He's HERE!!! 12/18/2009

Chase Augustus is Here!

My water broke at 1am Friday Dec 18th. I waddled out of bed to the bathroom and my heart was racing I knew this was it! I waited a moment and top toed back to the bed side and said "Erik ... Erik!" He half sleeping rolled over and said "What?"  .. "Babe, my water broke" He replied with a "gasssspppppp"
Erik was fantastic he called the doctor, my mom and his mother. We packed our things up, got our cameras and carseat and piled into the car. We made it to the hospital in about 13 minutes, I had my first contraction in the car on the way there.  We had to go into the ER to get to the L&D ward. by the time we got through the LONG walk I was soaked and feeling a little more crampy.  We got settled in our room and took some video before we got started We Were SOO Excited!  I cried a little =)
We didnt want to start the pitocin yet because the water broke naturally and were hoping to progress naturally. After about 6-7 hours of laboring without any meds, I got an epidural which is more scary than painful. It worked right away and I felt great.(this was at  8 -9 am)  Erik's parents were in the waiting area and my parents were on there way from the Valley! Everything seemed to be going great!
I was very proud of myself for doing the first few hours without meds and it did hurt alot so I figured all the "painful part of labor" was over with. Little did I know!  We wait patiently until about 3pm when I was getting close enough to push time to start assessing my pain-management situation.  I had starting to regain feeling in my stomach and started to feel the contractions again.   The nurse turned me on my side which made one side of my body regain feeling, so she flipped me on the other and I regained feeling on the other. They re-did my epidural but needless to say it failed =( OUCH!
I was so close to pushing and I even though I had some feeling we thought we could progress as we were.  I starting pushing at 4pm and it actually felt wonderful to push. My doctor said I was doing great. I pushed but could not get past a certain point. After about an hour I was exhausted with pain and was scared. The doctor offered the use of a vacuum to assist Chase. We tried a few times however Chase was STUCK! and I was Hurting! The doctor said we needed to do a C-section asap! I was delirious with pain, panicked and feeling everything!  Erik was as calm as he could be but also scared.  They tried to numb me or give me something for the pain and nothing worked! NOTHING! Erik and nursing staff were on the verge of tears for me. I was crying and scared for Chase.
I honestly dont recall too much after this point. They rushed me to the OR, told Erik to wait outside. Once inside the OR things were a blur. they had to move me to the table because I couldn't move myself due to the pain.  My body could feel everything! and I was wailing. They eventually gassed me to sleep and that was the last thing I remember.I am not too sure of all that went on after I was put to sleep. I know they could not intubate me but I know it was the fastest C-section my doctor had performed.

Because of these issues Erik could not join me  in the OR and they had to put me to sleep.  So we did not get to see Chase come out. BUT!! As scary as all of this sounds we were all three reunited in the recovery room and it was wonderful

Chase Augustus was born at 7:09pm and weighed 7lbs 9oz., 20 inches long and picture perfect beautiful!!

Chase was brought to me in the recovery room and I got to feed him. Erik was incredible but still very shaken by all that had happened. I was heavily medicated and dozing in and out, but the three of us got to spend the entire night getting to know one another and share lots of hugs and kisses!

Although the labor and delivery of Chase was terrifying at times, it is very true that as soon as you see your child all the pain disappears. I would gladly do it all over again for Chase!