Peter the Great

Hi family!

We are home from the hospital and so in love with our little Easter miracle. Just wanted to give you a quick update on how things are going and how things went in the hospital. So far...it has been an amazing experience and we are being blessed and watched over by angels here on earth and the other side. I just love him so much I can't get over it.

Wednesday morning I was laying in bed and I felt a little trickle down my leg. This was around 6 a.m. I didn't think much of it (bladder control as a pregnant woman, ya know? ) Then it happened again. I decided to get up and investigate and another very large trickle came out. Could my water be breaking?? I stood in the tub just to be safe...and yes...trickle, trickle, trickle. I woke Vic up and told him the news. He was so tired and had so much to do at work last week that he told me to not let the baby come until Friday. Sorry, hun. We waited a while longer just to be sure--and we were pretty sure. But still no big gush of a lot of water. I was just a very pregnant waterfall. We showered and got ready, called the midwife--who said stay home for up to 8 hours and then if contractions haven't started I will have to be admitted to the hospital anyway. We tried everything to get the contractions going---went on a very long walk (with a towel between my legs..what? Wearing a skirt and crocs while it lightly snowed off and on all morning). We even walked to the grocery store, bought some Easter candy, chatted with a few people, all while I'm trickle, trickling. Still no gush, still no contractions. After hours of no contractions, we took a nap and had lunch, then finally had to drive to Salt Lake. It was very surreal to think the baby was coming today but to be feeling nothing in the way of pain. It was quite frustrating, actually. I wanted to do the work of labor! This was just odd.

We got to the hospital around 3 o'clock and they checked my water/membranes and said I was definitely "broken" and had to be admitted. The good news was that I was already dialated to a five. We hung out at the hospital, Vic read to me while I rested, and we just kept waiting and waiting for the darn contractions to start on their own! I didn't want to do pitocin. By 6 o'clock my midwife showed up. She broke the news to me that I was going to have to start a pitocin drip. It had been 12 hours since my water broke so labor had to start. Darn. I was a little worried about not getting an epidural now that it wasn't going to be a "natural" experience (using pitocin to make your uterus contract isn't exactly natural). But the midwife coached me with some inspiring words and said that I would likely not need a very high dose. Ok...here we go.

At 6 thirty they started the drip. Nothing happened. Around 7 they upped the dosage. Still nothing happening. We were so bored and anxious! I was sitting on the birthing ball, stimulating my nipples (sorry boys) and still nothing. We walked around our room--nothing. Who has to be on pitocin and do all this stimulation and still not be contracting? They kept upping my dosage and I was having a few contractions here and there, but nothing too serious. We finally gave in and watched American Idol from 8-9. I NEVER thought I would watch TV while I was in labor. Never wanted to. I wanted this to be a very sweet and spiritual experience and feel Lucy near us--American Idol wasn't exactly what I had pictured. But it helped to pass the time and as SOON as they announced that Scott (the blind man) was being sent home (finally!! Sorry--but he just had to go) I had a GOOD contraction. By 10:12 he was here!

So I was only really in labor for just over an hour. It was an incredible experience. I still can't stop saying how proud of myself I am. It was so empowering and I was so in control. I will let Vic brag more about it and let you know what the nurses and midwife said about it--I can't toot my horn too much here. Vic was a fantastic coach. I think I uttered the word epidural at one point and they somewhat ignored me. Then Vic reminded me of how much I have been wanting this and how much more quickly I will heal without one, how much I hated it last time, etc. Maybe three or four contractions after I had mentioned the epidural, I had the urge to push. I was sweating so much but my face was turned to the side, practically kissing the side rail of the bed so no one could see. It was dripping into my eyes. Up to this point I hadn't said a word. Just very concentrated breathing. The midwife said I had permission to talk but I had nothing to say! She reminded me that I could moan--and that helped so much! I was laying on my left side and when I had the urge to push I had no strength to open my legs or move an inch. I thought, "well, I'm going to push but he's just going to have to make his way out with my legs closed." The nurse held my leg and I had a few good pushes. I finally made my way more onto my back but still to the side. When I had a good contraction that helped me push, it was great. But I had to do some pushing on my own and that was so very difficult. Just sheer will power and grit. Wow. Once his head was finally out, I gave a few good pushes (one?) and I felt his whole body come out. It was the most amazing moment of my life. I can't describe it.

The cord was around his neck so they quickly cut it, suctioned him, and started to stimulate him. I just layed there on my back and prayed as hard as I did when Lucy choked. He let out a great cry and so did we. I can't believe I gave birth to such a big boy! I hardly tore at all and all the pain was forgotten the second he was in my arms. I have NO DOUBT whatsoever that Lucy was standing right next to Vic helping me through each contraction. From the time I started laboring in bed (9 thirty ish) until he came out...it went by so fast. I started shaking and the midwife told me I was in transition. I was so excited to hear that since it meant he was coming soon. There is so much more to share, but I will have to tell you over the phone or in person. I am going to write this story on my blog soon but in somewhat of a different way. I wanted to let you guys know the details first.

He is such a sweet baby. He hardly cries and he eats like a champ. Latched on the second he was in my arms and hasn't had a problem since. He does have jaundice so he's been sleeping on the billy bed (light bed) and does amazingly well. He wakes up to feed and goes right back to sleep. He does look so much like his big sister. Vic is so in love with his son. (Unfortunately, Vic has gotten SICK! Lack of sleep and a lot of stress and that boy gets sick in a snap. So that has been a little hard. To understand more of what I'm saying---go to THIS LINK)

Lucy will live again, and today Peter is in our arms. Two Easter Miracles. We love you guys. Our house feels like the temple right now. Whispering, family, and a fresh angel from his sister's arms. So many mixed emotions, but mostly joy and wonderment.

Vic painted my toes bright pink last week so that during labor I could think of Lucy.

First breath.


Big Boy



Coming home...


The best gift under Lucy's tree.