Jeff and I had just cleaned up dinner and we were relaxing on the couch. My ankles were so incredibly swollen, so my feet were propped up in my recliner and I was surfing the internet. I kept feeling as though Hudson was pushing his entire body to my right side, actually, it was completely visable that my stomach would get rock hard for about a minute and bulge to the right about every 8 minutes. I posted on Facebook asking whether anyone had experienced this before and if it was normal. There was no pain, just a very noticeable tightness. Cari responded and said to call her, so I did. When I explained to her was was happening, she said, "I dunno, I think you are in labor!" I didn't really think so, so I told Jeff if it was still happening in the morning that I would go in and get checked out. We went to bed around 9pm.
May 6th, 2013: 37 weeks, 0 Days:
Around 2 am I woke up to use the restroom and I was still having those painless, tight feelings. I went to the restroom and as soon as I sat on the toilet, my water broke! I said from the bathroom, "Um, Jeff, my water broke..." His response, while jumping out of bed was, "No shit!?" LOL. He was racing around the house getting himself together and packing his bag (I told him a few weeks ago he should have gotten it all together lol!!) as I was calming him down lol. I called my mom who was in Georgia for Garth's basic training graduation and told her my water had broke. She was so sad she wouldn't be there for the birth and so was I. :( The contractions were getting more and more intense. We got in the car and luckily, around 2:30am there isn't much traffic! We got to the emergency room and the guy behind the registration counter took one look at me and said, "I think I know why you are here!" He gave me my wrist band and the lady WALKED me to the labor and delivery room, down this 2000 mile long hallway lol! When I got there, they hooked me up to the monitor, checked me, and sure enough I was 4cms. The contractions were ALL in my back. I called Nana and Papa and Papa Bill answered. You could tell he was half asleep! I told him I was at the hospital and going to have the baby! He said, "Oh okay, we will be there as soon as we can!"
The contractions began to intensify more and more and were all in my back. I decided I needed the epidural around 3:30am, but due to the Lovenox (blood thinners) I was on and I had taken that night before bed, I couldn't get an epidural until 12 hours after taking the medication. I had to wait until 9:30am before I could get it. I was in so much pain. In the meantime, Nana and Papa came and were sitting with me and Jeff in the triage while they got a L&D room ready. I was so miserable! Finally, they got a room ready around 6:00am and wheeled me to the 'older' L&D rooms. My nurse was so nice. I was in so much pain and she was so encouraging. I felt so bad because I didn't want Jeff or anyone touching me or talking to me lol! I was kinda mean, but I was so focused through the contractions. They were so strong and only in my back, so the monitor wasn't even picking them up! I just kept watching the clock for that epidural. They checked me at 8:00am and I was 6cms, but Hudson was Opicult Posterior, or Sunnyside Up, so they had me try all these positions to get him to flip, while I was in excruciating amounts of pain mind you! Finally the anestesiologist came. THANK YOU LORD! lol. I got the epidural and was able to rest for a couple hours. Around 12pm, the epirdural started to wear off, just like it did with Hayden. The contrations were so painful and I was having terrible back labor. The Anestsiologist was unavailable to come in and give me more of the epidural medication because he was with other patients. I kept feeling so much pressure like I needed to push, but she told me to wait. I was in so much pain. She told me that she would check me and sometimes people actually feel better once they start pushing. At this point the epidural had worn off so much I was able to completely move and lift my legs...and feel EVERYTHING. lol My nurse then checked me around 3:00pm and said I was at a 10 and that I could go ahead and start pushing if I felt like I needed to and she would call Dr. Dave. Dr. Dave got there around 3:15pm. I felt so much better once I started pushing. Dr. Dave came in and after about 15 minutes (pushing three, 10-second pushes per contraction, so about 5 contractions total) Our baby boy was born, STILL sunnyside up!!! lol!!
Hudson Eugene was 6lbs 8oz 20inches born May 6th 2013 at 3:31pm He was/is so perfect, such a blessing!! Originally we were going to name him Hudson Joshua, but decided at the last minute (mostly Jeff's idea) to name him after Pops (Hudson's great-great-grandfather) and Garth (my brother, Hudson's Uncle). Everyhing about Hudson's sweet self completed our lives, right in that moment. I cannot explain the love I felt, holding him for the first time. He is truly a miracle, and absolutely amazing.
