the dishwasher is accompanied by deep groans and exasperated breaths. And I can't remember the last time I could touch my toes, let alone see them! And all those hormones-let's not even go there!

    And this guy! This incredible guy, never ceases to amaze me. There are days, many of them, that I never see the laundry getting done or the dishes being washed. My weekends are full of sleeping in, breakfast in bed, leg massages and hardly touching Paisley's diapers. Spoiled...I have decided that is what I am. Sadly, it took me having a recent pity party on myself to recognize this.

 

Pity Party Story**

As I bent down to pull a pot out of the cupboard this morning, I knew there was no way I was going to be able to get back up. I sat down and started crying. Crying because I felt helpless and because all of my bones and joints in my body ache. Crying because I'm overdue and nothing I do is getting this little guy here any quicker. Crying because I can't remember the last time I hugged someone where there wasn't a "watermelon" in between us. Don't get me wrong, I feel immensely blessed for being able to carry this baby and am so thankful I have had a healthy pregnancy. I'm just simply ready to meet him and kiss his little chubby cheeks.

 

    We are so anxious to meet this little boy and I can't imagine a better father to raise him. I could go on and on about this guy, but I think I will just carry out the last (hopefully) few moments/days of this pregnancy recognizing how blessed I have been to find such an amazing companion and father to help me on this journey we've been blessed with. I love you sweetie and am thankful for all you do.

 

 

xoxo, me