So-was having 10 min contractions all day Sat - we went for a walk and they stopped all together... but then started back up around midnight, but I could sleep and wasn't really timing them. But at 4am, WOW! That one hurt and I knew it hadn't been 15 min since the last one, so I started timing them. When Chris' alarm went off - I told him no work today - I knew this was it! I waited til they had been 5 min apart for about 3 hours before we called and drove in this time. MAN! The drive in they would space out and just when I would think they were stopping, WHAM! Another bad one. Of course, I was very nervous they would send me home again... but it had to be it. Around 9am, they got me settled in a room and checked me, I was 5cm, and almost completely thin. So I was staying. Started the IV etc and Dr Barnes was the one on call and he wanted to regulate the contractions a little more and put me on pitocin. The nurse (Kaley) was great. She was trying to hold off til I could get the epidural since I was already hurting so bad, but Dr Barnes finally insisted. I wish now, looking back, that I had been more forceful(or Chris) and said not before the epidural... anyway - I was in sooo much pain! It was almost 2 hours before the anesthesiologist came(and she was in a c/s with Dr Barnes-so he KNEW I didn't have the epi yet) Anyway-luckily it worked fast this time. I ended up having Mom and Dad leave the room until I could get it going though-I just couldn't handle the pain with them in there too. The epi was much better this time-I could move my legs on my own some, so it wore off quicker. Anyway- I pushed for about 20 min I guess and then it was time for delivery... and Mason Jude Rhoden was born @ 5:39pm weighing 6 lb 9 oz and being 19" long. Apgar 9/9 both times and he peed on the nurse LOL! He was just amazing! And while Chris went to get the boys and bring them in-all I could think is how blessed I am, but at the same time, I already missed being pregnant! I also made him move as much as I could before the epi-since I knew after that, I wouldn't feel those kicks and squirms anymore... it truly is bittersweet to give birth! The boys were excited to see and finally know their brother's name. Andrew wasn't ready to hold him, but Brandon did and he was so sweet. We let the boys go back out to the waiting area to tell everyone the name and then the grandparents came in and then Crystal and Joe - they both had to get to work. Everyone else waited patiently at the nursery window. Mason latched on right away to nurse and we had him there with us for right at the hour limit... then they took him and prepped me to go to the PP room. We were upset to learn his body temp was too low to bathe him, so they had to warm him, then bathe him, then warm him again before they brought him back to me in the room. Everyone was disappointed, and some of the visitors left with only seeing him in the window. FINALLY at almost 9:45pm, they brought him out. He was so very tiny! We ended up "making" Andrew hold him before he left though and the next day - it was all he could do to wait his turn...
