It began Wednesday, the 26th of August, while I was reading 'Wives and Daughters' at the park. I had dropped Kevin off at work that morning and gone to my doctors appointment a few hours later where they told me I had maybe a week or two left before I would be ready for labor, I wasn't dilated enough. Its fairly disappointing hearing that. I wanted my little man!Kevin said it was going to be an early day of work, so I
decided on waiting for him and went to the park to read; a 9 months pregnant woman is a bit restricted on her activities of the physical kind making walking around a feat I wasn't prepared to conquer, especially in 100 degree weather. So I dilly dallied in my favorite park, people watching, walking around the bird haven, until finally settling on the lawn to read. Not the most comfortable seating, but the grass felt cool against the heat. Three o'clock rolled around and Kevin asked if I wanted to meet with him in town; he was a few hours ahead of schedule. Thats when I started to feel my stomach cramp.
Kevin began his route again and I headed to his works depot to wait, taking an restless 2 hour nap. I knew it was contractions I was feeling, but I had no clue as to how dilated I was, I was only one and a half that morning. I told Kevin we should stop by the hospital before we go home, just in case. We get there and the nurse takes us to a birthing room and has me change into a night gown. My water broke while changing. We stay.
The contractions hurt, but for the first 5 or so hours they were easy to handle. It was painful to lie down so I went from standing, walking, and the bathtub. The hot water felt wonderful on my back. Kevin did such an amazing job helping me to breathe through contractions, without any prior practice too, and he knew just what to do to help me.Thank you Lord for such a wonderful husband!
By the 18th hour of labor I finally broke down and had an epidural. Kevin was having a hard time watching me in pain and was constantly asking me if and 'would I please' get an epidural. I was so nervous, I'd see the process to get one on youtube a few months back and it didn't look like anything I'd ever want to have done. The needles! Oh I hate needles. 5 minutes later though I was singing a different tune. Kevin says I had a perma-grin henceforth.
I slept for most of the last 2 hours, not feeling any of the contractions, or my toes for that matter. Our nurse, Jennifer, who was just the greatest help and sweetest lady, checked to see if I had reached full dilation. 22 hours of labor and my body was finally ready. It was a calm experience, Kevin and Jennifer were the only ones there for the first 20 minutes of pushing, Kevin held my hand and encouraged me. I couldn't stop smiling, my precious baby boy was coming. The Doctor was called in and Isaac crowned, I could touch his head, Kevin wasn't going to look for the life of him. Six pushes and they laid our son on my chest.
We both couldn't keep the tears away, it was such an awesome experience and had such a beautiful outcome. Isaac Lewis. His first scream was a sweet sound to our ears, ringing out to the world that he had made it out, that he saw his parents (instantly fell in love with us, of course), and that he wasn't too impressed with the world yet, much to bright and loud. He weighed 7lbs 15 oucnes, 22inches long and with a head full of dark hair. He was born healthy as a horse, just as strong too. His birthday is August 27, 2:56pm. We went home the next day.
Now we're slowly adjusting to this new way of life; sleepless nights, trying to find the sweetness his first cry was in the many he's had since, napping when we can, sore bodies, changing stinky atomic diapers, feeding every few hours, etc. The list goes on. But, even with all the concerns and troubles, the ever present tiredness of having a baby, I would never take it back. Life is too precious to wish not to have it.
Isaac Lewis W.
Few hours old
