Oct 2, 2007

I'm finally getting around to posting about the last two weeks. As many of you noticed and pointed out from my previous posts, I had some lofty goals for my week off, but Pierson decided to make his debut a little early, and I so I spent Monday, September 17th at the hospital instead of attending ACU's lectureship! The funny thing is that when I posted that late night blog on the 16th, I was having a lot of hard contractions the whole time I was typing. Little did I know I would be holding my son less than 12 hours later!

I use this blog as a journal of sorts, so I am going to post a little about Pierson's birth story. It was pretty exciting! I stayed up late on Sunday night blogging because I was pretty uncomfortable and having some hard contractions. I didn't wake Chad because I had been having pretty regular contractions for months and had even packed my bags and the car twice, but the contractions always stopped after a while. At about 1:00 AM, I finally laid down and fell asleep. At 5:00 AM, I woke up with even harder contractions, but continued to lay in bed while I timed them. They were only about 7-10 minutes apart so I wasn't too worried, and I was still convincing myself that this was not real labor. Finally, at 6:00 in the morning, I was so uncomfortable that I couldn't stay still so I got up to take a shower. Chad woke up and I told him I was having some contractions, but I thought they would go away so he could go back to sleep. About 5 minutes later as I was getting in the shower, my water broke. I stuck my head out of the bathroom door, and said, "Scratch that! This is it. Get up!" Chad lurched out of bed and started running around packing his bag and getting Ava up. I went ahead with my shower and got ready. My mom arrived at our house around 7:30 to take care of Ava while we went to the hospital. I still was in no huge hurry and figured it would be mid afternoon before we had a baby in our arms.

We got to the hospital around 8:00 AM to check in. My contractions were considerably harder at this point. The nurse let me know that there were so many women in labor that all of the delivery rooms were full! They put me in a small pre-op prep room and promised that I would have the next available delivery room. Several women were much farther along than I was and so they assured me I would have a room soon. Within the hour I progressed from 3 cm to 6 cm and got my epidural, which worked this time! What a HUGE difference from the epidural I got with Ava! I still felt a lot of intense pressure this time, but nothing near the pain I felt while delivering Ava. Friends and family arrived to visit and wish us well, and by 10:30 I was fully dilated and ready to push. I progressed so much more quickly than anyone expected that they ended up having to wheel my bed down the hall to the OR to deliver because there were still no rooms available. Just a few weeks before, I had been watching Father of the Bride II with Kate and made the comment that delivery is not as dramatic as in the movies since they don't actually push you down the hall while you're in labor anymore. I was wrong on that one! Chad was grabbing cameras, I was breathing deep and nurses wheeled me quickly to deliver. After about 30 minutes, Pierson Reed was born at 11:04. He was perfect, and healthy at 6 lbs 11 oz! I fell in love instantly.

We did get a recovery room and stayed in the hospital one night. The last two weeks have been a blur of loving moments with our new family, as well as some emotional fall out from hormones, sleeplessness, and learning how to parent a 3 year old and a newborn. Ava has adjusted well overall, but has had several tantrums in the past couple of weeks. It's all I can do sometimes not to cry right along with her. We are all adjusting right now. She kisses and loves on Pierson, but has made the occasional comment about wanting him to go back in my tummy or to the hospital. It's hard for her since I spend so much time nursing, and I feel badly that I physically can't play with her the way I did before since I am still healing and am taking care of Pierson occupies so much of my time. I am sure that everything will smooth out in time as we figure out a new routine and hopefully start to get more sleep. Many of my friends have two, three and four kids and seem to have it under control, so I am thinking of you all as a reminder that I can and will figure this out! In the meantime, I am praying for peace and patience for each of us, and an extra degree of wisdom for me and Chad to be both consistent in our discipline as well as gracious and loving since Ava's world has changed!

Thank you for all of your prayers for Pierson's safe arrival! We are so thankful the miracle of this new little life. I am amazed and grateful every day. Enjoy some more photos:









15 comments:

Katie said...

Oh thank you for posting! We miss you, but are so grateful for you to have this time at home. Love you!

Shelly said...

I'm so glad you did this post!! Do you remember me calling you in tears a few weeks after Jack was born? Lots of unstable, hormonal moments, but they are fleeting and you're right---it's an adjustment and you will do GREAT! That birth story is better than an episode of "Birth Day"! Too crazy! I'm so glad he is healthy and you are all doing well. Love you and miss you--

Brooks Inc. said...

Summer-
Pierson is so handsome and you look incredible...

I remember those first weeks of having two...I think that was the only time I have ever called Tony and demanded him to come home from work...

Know we love you and are praying you through this transition. It gets better and better.

Love you...
BJB

Nicole said...

What a beautiful story!! I love the picture of you, Ava, and Pierson. It is ready for a frame for sure!! I promise that it WILL get easier. I've told you that my hardest transition was going from one child to two. It is different for everyone, but give it time. You are so patient and good with Ava. You are doing everything right, so just keep doing what you are doing. :)

Kara said...

love all the pictures and the crazy birth story! i'm tellin ya....we were thinking you would be delivering him right when we entered the room! good thing we got out just in time : )

Noe Family said...

I love hearing birth stories! Looking forward to telling mine soon:-) Your family is gorgeous and you look AMAZING. Hopefully we'll get to meet him in Brownwood over one of the holidays!

Unknown said...

What a precious story! I love that you have a little boy - aren't they amazing? I am praying for your adjustment as you learn to manage 2 kids plus everything else life throws at you! You will do a great job...you are such an amazing mommy and wife and friend!
We can hardly wait to meet little Pierson! Take care - sending lots of hugs!

Shanta said...

Sweet Ava looks so proud! Congratulations again Summer, Pierson is adorable! I cannot believe you had such a smooth delivery. Sign me up for one of those.

Courtney said...

What a crazy morning! Glad it turned out well! I hope things will continue to smooth out. I certainly know for sure that you and Chad will do a good job because your desire is always to seek God in everything you do. It's not about us - it's about His power in us! It's so much fun to watch the older sibling as the younger develops more personality and interacts more. Then the real fun starts for the siblings! Play time 24/7! We love you guys!

Calista said...

I know excatly how you feel about what do to now that we have 2. The last couple of weeks have been so hard and the lack of sleep is so much harder this time around when you have another one running around. I too have had days where I just cry right alone with both kids. Hang in there, this too shall pass. Call me if you ever need some adult conversation. I'm right there with you.

Kelly Litton said...

Summer,
I have been wanting to get in touch with you, but couldn't leave an anonymous note on your blog...so I started my own! :)
Congratulations! I am so happy for you! Both of your children are absolutely beautiful! I love the way Ava smiles and tilts her head to the side! Hopefully our Anna Lee can meet your little ones someday soon!

Love you!
Kelly Litton

Elizabeth Miller said...

Thanks for the detailed rememberance of the arrival! I felt like I was there! I am in prayer for you and may call you in my melt down moments. I am anticipating a lot of 3 yr old tantrums and jealousy. I pray wisdom, strength and understanding for you in motherhood of 2! Love you much and I can't wait to hold that sweet boy one day soon!

Anna said...

Congratulations!!! I hadn't checked your blog in a while, so I was so suprised to see pictures of the new arrival!! He is precious!! What an adorable little bundle. =) Don't worry about your emotinal melt downs...we've all had them, trust me! Cameron turned 3 right after Dylan was born, so we were in about the same situation as you guys are on age differences. It is a huge adjustment, both for you & Chad as parents of two now, and for little Ava, not being the only child anymore! It gets easier, hang in there!!

Amanda said...

Congratulations Summer! Pierson is a handsome little guy!

Unknown said...

Your baby boy is such a sweetheart. I can't wait to come by and see him. I hope that sleep is in your future! Love ya!