Jackson's birth story

Just like his brother, Jackson surprised us and entered this world 2 weeks early. It's actually kinda weird how they both were exactly 13 days early, and they have a very similar birth story. I guess my body only stays pregnant for 38 weeks and 1 day...

Early Thursday morning (3am) I got up to use the restroom and I thought "did my water just break?" I was telling myself there was no way...so I come in the living room and get on the computer and google - "how do you know if your water broke?" (My water broke with Warner, but that was 3 years ago so I was just making sure.) I still wasn't convinced, so I went back to the bedroom and thought about waking Chris up. The I decided to get in the shower just in case. About that time I was FOR SURE that my water had broken. I woke Chris up and we started throwing all the last minute things in our bags, calling our parents, and trying to figure out what to do with Warner (who was still asleep).

We waited for Chris' parents to arrive to stay with Warner and then we headed to the hospital. I was a little nervous about getting to the hospital since it was about an hour and a half to two hours away, but Chris put the flashers on and put the petal to the metal and we arrived at the hospital doors in a record 1 hour, 5 minutes.

When we arrived at the hospital I was 3 cm dilated and having some contractions. When I got to my room they started me on pitocin, and I decided to get my epidural right away instead of waiting like I had done with Warner. I knew I was going to get it anyway so why not get it sooner rather than later. And with Warner the first epidural did not take and I was not wanting to go through that again. Right at about the time I started really feeling the contractions the anaesthesiologist came in to give me the epidural. Soon after that I was already 5-6 cm. We had a little trouble with his heart rate dropping during contractions that really scared me to death, but once they turned off the pitocin those problems went away pretty fast. The pitocin was working too good. Then pretty quickly after that I was 9 1/2 cm, but his head was still really high. The nurse came in and said the doctor wanted me to get in the pretzel position to bring his head down. The first thing I thought is there is no way I can get into any position - I was so numb!! It was really nothing more than turning on my side and bending one leg. Very soon after that I began feeling a lot of pressure, so I called the nurse. She came in a checked me and said you are fully dilated and ready to push. She said she wasn't even going to get me to push at all until the doctor was in the room - that's how close I was to having the baby. A few pushes later and Jackson entered this world - screaming!!

The first thing I said when I saw him was "he's so tiny!" My doctor assured me he was a good size and then I said "well, I guess I am comparing him to a three year old!" He was absolutely perfect!! My heart immediately doubled in size the second I held him. He was definitely an answer to many many prayers and totally worth the wait.

I am loving being a mommy to two boys. I'm not saying it's easy, but it is such a blessing to be able to care for this little baby. The difficult part is trying to give them both my equal attention. Thankfully my mom is here for 2 weeks and that has been wonderful!! I don't know what I would do without her! She has cooked, done the laundry, chased after Warner, and anything & everything that I have needed. She's the BEST!!

Right now Jackson is such an easy baby - eating great, sleeping in between feedings, and just so content. He is changing so fast and doesn't even look like the same baby from day to day. We feel so very blessed to be given this gift. God is so good!! Praise God from Whom ALL blessings flow!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I posted several pictures below.