Cole's pregnancy was long. So long. I literally found out I was pregnant as soon as it is possible to find out you're pregnant. I had gone into the OB to see if there was anything wrong since it had been a year with no baby. They told me to track my ovulation and then come back in a month, they took my blood sample and that was that. Well soon after that visit, I checked my patient portal to view my blood work and saw that I had higher levels (of something I can't remember right now) that indicated I could be pregnant. So, I took a test and sure enough, two lines popped up on my test. It was faint, but I knew. I waited a few more days, took another test, and got two very distinct lines. After two and a half years of trying and a miscarriage, I was finally pregnant. I was so happy, but that joy wore off. I wish it didn't, but morning sickness set in and robbed me of that initial happiness. This time the sickness never really let up. I was still so thankful to be pregnant, but I swiftly remembered that I do not like to be pregnant. I do not glow, I do not think straight, I just don't like it. I do like watching my belly grow, feeling soft and strong movements, and knowing that this is what the Lord wants for me and my family. Anyway, fast forward 9 months from last October to the beginning of June and I was just done. So done. As only a pregnant woman can know. Each day passed and I didn't feel like I was going to make it to that July 1st due date. And I was right! The Friday before Cole was born, I was dilated to a 3 and my midwife told me that if I was in active labor that she would have just popped my water, it was so ready. But since I was technically only 37 weeks, she didn't. We went and saw Cars 3 and then on Saturday, I started having contractions. They would come every 10-15 min and last for 30 or so seconds, but would go away. This kept happening all day Sunday, all day Monday, all day Tuesday, and all day Wednesday. On Monday night they were so strong they woke me up, so I got up and did my dished around 4 in the morning and started walking around my house. That stopped them, so I went back to bed. Thursday morning, I woke up and texted Aaron how done I was. I felt so worn out. But I decided I was going to make the best of the day and clean my house. So I did just that. I let my kids play in the water outside while I vacuumed and mopped. I even made a freezer meal. I hadn't got dressed and was wearing my raggediest clothes. I hadn't showered because the plan was to clean, work, shower, pack my hospital bag, and then lay down. I had cleaned and made lunch for my kids, so it was time to work. But, I ended up talking to my sister Jill at my computer desk instead of working. I was telling her how done I was and how I would love to just go into labor, when I felt a pop. Like Cole had just tapped a bit, as if he heard me say I was ready. I yelled out because I knew it was my water that had just broke! Jill yelled in excitement over the phone, my kids came running, and I ran to my shower. I was slightly panicking because I have never experienced my water breaking on its own. I was also worried that meant Cole would come faster and I wouldn't make it to the hospital, plus Aaron was a solid hour away. I frantically started making calls in my shower as my water broke and my kids asking me what was wrong. I called Heidi who came over right away to take me to the hospital, I called Grandma Rena to come watch all of our kids, and I called Aaron to come. Heidi came over, and we drove to the hospital. I walked in with a towel between my legs. I looked really good too since I hadn't showered or gotten dressed. I didn't even have a bag. Luckily, my contractions hadn't really kicked in. I was registered and admitted. By then I was at a 4 and Aaron was on his way. Heidi stayed with me until Aaron got there. My contractions were starting to get stronger at this point. The nurse showed us our room and then we started to walk the halls. But my contractions hurt too much, so we went back to the room. My contractions were coming closer and were becoming rather painful. I had got to the hospital around 1:30-1:45 and by now it was around 4:00. I don't remember much of the order of events next because my contractions were really starting to take over all my senses. With my previous labors things didn't move as fast, so I wasn't thinking that things were moving as fast as they were. Eventually, we called the nurse at some point and she checked me and was surprised because I had progressed so quickly. I was already at an 8. I hadn't even got my epidural yet, so we sent for it. They came and quickly administered it, but it wasn't not kicking in. Cole was coming and I could feel it all. Which was a very new experience for me. I was in a blur of pain, I remember flicking off the wires that were monitoring me and Cole because they were in my way of bracing my self on the bed, so my nurse put it on my toe. It was now time to push but the only thing that was numb were my legs. They were like cement logs, so they upped my medicine and rolled me to my left side. I could feel the pressure of delivery, but just then my epidural started to work and it was such a relief! My wonderful midwife caught Cole in only a few pushes just in time to miss the pain of the "ring of fire." I delivered him on my side which I loved. Cole was born around 6:00 p.m. and had hair just like Daisy and Rocky. He weight 7 pounds 12 ounces and was 21 inches long. He came nine days early. Aaron was by my side almost the whole time. He had to step back a few times so he wouldn't pass out. But he helped hold my dead weight legs up and was there when it mattered. However by the time it was time to cut the cord, he was sitting down and away. He cut the cord with Daisy and Rocky, but this labor wasn't as smooth and if you know Aaron he gets tunnel vision pretty easily in medically intense situations. Cole came fast and I was so thankful. He got a fair amount of bruising since he popped out so fast.
Now it is three months later and he is a sweet little baby boy. He fills my heart with so much joy. I am so thankful for his presence in our home. He is a our Cole Wayne.
