Birth Story- and yep I'm back

So things are much better. Well sort of. I wouldn't have made it without my mom who stayed a LOT longer than she bargained for. Thanks Mom. And thanks to Caleb's mom who came the following week and helped out. How lucky are we to have so many people help us! Porter is doing well...gaining weight thankfully! He is really cute and starting to smile. He loves to hold his head up and rolled over twice yesterday. It wasn't on purpose. So here's the story:

Friday March 31st I had my second non-stress test scheduled. I had given up hope that this baby would ever come out after having my membranes stripped, walking four miles, climbing BYU stairs and so much more. So before the appointment I took the bags out of my trunk. I had enough of them teasing me. I took the chicken out and started the wash. We were going to go to this apt. come home make dinner and go to a movie. I told Caleb not to worry about coming to the apt. because it was a waste of time anyway. He was worried and wanted to come. We got there and hooked up and the nurse asked about my contractions. I told her I only had 2 last night. She watched the monitor and said "Do you feel that?" I said yes, isn't that him moving? Apparently I had been having quite a few contractions and had no idea. Well she continued to watch him and his heart rate was dropping with every contraction. She told me to plan on staying in the hospital and went and called the doctor. A few minutes later she told me I was going to be admitted. Dang those bags I took out! So I got admitted and the doctor came and told me the plan. They were going to give me a pill to make me dilate..I was still a ONE! And hope my body went into labor on my own but if not I would be induced in the morning. The pill was given in small increments every few hours. They had to put the pill on my cervix. Holy Molly that was so PAINFUL!!! I was scared of the epidural so I wanted to wait as long as I could before I gave in. At 11:50 pm I couldn't stand the pain and decided to get the epidural. UM that HURT TOO! But after that I was able to get some sleep. At 2:30 AM I felt something on my leg and thought my water had broke. The nurse came in and it had! I continued to get the pill and went from a 1 to a 3 to a 5 to an 8 to a 10. At around 5:45 they got ready for me to push. I was on oxygen and he was still showing distress with my contractions. I asked the nurse if I was going to have a c-section and she would say "we're going to do everything we can to have a vaginal delivery" and then would leave the room to call the doctor. The whole time I had the epidural I had the shakes and that wasn't too fun. The Dr came in at 6 and was supposed to go home, but decided to stay and deliver the baby. I was so glad because I really liked him. In between contractions we discussed The Office and told jokes. It was really hard because I had to push so hard for so long and then I was laughing at Caleb or the Dr and couldn't ever catch my breath. I pushed for 2 hours and the Doctor said " I see dark hair". I told him yeah right because I knew this baby was bald. Then he and Caleb were told me that there was hair and I was really ready to push. The baby wasn't progressing and the doctor suggested using a vacuum to get him out within ten minutes. I was all game. I could feel him coming out (every time I pushed I had my eyes closed) and the Dr said "kendra, you gotta look at this, check this out" so I did. There was half a body coming out of me. It was really strange. But he had dark hair!!! One more set of pushing and he was out. I had him cleaned off before he came on me (I know how could I, but I really didn't want that gunk on me). While I was being cleaned up I looked over and noticed how big this kids feet were! They were huge! He weighed 8lbs 8oz. and was healthy as could be. The rest was pretty typical. I was cleaned up and Caleb and Porter went to get cleaned. After I had him I cried for about 30 seconds and then had this feeling like I TOTALLY ROCK! I don't know if that is typical but I felt like I could do anything.

Porter is almost a month and it has been very challenging, emotional and wonderful. Breastfeeding is still a struggle, I haven't healed yet but got a shield and that has been a gift from the Heavens. We are alone for the first time and really like being our own little family. It doesn't feel like he has been here all along but we sure are glad he is here now. I'm much more stable these days and haven't cried for hours in quite some time =). Things are still getting worked out but it takes time, something I'm not great at. I wish my stomach would go back to normal or semi-normal. But I guess that will take more time. Caleb is a great Daddy and Porter is as sweet as can be. Here are some more pictures my amazing sister Kristie took.