levi's birth story

my baby will be one week old in a few hours. i have never had a week fly by so fast and it's kind of freaking me out that this is the speed in which he will grow up...time needs to stand still and let me enjoy this precious little human!

so, for the birth story! first, cory and i lived in about four states during the course of my pregnancy-several months of which were spent in a hotel. thus, i saw four ob/gyn's as opposed to one midwife which i would have preferred. i wanted to have a natural birth but really didn't do anything until maybe three weeks before he was born when i bought a book on hypnobirthing. i still haven't finished it (we did pack it in our hospital bag. i guess i thought cory would read me statements of affirmation like "my body was specially designed to have this baby". HA. to be fair, i did listen to the hypnobirthing relaxation tracks after my water broke on the way to the hospital and in the beginning. however, i dispensed with the ear buds real fast when people kept asking questions and i had a blood pressure cuff and IV hooked up to me. i also used the visualization technique of blowing up a blue balloon through contractions.

i had not had any real contractions up until after my water broke, so i was really surprised to be 3 cm dilated and 80% effaced at my 35 week appointment. my next appointment was scheduled for december 24 at 8 am and i was eagerly anticipating the doctor's report, as i had felt lots of pressure but no "contractions". in hypnobirthing, those are called "surges". tuesday, december 23, i had a normal day-walking the dog, cooking, cleaning, reading etc. i made dinner and cory and i decided to stay in as opposed to going to a christmas party. we watched the office and got ready for bed a little after ten. we were both looking at our phones when all of the sudden, i felt a huge gush come out of me (TMI) and i jumped up and ran to the bathroom, saying excitedly "cory! my water just broke!" he replied, "are you sure that's what it is?" and then "wow! that's a lot. like a waterfall!" we didn't really know what to do since i wanted to labor at home as long as possible, but i hadn't had any contractions. i called the doctor's office and they transferred me to the hospital. the nurse said to come in right away, but we took our time. and by that i mean, i put on makeup and then we put the last few items in our bags. i started experiencing little contractions shortly after my water broke, but i wasn't timing them and they weren't painful enough to incapacitate me. i remember walking down the sidewalk to the car and there were some ladies talking outsides and i was thinking, "wow. i'm on my way to have a baby and they're just living life". the car ride was quiet, as i listened to my relaxation tracks and focused on breathing.

we made it to the hospital and slowly walked into the emergency room because it was after hours. i had pre-registered but it still felt like we were standing at the desk doing paperwork forever. we walked to the elevator and rode up to the room where levi was born!

i changed into my gown and began experiencing REAL contractions. i was kneeling on the bathroom floor, not wanting to move when the nurse came in to do the full check. i think we were all shocked when she said i was 7 cm. when did that happen?! as the contractions happened, my resolve to go natural slowly disappeared...i was laying on my side and then moved to the side of the bed where i just sat with my feet on the floor and my hand squeezing the bed rail. i didn't want to talk or anyone to talk to me. occasionally i would bark, "cory, rub my lower back" or "cory, rub my arm". i kept telling the nurse i needed to go to the bathroom, which is a sign you're close to delivery, but we were waiting for the doctor to show up! i had tested positive for group b strep, which no one told me until that night, and i had to have penicillin. in the beginning of my pregnancy, i threw up A LOT and just that day, i had told cory i would most likely throw up during labor. i fulfilled that promise, and the nurse only gave cory a cup to catch it in and he almost lost it himself. the nurse kicked him a trash can, but he was okay. TRUE LOVE. that also is another sign that the baby will be arriving soon.

i had decided against an epidural because i was progressing quickly and i was so close, that i felt like i would regret not going natural later. it was probably like 2:30 am and i laid on my side and told the nurse i NEEDED to push. i had said that several times earlier, but the doctor wanted me to wait just a little longer. at that time though, the nurse came in and said it was okay. they put my legs in stirrups, and told me to push when the contractions hit, 3 counts of ten while holding my breath. this was contrary to hypnobirthing where you "breathe your baby out". i was so happy to push because it meant i didn't have to endure the pain of contractions. i had been mostly silent throughout the contractions, mostly i was so tired, falling asleep in between contractions. when i started pushing at 2:45, i didn't quite have the hang of it, even though i was really trying. it really wasn't painful, mostly it was annoying that i was trying so hard and it was not successful (in my  opinion). i had my eyes closed most of the time. and they wouldn't let me move my legs, so that was probably the most obnoxious part because i pushed for an hour and having my legs bent back like that without being able to stretch was quite uncomfortable! i had a nurse on one side telling me to push, a tech on the other side holding my leg back and cory holding the other leg. everyone was shouting encouragement. cory attempted to feed me ice pebbles because i was SO hot and sweaty :)

finally, the doctor said she needed to give me an episiotomy, so she gave me two numbing shots and soon after that i was able to push levi out! it felt really slimy and the doctor and nurse immediately yelled, "it's a boy!" cory and i were both laughing and tearing up.

 i kept waiting and waiting for the "ring of fire" but it never happened-i'm not sure if it was the numbing shots, or the fact that the contractions felt more painful than anything, either way i'm grateful! i did end up with a second degree tear which the doctor stitched up afterwards. i had wanted to delay cord clamping but by the time i said that, it was too late. it was okay though because levi's umbilical cord was really short. cory cut the cord, a nurse cleaned up levi and then i was able to hold him for almost an hour while we called family and fawned over our sweet baby. levi was born at 3:44 am on wednesday, december 24, 2014. his original due date was january 10, 2015.

after an hour or so, cory went with levi to the nursery so he could do all his tests and get some shots. he was 20.5 inches long and 7 lbs 8 oz. he got a 7/8 on his APGAR exam and he didn't pass his hearing test. we will go back next week for a follow-up. cory and i were taken to my postpartum room about 5 am where we slept for maybe an hour or so, while they monitored levi in the nursery. they brought him in after the pediatrician examined him. miraculously, i felt back to normal that day, but they wanted us to stay until at least friday morning so they could make sure levi didn't have any of the group b strep since i wasn't able to get the full dosage of peniciliin before he was born. the nurses were great and cory was such a champ the whole time, sleeping on the couch and changing levi's diapers. we had some friends come and we spent a lots of those 2 days facetiming family and friends. levi picked up on breastfeeding quickly which was a relief to me! he was at the middle level of risk for jaundice but when we went back to the doctor on sunday, he was fine and back up to his birth weight! makes sense considering he wakes up every 2-3 hours consistently to be fed for 30 minutes. SHEESH :)

in retrospect, i feel SO blessed to have had what i feel like was an awesome labor and delivery experience. truly a miracle! i have tremendous respect for people who endure labor for FAR longer than i had to, as well as mothers of multiples or babies in the NICU. women are amazing and the ability to grow and birth a human is a spiritual and life-changing experience. there really is nothing that can be compared to the high you feel after birthing your baby. i can't adequately express my love for little levi and how perfectly he fits into our family.  i had no idea what i was missing until he came into my life.

our story series: wedding

cory and i got married april 21, 2012-the saturday at the end of finals week at BYU. it also was two days after cory's brother chad came home from his mission and the week my brother erik graduated from college. with those two big events, finals, bridal showers and bachelor parties and dinners...it was kind of a crazy week!

saturday morning, i woke up in a bunk bed in a room i shared with my sister at a house my parents rented for the week. i got ready and went with my parents to my hair appointment at lunatic fringe. we quickly headed over to the salt lake city temple, and i was so excited/nervous/is this real life?! we sat in the lobby waiting for the groom for a looonnngg time :) our wedding day coincided with the SLC marathon, so traffic was kind of crazy since the streets were all blocked off. my mom helped me get ready and then cory and i waited to go into the sealing room. we were sealed for time and all eternity by a wonderful man who said, "i love you, but honey what did you do to these tacos?" i remember my mom shoving my veil into the back of my hair and how we wandered around the hallways trying to find a. cory or b. an exit. we got the flowers and then cory and i made our exit to see all our family and friends! there were many pictures and we wandered around the temple. i'm so grateful we had so many friends and family there :) 

lindsey steward of green apple photography did all our pictures and she was phenomenal at wrangling spots around the temple. cory and i did pictures until about 1-my parents stuck around, so my mom could help me out of my wedding dress. cory and i headed over to jamba juice and there were some girls who complimented me on my outfit and hair and i just felt giddy thinking "i was just married! it's my wedding day!" my mom made sure that i didn't have to do any work that day, and i will be eternally grateful to her for that. we showed up at the reception and changed and took a few more pictures. our reception was held at the old meeting house in murray, utah. i loved it because it had a vintagey feel and allowed us to have good lighting (for me) and it was indoors (we weren't sure about the weather). i really loved all the decor and personal touches-my mom had so many good ideas. 

we had a ring ceremony before the reception for family and friends who were not at the temple sealing. the only little hiccup that day was that bishop hill was late to the ring ceremony because he thought it was at 7, not 6:30. but of course, everything worked out! i loved having the traditional walk down the aisle with my father and to exchange rings with cory in front of our loved ones. 

we had a full spread of food, including salmon, brie en croute (which cory said was apple pie, ha), fruit, meatballs, cupcakes, and many flavors of lemonade. our wedding cake was delicious and beautiful-a layer of snickerdoodle with cream cheese filling, chocolate with raspberry filling and italian cream with pineapple filling. i loved the photobooth and the pictures we got from it. i had fabulous yellow heels on but my feet were killing me by the end of the reception (we stood the whole time) and i had a pinched nerve in my big toe for two days after. 

one of my favorite things was the chapstick wedding favors-which we still have floating around in our closet :) the only thing i regret about my wedding day is that i didn't do dancing! cory and i don't dance, but i went to a wedding after we were married and the dancing was so much fun! i really can't complain though because it was such a perfect day. 

it's a baby movie 35 weeks and 5 days

BABY YAWN

BABY RUBBING EYE (or as cory's dad says, is pulling his "signature move" #thecraig)

my loves.

cory: how can i even sum up how hard you work? or how motivated you are to do certain things (like compile, format and print out addresses on envelopes for our christmas cards)? you get to work early every day, unlike practically all your co-workers at other offices. you never leave early, much to my chagrin :) i can tell how much you truly strive to help your patients and i know they can tell too. you've been so great at balancing work and having to take me to do errands; i wish you could know how grateful i am that you never complain and we always make it work, even if i don't get to go to all my stores or you don't get to relax that night. i love that you've been so snuggly lately-it's so uncharacteristic of you, and it makes me so happy when you pull me over to cuddle with you! you have put together and tested out everything we've gotten for the baby (with a teddy bear) including the pack'n'play, the car seat, the ergobaby and my wrap. most men would hardly care, or have to be begged to assemble those things. you were a rockstar helping with the church christmas party! and you don't seem daunted in the slightest by your new church calling (EQ secretary). right now you love oscar's breakfast burritos, grabbing my belly to talk to the baby, getting the car washed, all the mail/packages we've received and eating those little chocolate donuts you always "sneak" into the grocery carts.

baby: we can hardly wait to meet you! i almost thought i was going to have you yesterday after five hours of constant pressure during and after church. luckily, it went away. i mean, we don't even have the car seat installed yet or have a hospital bag or diaper wipes or a pediatrician! whoops. guess i should be working on all those things, instead of blogging? you love, love to kick me in the top right rib and in the bladder (which literally feels like someone poking your internal organs with a sharp fingernail or knife). you move ALL the time and i really do love it. if only you would move when people touch my belly :) i have my last ultrasound this week and i am intrigued to see how big the doctors think you are because i feel like there's no more room in my body for you to grow! you love when i laugh and i love when you hiccup (at least a few times a week). it really did seem like pregnancy flew by, even though in the beginning the weeks seemed to drag on. i got a hypnobirthing book and am going to try to have you naturally, but we'll see. i'm still working on convincing (daddy?-i haven't said that yet, it feels weird) to get in the birthing tub with me at the hospital. also, you give me the most swollen feet ever, i still love you though :)

sienna: i guess you count as one of my loves, seeing as i tear up at any dog story these days. you've been pretty great adjusting to life here in tennessee, especially in an apartment. i'm glad you're sleeping more, because you are not going to get as much attention when the baby comes! we can't say so many words around you cause you're so smart-the newest is 'park". you love the dog park right next to our building. i do too. so convenient! and i like taking you for walks to get out of the house every day. i do not like how you jump on the bed when i'm sleeping and nestle in the crook of my legs, meaning i cannot move the blankets and that i am forced to the tiny edge of bed i originally claimed. your morning food schedule has been off the last few days meanning i've slept in until 7-7:30 twice without waking up at our customary 5:30. you make me feel loved and safe and even though you have bad breath and whine, i'm grateful you're a part of our lives. now we just have to find a chocolate lab christmas tree ornament!

give thanks

it was a whirlwind november! cory & i bought a queen size bed during the veteran's day sales, but we didn't expect so many visitors back to back. however, it was so lovely to have the gresses, then cory's parents stay with us. trey may be coming this weekend but we'll see. the next person to arrive will be our baby and then my mom!

shelly & craig made a huge sacrifice in coming out here because they worked all tuesday, then drove through the night (usually 10 hours, but nearly 14 with traffic/accidents) to get to tennessee! cory took me to my doctor's appointment that morning and then we headed up to his office in nashville because the doctor's office took FOREVER. cory's parents met us at his office and he tested their hearing (perks of being related/married to a HIS). they were tired, so we went home so they could nap and we finished up last minute thanksgiving shopping. we took them to jim and nick's bbq for dinner, where i was less than impressed with the food. such a bummer! everyone was tired, so we went home and played games.

thanksgiving day! i was excited to put on my first thanksgiving, but at 34 weeks pregnant, with just cory's parents (not big eaters) and us, i was not planning anything super fancy. however, we did a nice gold tablecloth and linen napkins (under $15 from kohl for all!) and we used our wedding china for the first time! i made: orange and sage turkey, spinach/vegetable stuffing, mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, squash, fruit salad, cranberry sauce and we bought some rolls and sparkling cider (my favorite). shelly made her yummy chocolate pie (and gravy to go with the potatoes)! it was a feast and nobody ate too much, so we had leftovers for days :)

cory's family loves to bargain shop, so black friday is widely celebrated among his relatives! it was my first time going, and even though it was MUCH better than i thought it was going to be, i don't think it's something i will voluntarily participate in. it's a lot of work to narrow down the best sales, get the items in a timely manner and wait in line! shelly was such a pro-her boss was PAYING her to get christmas presents for his family-and she knew all the deals at all the stores. we went to best buy and walmart with her, and none of the really good black friday deals were marked, so you either had to know what you were getting or wander around with the ads.

friday morning we went to a cowboy boot store in nashville where cory and his family all got boots! it was quite a dilemma for everyone to decide on boots-they had quite the selection. we stopped at a mall in franklin to check out some more deals. we ate dinner at chuy's, the best mexican in town (at least that we know of)! on saturday, we did some more shopping and returns and our day was kind of interrupted when the hills' car battery died! luckily, everything worked out and we got the car fixed and made it home to rest for a bit. we tried to see "interstellar" but it was sold out, so we ended up having a quiet night.

on sunday, it was so fun to have shelly and craig at church with us, especially since cory gave a talk! they had to leave soon after we got home and we took long naps. those two are like energizer bunnies and make me feel like an old woman :) it sure was fun to have them out here. i'm so grateful for family!