The Wall Family: November 2008

You know... things never really work out the way that you plan them, but I suppose that's a good thing.

I was planning on being induced on Tuesday, November 25th, but on morning of Friday, November 21st I said a casual, silent prayer. "Father, if my baby is ready to come today- I'm ready for him." Later that day I had some irritating "wetness" and called my doctor's office. The nurse told me to go into the hospital to make sure it wasn't amniotic fluid, but that it was probably an infection that would need to be cleared up before I had my baby.

"It's better to be safe than sorry," she said.
"Okay, I'll go on my lunch break," I replied.

I left work at 2:00pm and said I'd be back by 3:00. When Jeff and I went to the hospital I was expecting them to swab my under garments and send me on my way. However hospitals don't work that way. They took me into a delivery room and told me to undress for a non-stress test, which monitors contractions and the baby's heart rate.

"Oh, I'm here for a different test," I said.

"Amniotic fluid check, right?" said the nurse.

"Yes."

"Right," she responded, "just take your clothes off and put on this gown. The resident doctor will be in shortly to give you a vaginal exam. We haven't figured out how to do those without making you get undressed."

Soon after, another nurse came in and hooked me up to the NST monitor. I had only been laying there a few minutes when I had a contraction, a contraction the caused the baby's heart rate to drop below 80 beats per minute, which isn't good. The acceptable heartbeat range is 110-180.

The nurse ran back into the room and said, "You just bought yourself a long stay on the monitor with that one."

Jeff called my office and said that I probably wouldn't be coming back in that afternoon. Ironically, Friday was my last day anyway.

I stayed on the NST for an hour without any problems or decelerations in the baby's heart rate. The nurse came back in and said, "It looks good. Time to send you home. I just called your doctor, and you're free to go." And no joke, she went to pull the cord out of the machine,and I started another contraction that made the baby's heart rate drop again below 80.

"Looks like I'll be calling your doctor back." The nurse left the room. Jeff and I weren't sure what to think at that point. A few minutes later the nurse and resident doctor came in and said, "It looks like you may be having this baby tonight."

"What?!?" was all I could think. The doctor went on to explain that the baby may not be able to handle contractions and they needed to induce me immediately to monitor him. If he couldn't handle the contractions, I would have to have an emergency c-section. The doctor and nurse left the room to get the petocin. Jeff and I just sat there, oddly calm.

I turned to Jeff, "I prayed the baby would come today."
"Looks like your prayer may have been answered," he responded.

I had a great sense of peace and comfort. I had the distinct impression that the baby was fine and these two decelerations were the Lord's way of inducing my labor, which turned out to be a good thing.

Long story short....I was induced and dilated very quickly. I didn't get an epidural until I was dry heaving, shaking and dilated to an 8. The baby had no signs of distress until I was already in the pushing phase. It was then that the attending nurse realized that the baby's umbilical cord was rapped around his neck. She assured me that it was common and her son was born with the same thing, but that we needed to get the baby out quickly.

After 1 hour and 35 minutes of pushing... we welcomed Carson Jeffrey Wall into the world at 1:35am! A perfectly health, beautiful baby boy!

This is me texting people while they induce my labor.

Here's Jeff hanging out in the labor & delivery room.

I was on oxygen about half of the time- as a precautionary measure.

Here's the doctor handing Carson to me for the first time. What's my face right there?

Who would have ever guessed that I would have a 6 pound baby? Not me. I was expecting a big baby, but I wouldn't trade my precious little guy for anything in the world. It turned out that the umbilical cord was wrapped around his neck twice. So, it's a good thing he didn't get much bigger.

Carson after being cleaned off.

Proud parents with their favorite Doctor, Dr. Gemmell, who wasn't on call, but came in just to deliver our baby.

Daddy changing his first diaper- with a smile on his face.

My favorite picture of Carson in the hospital. This is the day after he was born.

Our childbirth class instructor, Nurse Bonnie, got to take care of us all day on Sunday. She gave us 3 cute caps and calls herself "Aunt Bonnie." She came and hung out with us even after she clocked-out.

Carson's going home outfit...this wasn't the original outfit he was going to wear home, but he was too small for the one we picked out. This was one of 2 newborn outfits that we bought. Jeff and my mom had to go buy more after he came home.

Yay for coming home!

Well, it's been awhile since I've posted anything. Here's a recap of the last few weeks....

I had 5 baby showers- Friends, Family, Work, Ward... It's been such a blessing! Jeff and I haven't spent more than $200 on baby supplies or the nursery, and we are freakishly prepared!!! It's amazing!

This is the shower my Mommy had for me in American Fork.

Apparently, I'm a hottie. Maybe I'll feel like one again in a couple of weeks

My best friends from high school- "The Girls" Traci, Leah, Me, Robyn, & Natalie

Me & My Mom- You'd never guess that we're related

WORK SHOWER

My office at the U threw a luncheon for me, my co-worker Katie and our spouses. Katie and I were prego together... but she's home with her new baby already, and I'm still at work ;'(