On December 18th, at 9:12pm we welcomed to the world our third son, Liam Robert. He weighed 6lbs 14ozs, and was 19 inches long. Here is his birth story:
The morning of the 18th I had taken Shawn to rehearsal for the church Christmas play. Afterward I decided to pick up my sister (about an hour away) so she could come to Shawn's 1st play, and spend some time with her nephews for Christmas. We stopped at Olive Garden for a bite to eat and afterward I had some pretty terrible pain in my stomach. Thinking it was just heart burn from eating too much, I wasn't concerned. After some time had passed, Tearsa and I noticed that I was having contractions and they were 3 minutes apart without fail! I waited it out until we got home. Doing as I knew my midwife would say, I drank some water and went to lay down for a while. No such luck at the contractions stopping. I still wasn't concerned at this point (unlike Tearsa who was getting rather worried.) After the pain got a little more uncomfortable I called up to the midwife on call (who just happened to be my midwife!) She told me to come in to be checked. I called Jon at work to head home, he grabbed a shower, and still not thinking anything of this (I had false labor quite a few times with Landon) we headed to the hospital. On the way there the contractions were stopping, and I thought about just turning around and going home. As soon as we arrived my midwife checked me, and as I suspected... not dilated. However, my contractions were 3 minutes apart (some of them I wasn't even feeling.) And I was having some pain where my old c-section scar is. It didn't take them long to get a doctor in and tests run to see if I had a bladder infection (they were hoping and praying it was this, as baby still had a month to go!) At one point my contractions stopped for about 10 minutes, but resumed right after at the 2-3 minutes apart. The results came back and it wasn't an infection... my heart sank and they told me it was best to take the baby now because there was a risk of rupture that would endanger both me and the baby's lives. Every thought of "are his lungs mature enough?" "It's too early! He still has a month to go!" circled my head. They wasted no time prepping me for the section. In the OR I tried so hard not to shake, but this was not what I expected. I prayed, and prayed, and prayed. I have LATE babies. Big ol' plump very late babies! The section took a lot longer than what I remembered from Landon. The baby was difficult to get out (he was stuck in there pretty good.) At 9:12pm Liam Robert was born. They showed him to me quickly and took him to the pediatrician right away. He cried! His lungs were sounding pretty good! I think I asked "Is he ok?" a million times that night. After they assessed him, Liam was able to be held by Dad and brought over for me to see while the doctor was finishing up the section. He was just perfect! What a beautiful and sweet little face! God is so good! I was able to recover in the room with Liam while they bathed him and kept an eye on his breathing. The rest of that night is a bit of a blur, as my pain was terrible, and the medicine they gave threw me for a complete loop. The next morning Jon brought Shawn and Landon to the hospital to meet their new baby brother.
The morning of the 18th I had taken Shawn to rehearsal for the church Christmas play. Afterward I decided to pick up my sister (about an hour away) so she could come to Shawn's 1st play, and spend some time with her nephews for Christmas. We stopped at Olive Garden for a bite to eat and afterward I had some pretty terrible pain in my stomach. Thinking it was just heart burn from eating too much, I wasn't concerned. After some time had passed, Tearsa and I noticed that I was having contractions and they were 3 minutes apart without fail! I waited it out until we got home. Doing as I knew my midwife would say, I drank some water and went to lay down for a while. No such luck at the contractions stopping. I still wasn't concerned at this point (unlike Tearsa who was getting rather worried.) After the pain got a little more uncomfortable I called up to the midwife on call (who just happened to be my midwife!) She told me to come in to be checked. I called Jon at work to head home, he grabbed a shower, and still not thinking anything of this (I had false labor quite a few times with Landon) we headed to the hospital. On the way there the contractions were stopping, and I thought about just turning around and going home. As soon as we arrived my midwife checked me, and as I suspected... not dilated. However, my contractions were 3 minutes apart (some of them I wasn't even feeling.) And I was having some pain where my old c-section scar is. It didn't take them long to get a doctor in and tests run to see if I had a bladder infection (they were hoping and praying it was this, as baby still had a month to go!) At one point my contractions stopped for about 10 minutes, but resumed right after at the 2-3 minutes apart. The results came back and it wasn't an infection... my heart sank and they told me it was best to take the baby now because there was a risk of rupture that would endanger both me and the baby's lives. Every thought of "are his lungs mature enough?" "It's too early! He still has a month to go!" circled my head. They wasted no time prepping me for the section. In the OR I tried so hard not to shake, but this was not what I expected. I prayed, and prayed, and prayed. I have LATE babies. Big ol' plump very late babies! The section took a lot longer than what I remembered from Landon. The baby was difficult to get out (he was stuck in there pretty good.) At 9:12pm Liam Robert was born. They showed him to me quickly and took him to the pediatrician right away. He cried! His lungs were sounding pretty good! I think I asked "Is he ok?" a million times that night. After they assessed him, Liam was able to be held by Dad and brought over for me to see while the doctor was finishing up the section. He was just perfect! What a beautiful and sweet little face! God is so good! I was able to recover in the room with Liam while they bathed him and kept an eye on his breathing. The rest of that night is a bit of a blur, as my pain was terrible, and the medicine they gave threw me for a complete loop. The next morning Jon brought Shawn and Landon to the hospital to meet their new baby brother.
Welcome to the world sweet boy.
Meeting Mommy & Daddy.
In recovery. I was shaking terribly and so scared to hold him because of how violent I shook.
Getting cleaned up.
Look at all that hair!
All clean.
Landon finally meeting the baby he'd been talking about all these months.
Mommy sweetheart.
Shawn meeting his littlest brother.
The first thing Shawn said "Aww he's so cute!" He was instantly in love.
Checking out the piggies.
"Hold Baby!"
Precious little man.
Meeting Nan & Peeps.
Meeting Auntie Lindsey.
MeMe. Visit #2.
Aunt Tearsa & Gmaw Lori.
Going home!
He looks so tiny in that car seat. Especially when we're used to near 9lb'ers.
1st day at home.
1st sponge bath at home.
Liam was born on a Saturday. That Thursday we took him in for a check up and his temp had dropped to 95.1. They told us he would need to be admitted. This had to have been the hardest thing we've ever had to hear. Going from knowing he was going to be born a month early, then he was fine... to a temp that low and back in the hospital... I can't even explain the fear. Liam was admitted to Pediatrics and put in the isolette to get his temp back up. They put in an IV and he didn't really respond. He just wasn't "himself." All I wanted to hear was him cry or put up a fuss for something! When some of his blood work came back they decided to put him under the bili lights because of his jaundice levels. They started him on antibiotics and checked him temp hourly. I was able to feed him and change his diaper through the holes in the isolette.
During this time some members of our church were bringing Jon and the boys meals, things to the hospital, and being complete blessings to our family. We can't even begin to thank them enough for their generosity, prayers, and support!
Liam and I spent Christmas Eve in the hospital together. Jon and the boys came to get me for an hour so I could see them to open one present. This was the hardest day. I was so torn between Shawn, Landon, and Jon at home, and Liam in the hospital. I hated missing Christmas Eve and all of the Christmas traditions. I hated that Liam was spending his first Christmas Eve in the hospital. At 4am on Christmas morning the doctor came in (he wanted to be home in time for his kids to wake up) and released Liam! His temps had stayed in the 98's. His labs were coming back great. What a miracle and the best Christmas present our family could have ever wanted.
Christmas Eve. Getting a few minutes with Shawn and Landon to open a present.
Christmas Day! Dr. Seuss books from MeMe & Pappy.
A baby boy from MeMe & Pappy.
Chuck trucks and play yard from Nan and Peeps.
Buzz Lightyear.
Merry Christmas Liam <3>
Taking a stroll.
Merry Christmas sweet boy <3>
Merry Christmas handsome!
Baby's 1st Christmas.
2 out of the 3 boys & mama.
So in love <3>
We decided to celebrate Christmas Eve on the night of Christmas when we were all together. Christmas morning was held the day after Christmas.
Love these PJ's!
Wide awake.
Meeting Pops for the 1st time.
My precious baby boy.
Thank you Auntie Lindsey for the very cute outfit :)
Thank you everyone for all of the thoughts, prayers, and well wishes. The power of prayer is amazing... and we are so thankful!
To Jon: You did such a wonderful job holding down the fort here at home. You kept the kiddos happy and busy, the house clean, and laundry caught up. I couldn't ask for a better partner, and the boys couldn't ask for a better dad. We love you so much!
My apologies for any grammar issues. I've been working on this post off and on for a while and finally had the chance to finish it.
My apologies for any grammar issues. I've been working on this post off and on for a while and finally had the chance to finish it.
