Three and a half weeks later, maybe it is time for me to actually write about Drew's birth. I keep thinking I am going to sit down and do it - because as each day passes, the details become a little more blurry.... So here it goes....
About a month before my due date, I was put on modified bed rest because of my blood pressure. From that day on, I was at the doctor's office about every 3 or 4 days - sometimes even more often than that - to be checked. Every time I went, they seemed less than thrilled with my numbers, and the word "induction" started to be thrown around a lot. Finally, on September 10th, we decided that I would go in to the hospital to be induced n Sunday, Sept. 14.
Those last few days before going to the hospital were a blur. My parents came in to help us get some stuff done around the house, and I just kept saying to myself "I'm having a baby in a few days....I'm having a baby in a few days..." just trying to make myself believe it.
On Sunday, I was a nervous wreck. We were due to be at the hospital at 5 that evening. I spent most of the day making sure I had everything ready and trying to get some rest. When we left the house that evening, I burst into tears. I think the stress of the whole bedrest thing had just gotten to me and I was simply worn out, and obviously anxious about what was about to happen.
We got the hospital - and again I cried the whole way in. I know those nurses thought I was a nut case!!! I got settled in and filled out paperwork and then they started me on the cervadil. That was less than pleasant. My parents arrived and CAL's parents arrived and we hung out for awhile. They went to get me dinner and then they left us to rest - haha. I didn't sleep much that night. I was uncomfortable from the cervadil, and just couldn't wrap my mind around the fact that I was about to give birth. Added to that was the uncertainty of actually birthing this little one naturally. When the doctor checked me that night to put in the cervadil, he said I was about as unfavorable as I could be. Not what you really want to hear!!!
The next morning my doctor came in and checked me and they started me on the pitocin. It seemed that the cervadil had done a little bit but not a whole lot. Around 11:30 that morning, I decided it was time for the epidural and our sweet friend Bob came to the hospital to administer it, even though he wasn't on call. And oh, the drugs...it was bliss. Suddenly I couldn't feel anything and I couldn't have been happier. I still don't understand why people do the whole natural birth thing... :)
As the day progressed, I progressed very slowly. My doctor was great and was very encouraging and supportive of my desire to have this baby naturally. Every small bit of progress was a huge plus in my mind. I was determined to prove the doctor that had given me the cervadil wrong. He was sure I would need a c-section...but I am stubborn and I was going to try my hardest to have the baby naturally.
Our families were there the whole time and came in and out to check on us. I don't remember all the details, but I do remember the shakes I would get because of the drugs, and throwing up because of who knows what. It seemed like I made progress each time I was checked, but it was really slow. Day turned to evening, and then evening turned to early morning...and finally at 2:00 AM, my sweet doctor said it was probably time to throw in the towel. We made the decision to go ahead and have a C-section, and they started prepping CAL and myself for what was about to happen.
I remember just falling apart at that point. It wasn't going at all the way I had envisioned it. I remember praying that everything would be okay, and I remember telling the doctors that they were going to need to make sure CAL was sitting down in the operating room. The most helpless moment I think I have ever experienced was when they wheeled me down the hall without my husband or anyone else in my family. I went into surgery with a bunch of strangers and all I wanted was my husband to hold my hand. And then all I could think was that I was going to have this baby and not even get to hold it because they would have my arms strapped down.
After what seemed like an eternity, they brought CAL in and started telling me I was going to feel some pressure. Pressure is the understatement of the century. But then this miraculous thing happened....I felt pressure that I knew was my baby being born. Since we didn't know what we were having, the doctor told CAL that he could tell me what it was. After what seemed like an eternity, he looked at me and said, "We have a Drew!" I will never forget how I felt in that moment. It was like the world stopped as I heard my sweet husband tell me we had a son, and I heard his little cry in the background. They brought him over and held him up for me to see, and in that moment, my world changed. I would never be the same. CAL went over to be with him as they cleaned him up and then they brought him to me and let me hold him...I was thrilled. I didn't think they would let me. But they did, and I held him for about 8 minutes before they took him down the hall to meet his grandparents and aunt, and head to the nursery to be checked out.
After they all left the room, I was on the table being sewn up, and I tried to comprehend what had just happened. I remember thanking God for his safe arrival and for his health. And I remember feeling like I had been given the greatest gift I could have ever received. I tried to have conversations with the anesthesiologist and the nurses, but was so tired and drugged that I couldn't really form the words. And then before I knew it, they were moving me back onto my bed and down the hall to my room.
I was greeted by my family, and then seconds later they brought in my son - my sweet Andrew Tyler - and I held him and loved on him as much as I could. What sweet, sweet, precious moments....The moments of brand new life in your arms. I cannot even begin to describe it. I eventually gave him up so the rest of the family could love on him, and then everyone was ushered out so I could feed my boy for the first time. And then they took him to the nursery and we got some much needed sleep.
In looking back, it wasn't the way I would have planned it to go. But it was exactly how God planned it to be. His gift to us came to us in His perfect time and in His perfect way. And on Tuesday, September 16th at 3:05 AM, our lives were changed forever as we welcomed our sweet angel to earth. I wouldn't trade a moment of it for anything.
The next pictures are from a shower that my mom's best friend and dear friend to our family threw for me in my hometown of Hendersonville. This was mostly women who have been influential in my life from the time I was a little girl, and also a good friend of mine from my days in Fletcher. It was such a sweet time and so good to be with these women who have made such a difference in my life!!!
The whole gang!!!
Emily - Hostess Extraordinaire!
No, we're not related.......
This is little B-Man "surfing" in the really cold ocean water! 
And this is his ride on "those toys" that he LOVED!
Daddy took a few pictures for Clark and I on the beach... We took all of these pics at the totally wrong time of day, but hey, whatever works with a 3 year old!!!
