Finally, after being dialated to a four, then apparantly not even dialted to a one, then dialted to a six and completely ready to go, to then dialted to a three or four, three weeks of hard contractions that kept stopping and starting again, an extra trip to labor and delivery and one wild 90 mph ride to the hospital, Brody Steven Brown is here. The little stinker, I thought he'd never come out. But, one look at him was all it took to make it all worth while. I am in love for the third time. Always a little bit shocked at how much love you can have for something so soon. And so happy to have such a beautiful, healthy final addition to the family.
The kids had given up hope that he was ever going to come and I was about to decide that maybe they were right. So I was pretty happy it happened at night while they were sleeping. When the kids got up in the morning, Grandma Kris was there and they already had a new baby brother to come and visit in the hospital. They were pretty excited.
Cameron immediately wanted to help hold him and change his diaper and rock him. She was completely mesmerized. Tucker on the other hand, realized that the bed would go up and down and you could call the nurse for ice water with just the push of a button. He was right on it any time I needed something. But, even with a short attention span, it was obvious that he was the big brother and was darn proud of it.
You can't beat this picture. The closest relationship you'll ever have is that of a sibling. No matter how much you don't get along or what age difference there is between you, this is what matters.
And here is Mr. Handsome. 8 pounds 4 ounces, 20 inches long. Got the infamous "Brown nose", immediately the nurses were commenting on how much he looks like Matt. And I think he looks alot like the kids too, but different complexion.
We almost didn't get any photos because he came so fast we had the camera and the video camera out in the car. They waited to weigh him so Matt could run out and grab the camera. But, I'm still dissappointed not to have any barely out photos like I do with the other kids. I am not dissappointed, however, that he came 17 minutes after we arrived at the hospital.
Matt had gone to the Oregon State/Boise State game that afternoon. I was having contractions, but had about given up on them ever progressing, so I told him to go. He had been hovering around for the past day or so, thinking that it was going to happen any time. Matt doesn't do week with idle time. I was ready to pull my hair out. I had walked the neighborhood a thousand times. I had bounced like mad on the exercise ball. I had done everything I could possibly think of to get things rolling, and I was just plum exhausted. While Matt was at the game, I went out to Chinese food with my Mom and Grandma. I was noticing a difference in the contractions around 8 pm, but still didn't consider that they might be the real deal. Came home, put the kids to bed around 9. Still having contractions. Matt got home at 11, still having them, but getting progressively stronger. Still not realizing that these were it. Matt went to bed, I went to the recliner. I dozed between them until 2 am. Realized they were actually hurting. Kept dozing between them, still 10 minutes apart. Woke Matt up at 3 am. Told him they were still 10 minutes apart, but we needed to go. I was pacing around and they were hurting. As soon as he called his Mom and we got ready to go, they went from 10 minutes to 2 minutes. I was a little nervous at that point we had waited too long. We left at 3:20, Matt got out to Substation/Highway, realized he left his cell phone, went back, took off for real. 2 minutes apart. Then 1 minute, then one on top of the other. I kept watching the spedometer, we were going 90 mph at some points on the road. I was reaching down and checking to make sure he wasn't already out, there was so much pressure.
We pulled into St. Lukes and Matt jokingly asked if I needed a wheelchair. I told him yes, take me to the ER door and get me one. He looked a little shocked. I couldn't have walked in if I tried. It took me two contractions just to get in the chair. Nurse wheeled me up to labor and delivery while Matt parked the car.
Checked in at the front desk. Nurse has the nerve to ask what seems to be the problem. I tell her "I need a room now." She continues to type away at her computer. Has me sign consent forms. I tell her again, "I need a room now". Finally gets on the phone to tell another nurse that I need to be checked. I tell them, "I don't need to be checked, I need a room". Still get to be checked. They check, and immediately call the on call doctor and prepare for delivery. I work my way onto the bed, the on call doctor checks me, breaks my water, and in one gush, I start pushing and he's out. I'm pretty sure I only pushed about four or five times total. Brody was out 17 minutes after I checked in. Matt was just getting comfortable into his chair in the corner to wait it out when the doctor delivered him. Easiest birth ever. No pitocin. No drugs. Not even an IV. Natural as natural could be. If there would have been any traffic on Eagle Rd., whatsoever, I would have had him in the car. If my water would have broken at home, I would have had him on the floor. Now that I'm done having kids, I've got this figured out. And since I wasn't cranked out on Pitocin for 12 hours like Tucker, I wasn't exhausted, I'm not hormonal, I feel fabulous.
I am just so darn thankful that everything went well, and truly blessed beyond measure. God has given Matt and I the most perfect family for us. We are so fortunate and so satisfied with our small "herd" of kids. I'm so glad that we decided to go for number three. It's five more years of me at home, and gobs and gobs of doctor bills, another college education to pay for, but Brody is priceless.
