How he got his name

Originally we were going to name our baby Milo Glen Andrus. Milo is David's great great....grandpa's name and Glen is my grandpa's name (my fathers father).

Well I wasn't totally convinced that this was his name, and later I found out David felt the same way.

Well everyone knows that we are both Harry Potter fans and so jokingly David and I were saying that if the baby came during Harry Potter we would give her a middle name of Lily or him a middle name of James (for those who may not know - Harry Potter's parents' first names).

Well both David and I said we didn't like Milo for his first name and we both said we actually really liked the name James. And it turns out that James is actually a family name. Once we figured it out it was like that was his name! There was no second guessing this time.

But we couldn't get rid of Milo or Glen so we decided to be a bit unconventional and give him both as middle names.

James Milo Glen

It is a little long but I do recommend reading it

OK here is the story starting Monday morning...

Monday I had another NST and a doctors check up. When I got to the office one of the nurses said "You're STILL pregnant!!!" and the NST tech came out and was surprised to see me she though for sure that they were inducing me the week before.

During the NST there was nothing interesting happening, and that was the problem he wasn't really responding to stimulation but he did have a strong heartbeat. Then I went back to see the doctor and he walked and in and before I could say anything he said lets just get this thing done! I had a slightly high blood pressure and with James not really doing much it was finally enough to get him out.

When I left the office I was 85% effaced and 3cm dilated.

I got to the hospital and the nurses here were so happy to see me again. And Amy Garner (Taren's mom) was my nurse and she was really happy that they were finally inducing me.

I got all hooked up and the started the Pitocin and I got my epidural (so I can say that I never really felt a "real" contraction). The external monitors weren't really picking anything up on my contractions and then they kept loosing James' heart beat, so they wanted to break my water to get internal monitoring going. Well right when they were going to check me to see if it would be ok to break my water it broke on it's own so they got James hooked up and we were able to get a constant rate.

Well every time they tried to turn up the Pit James got angry and dropped his heart rate. So they put it on the lowest setting. I was just not making any progress I was now only a 3.5cm.

Then all of a sudden James decided to scare everyone and dropped his heart rate all the way down to the low 60s. I had several nurses run in they helped switch to my other side got me on oxygen and laid me completely flat. The doctor came in and checked me and since his heart rate went back up he decided that I didn't need to go straight back to the operating room. I was now only at a 4. So the decision was made that I was just not having good enough contractions on my own but the Pit made James angry so I was going to get a C-section. I was ok with this because I had already prepared myself for the possibility.

They up'ed my epidermal and wheeled me in to get started. Although I got the really bad shakes from the high dosage so they had to cover me in a blanket that blew hot air across my chest and arms.

And then at 12:44 am October 26th I heard one of the most wonderful sounds! James finally made his appearance! I barley got to see him and then he was gone but David followed him to get all cleaned up, and I got all stitched up. I have 17 staples in my tummy! James was 8 lbs 5 oz and 20 inches.

(Oh and I can have a VBAC if I want to when I do have other children.)

After getting all stitched and cleaned I had to stay in labor and delivery while James was downstairs waiting in the nursery. I was monitored for an hour and then was taken down stairs where I had to wait another 30 minutes before they could bring him in.

But oh man when they did I could barely see him through my tears of joy. I was just so happy to finally have him in my arms and knowing that I could keep him!

Since it was like 4 in the morning I decided that I just wanted to keep James in the room for the rest of the night. But I could not sleep at all I just wanted to stare at him.

A few hours later and some sleep I finally got all the feeling back in my legs. I was doing so well that they actually took me off my IV and took out my catheter sooner, the nurses say, then most women.

David and I just adore our little James. He really is a blessing from Heavenly Father and we are just in awww that he would send us someone so perfect. He really is amazing and wonderful.

Section C

12:20 am - They took Megan out (I followed of course) and got her in to surgery.

12:30 am - Surgery begins

12:44 am - James Milo Glen Andrus gets his first view of the world. A bunch of people in green scrubs and some really bright lights. He's 8 pounds 5 ounces and 20 inches long.

2:20 - I'm currently sitting in Megan's room as she recovers from the c section. She should be able to finally really see the baby soon. I have tons of video and pictures on my phone.

Tonight's the night...

10:30 pm - Baby's heartrate dropped pretty low (60 bpm - that's bad) and the nurses practically ran in. Got Megan turned and on oxygen and everything went back to normal. Doctor came in and talked about a caesarean section.

11:30 pm - Doctor came in, we talked for a few minutes and decided to go for the C section.

12:13 am - I'm in my scrubs - I look like a dork or maybe like I'm going to be heading into an Intel chip fabrication plant. We'll be seeing the baby soon!

Getting Closer

4:15 pm - Water broke during a cervical exam, monitor put directly on the baby

5:00 pm - Baby's heart rate has had several irregular drops. Megan put on oxygen. Pitocin drip stopped. Nothing to be seriously worried about.

6:15 pm - Pitocin restarted. Megan and the baby are doing great. Got some good contractions going.

7:15 pm - Megan's off the oxygen, contractions are nice and strong and Megan feels great thanks to the epidural. Baby and mom are still doing fine, no worries here (just one very antsy dad!).

It's Baby time!

Ok to kick things off I will write the first blog and then David will be doing the rest.

9:40 am - Doctors appt and NST, The doctor came in and said that it was finally time to go to the hospital to stay this time. I was not in real active labor but they were going to go ahead and induce

11:30 am - Admitted to the hospital, I got to the hospital got all hooked up and started an IV

1:00 pm - They have started the pitocin

3:15 pm - Got the epidural and feeling all nice and numb

4 days in the hospital

Ug What do I say really?

Well today was the 4th day in a row that I was sent to the hospital. (I did not go in on my own will but the will of the doctors)

The hospital called this morning telling me I needed to come back in today because my strip from yesterday was reviewed again and the doctor wanted to monitor me again.

Well I went in and got all hooked up and the nurse said well we are going to induce you we just have to monitor you for a little bit to get a good strip. Well then the doctor changed his mind everything was looking "good" so he was just going to send me home. Well I was not leaving without talking to him. Meanwhile my awesome nurses were doing everything they could to convince the doctor not to send me home saying that I did need to be induced. The baby even had a couple heart rate drops but I guess nothing was going to convince the doctor to induce me.

Ok so I know everyone is telling me that being induced is a lot longer and more painful. I know that it's better for me to start things on my own. But with EVERYTHING that has been going on: High Blood Pressure, the amount of fluid I'm retaining, the baby's heart rate....I would think they would want to get this baby out!

I also know that the chances of a C-section go up as well.

When the doctor came in he said (again) that I have a really big baby and that my chances of doing a C-section is already higher then normal.

I would be ok with things if it weren't the same thing over and over again. Every time I am sent to the hospital they keep saying oh today we are going to induce! Then after 2-4 hours of waiting and waiting they decide last minute to not induce.

It's just emotionally draining when you keep thinking and being told today is the day I get to meet my baby.

39 weeks

Ok so another doctors appointment and again high blood pressure 160/98 (the highest its ever been) so just like always we were sent back to the hospital for more monitoring. And again not a surprise, my blood pressure was only 127/73... I still had to have my urine checked and blood checked which was all normal (although I am a little dehydrated)

After 2 hours the doctor came in to tell me the same old, same old: go home be on modified bed rest...

I was only 2 cm and 65% effaced and so I asked if I could have my membranes stripped again and he said he would do it but it was going to hurt, I thought that I had already had this done it's not too bad just really uncomfortable. But holy crap! When he did it, it was horrible! He actually made me cry. The doctor said "oh did I make you cry?" I said "yes" He said "Oh good then I did it right". Well good hopefully this time it will actually work. He also said that when he was done with me I was a 3+cm dilated and that I was now 75% effaced.

Heres hoping that I will go into labor this weekend!

Preggo Pics

My parents came into town over the weekend and I had my step-mom take my maternity pictures. It was fun. We didn't have a real studio or something so we used a black shower curtain we got from walmart.

Oh and please don't try and guess the baby's name we are still not saying anything until he is born. This is just a little peek.

I have been have some pretty good contractions and the really painful ones I hear are the ones that help you dilate so I'm hoping that tomorrow when I go in they'll tell me I'm even closer to having him. I think there is a good possibility of having him this weekend but it's really hard to tell when I have contractions very consistently and then they stop altogether and then start up even harder and stronger! He's a big baby it's time he comes out now :)

2 1/2 weeks left

I'm more annoyed then anything really...

Today I went in for another non-stress test and everything was going fine but then baby decided to drop his heart rate below 100 for a good 2 min. So they sent me back to the hospital for more monitoring. Once I got all hooked up they wanted to watch me before making any decisions. Well after 2 hours and everything being normal they sent me home. I know have another NST scheduled for Friday.

There are people putting in bets that I wont last till the weekend.

I wouldn't mind to have the baby this week, I'd be ok with that.

I have been having so good contractions too and they are only getting close, so I'm crossing my fingers.

37 Weeks

Today I am 37 weeks! Only 3 weeks left!

But also today was kinda an adventure. We went in for my normal check up and when I got there my blood pressure was 147/88 (not good). We go through the normal appointment (I'm 65% effaced and 2 cm dilated) And then the doctor sends me to the hospital for some more monitoring. Well we got there and I got all hooked up and right off the bat my blood pressure was down to 127/80. The hooked the baby up too and was watching his heartbeat. Well the nurse had to keep coming in and adjust the monitor because the baby would shift. It was fun though because he got the hiccups twice and it was fun to hear them through the machine.

my blood pressure stayed low and after 4 and half hours we got the ok to go home and I'm back on strict bedrest. Which really isn't that bad, I was already on modified bedrest so it's not that different to go on full. Plus it's only 3 more weeks or less.

David was actually kinda disappointed that I didn't get admitted because if I was then we would most likely be having a baby this week.

oh one more thing I get to do another 24hr pee test.

Agency

What do I say... This blog will most likely be all over the place and I hope that it makes somewhat sense as I try to express my feelings and thoughts.

How can I let someone I love do something that is so obviously stupid to everyone else around him?!?!

Everyone can see that he is making the wrong choices and we try to tell him but he just wont listen. Or he is listening but choosing not to heed our warnings. To me it seems like it's like your driving down a road and there are all these signs that say "Danger" "Warning" "Heartache" "Betrayal", but all of these signs seem to be dim compared to the glow of the city in front of you.

This is just so frustrating!

There are even people who have told him that they "support" his choice but then behind his back say that they don't like the situation but they aren't going to say anything because "he needs to learn from his mistakes" even if it ends up hurting him.

I know we all have our own lives to live and we all have free agency, but it's so hard to stand by and watch someone do something you know will end up breaking their heart.

He even told me once that he prayed about it and felt that he shouldn't go forward with this and that he knows that it wasn't right.

I believe that he has gotten his answer, and he is choosing to ignore it.

We all have told him how we feel, we are all praying for him.

I don't know what else we can do! I don't know what else I can do!

I love him so I will just continue to love him (I may not support him but I love him)

October

It's finally October and our baby will be here this month! I know I say this a lot but we are so excited.

Now that I'm here in my last month I'm getting anxious, but in a good way. Every time I have a cramp or pain in my stomach I wonder if there will be more to follow. There are times when I wonder if my water broke, but then I realize that no I just peed a little.

Every time my son moves I wonder if he is getting excited to come out and meet us too (which I know he is)

Our bag is packed (for the most part):

-got an extra tooth brush and toothpaste

-hair brush

- hair ties and headbands

-ipod with "relaxing" music for me (It has everything on it from Enya to Breaking Benjamin)

- video camera, digital camera, and my nice camera and all the hook ups for the computer

-extra contacts and solution

-babies blanket

....There are more things that are going in but you get the point right....

We finished our prenatal class last night. It was a fun informative class, even though it wasn't new information for me it was really good for David. And the nurse who taught the class is also a lactation nurse so the last class was all about breastfeeding. I am planning on exclusively breastfeeding so the last class was really helpful.

As for a birth plan, mine is I think really simple:

- I want an epidural as soon as I can!

- I want to use my own music

- I would like to ware my own hospital gown

- I would like to breastfeed within the first hour

- If I need a C-section I would like David in the room

I don't know I really trust the doctors and nurses.

Again we are really excited and getting anxious. We can't wait to meet our baby boy!