August's Story

As we approach August's birthday and I have to start planning a party, I spend a lot of time thinking of him. Thinking of the past 5 years and what they have brought us. Thinking of how Brayden was his age when he was born. So while I was thinking of this little man I get to know better every single day, it dawned on me I have not documented the birth story. So I though I would document his birth story while I still can vaguely remember it...

After our horrible experience with Brayden's birth we had decided that no matter the cost we would have the birth we wanted. We found a wonderful waterbirth clinic and an exceptional midwife.

It is funny to think of now that I was assuming August was going to come early. I believed this so much so that my father came up from California almost 2 weeks early to "babysit" me. Brent was paranoid I would not even feel that I was in labor and just have the baby right there in the living room. He didn't want me to be alone at all.

On October 2, 2009 I can remember not feeling very good and taking a shower and going to bed, bummed that the baby did not come because that was my Grandma Dorothy's birthday and it would have been cool to have him share her birthday (and Rebecca's). I was restless as most women are when they are 40wks along and tossing and turning most of the night. The morning of October 3rd during one of my "turns or tosses" I felt a weird POP in my belly. (this was around 8am) Of course this freaked me out because I thought I had done something (pulled a muscle, detached placenta, something?). I startled Brent with my gasp of surprise and he woke up and jumped up. I remember explaining to him what happened and what I had felt. With the previous two I had mild cramping (I mistook for gas, both times) no POP-ing. As I tried to sit up I realized I was leaking fluid. My water had broke. How weird it was. W were feeling totally confused because I was not having any contractions. So peaceful and anticlimactic.
We called our midwife and she said to come to the clinic in ONE hour.  (9am)

Apparently if we had been anyone else she would have just instructed us to contact her when contractions started, but because I usually do not feel contractions and have really quick labors she wanted us in right away. My mom was staying with us too, because I wanted her present at the birth. She had been there for all the others. She helped me fashion a diaper and get to the car as the time approached. I couldn't believe how much fluid there was. I had only felt two contractions that whole time. As we drove to the clinic a whopping 8mins away I can remember having two more contractions each getting stronger than the other.

We arrived at the clinic at the same time as our midwife. She ran upstairs and went to work. 

I remember being asked if I wanted the stairs or elevator and thinking that was funny. I was just not feeling like I was in labor yet. As we entered the clinic there were several midwifes and apprentices sleeping. Apparently there was a woman there who had been laboring all night. 

As our midwife Tracy ran in and started the tub, rolled up the carpet in the room and set up to check mine and baby's vitals, the other midwives were kind of laughing about the frantic-ness. They were like "her water broke only an hour ago?"
Like I was going to be in labor for awhile so why is she rushing...

The room August was born in was called the Angel room. It was lovely and decorated with lots of white and pictures of angels. We sat down while the tub finished filling. I got to sit on a little liner so I wouldn't ruin the couch. I started to work on my internal dialogue of what was going on with my body and what I was about to go through. Trying to remain calm and in control as much as I could.

*WARNING*

These are pictures of the birth, nothing is too exposed, but be warned...

 As we got settled I remember not much time going by between contractions. By the time the tub was ready so was I . My mom showed up with Mitchel. He was going to cut the cord. We had discussed it with him and asked if he would like to to that. We figured since my labors are short he wouldn't get bored or anything. He was very attentive to me. My sisters Jen and Carleen showed up as well as my niece Breanna. It was so nice to be surrounded by so many people just there to love and support you.

Mitch feeling my stomach tighten with a contraction

 I got in the tub.

I love water births.

I love the freedom of getting in any position you find comfortable. It is much easier to move around in the water than it is lying on your back in a bed. I guess since my first baby was a water birth I just got kind of biased. Still, I recommend it to EVERYONE.

Listening to baby's heartbeat.

Like usual, as soon as I got in the water the contractions really kicked up!

My midwife had said that the birth could be as hands on or off as WE wanted.
I was confused by this, as the hospital would just jump right in there and tell you what to do.
(even with my previous water birth ~ because it was in a hospital)

This time my midwife sat on the bed and just kind of watched me birth. She was communicating with me the whole time and checking in that I was comfortable, but it was such a new experience.

It was pretty empowering knowing that I could do that pretty much by myself. 

The hospital makes you feel so out of control and like it is a condition that needs to be treated, not like a process that can be a wonderful experience.
I had not wanted Brent in the tub with me because of my desire to have more freedom of movement and I needed to concentrate on my hypno birthing techniques.

Mitchel was a great distraction from the pain.

The other camera got a pretty good shot here, this is when I decided to bear down and push and he came out

After a few more contractions, meditating and some conversation  it was time to start pushing...

One good push and we were holding August in our arms.

(mind you both my sisters were armed with cameras so we have a literal frame by frame of events)

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August you were here...finally!

We were so happy to meet you.

It all happened so fast.

The poor woman next door was still laboring away and her midwives were very impressed at what a quick birth you were. (born around 10am)

Since we were at a waterbirth clinic instead of a hospital we got to take our time and get acquainted before they took you to weigh you and stuff. I was able to nurse you, count fingers and toes. It was lovely and so relaxed.

Grandma taking pictures to send to everyone

There it is. The placenta. This picture is kind of gross...Still the midwives were very impressed with it.

Soon it was time for Mitchel to cut the cord.
After passing the placenta I finished nursing and then got out and hopped in the shower.
 So finally Daddy got his hands on his boy!


 

Tracy explains to Mitch (9 years old) what he is going to be doing.
(We had already gone over this with him, but this was the big moment)

 

That is one proud Daddy there.

After the cord cutting we did the weighing and I got all snuggled in bed.
They brought me a yummy smoothie and I got to select what Daddy and I were having for breakfast.

9lbs 7ozs

Tracy measured you and checked you out right there at the foot of the bed.
You were 22.5 inches long!

After some more nursing and snuggling you were passed around to all your aunts and grandma.

 

You were a loud screamer.
You slept really good.
It was easy and exciting to finally have you.
Plus we chose to spend the first two days at the clinic being waited on and I got a full body massage. It was a great way to ease into a third bundle of joy.
Bray came and met you too. He was very interested for about a second...

No rest for the wicked though.
As soon as we did get home we had Mitch's football and Brayden's swimming.
Not to mention your dad and brothers coming down with the flu the very week I brought you home.
We were busy bees.

Anyways, back to adoring you when you were brand new.

I could not get over how long you were for a newborn. You were just a huge baby.

My favorite picture of that day. It captures how I felt. Just admiring all my guys.

Our first picture that we actually posed for. Look you even opened your eyes.

 We took you home and settled into our new routine.
And it just has been amazing being your mother (parents).
You were so wanted and anticipated.
We were just so ready for you it is insane.
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October 2009

After your first bath. You had thick baby acne.

Brayden compared your guys feet and hands. He was  obsessed how little you were.

You were growing out of that "newborn" pea pod costume. You were the size of a 3month old.

I put you on your tummy right away. Your cheeks were so big they would hang down. Cutest thing ever.

 November 2009

(One Month)

 

Thanksgiving at Grandpa's in California

December 2009
(Two Months)

 

Grandpa came up for Christmas and you went to Safari Sams for the first time.

January 2010
(Three Months)

February 2010
(Four Months)

 March 2010
(Five Months)

One of my favorite PJ's that you wore...

Pump it Up for My birthday

Spring Break trip to the Oregon Zoo

April 2010
(Six Months)

sitting on Grandma Annette's kitchen table

Sitting outside the Keller Auditorium

May 2010
(Seven Months)

first teeth

June 2010
(Eight Months)

Prepping for rafting at Uncle Jay's

July 2010
(Nine Months)

Camping at Beverly Beach, Oregon Coast

August 2010
(Ten Months)

Trip to Redmond to visit Grandma and Pap

September 2010
(Eleven Months)

First dance in the rain with Daddy

October 2010
One Year Old

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 October 2011
Two Years Old

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October 2012
Three Years Old

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October 2013
Four Years Old

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And just like that POOF!
You are going to be Five.
School age.
A full hand of fingers...old.

It is hard to let you grow up.
And the world scares me.
I just want so much for you and want to teach you so much.
Sometimes it feels like the days are wasted when we just lay around reading books, jumping on the trampoline, and digging for worms (that was today by the way).
I mean, I could be doing so much more with you.
You could be tying your own shoes or something...
*Sigh*
 I'm trying to be okay with you being Five.
Like I have made peace with Brayden being Ten and Mitchel Fourteen.

You are just such an incredible force in our lives. We love you so much.
You exhaust us and entertain us.
You are always trying to get us to laugh.
Sometimes it is frustrating because I want you to be serious and concentrate (like at soccer), but then I remember how many years you are going to have to be serious and I try to relax...
and then I think of how serious I must seem.
How cranky I get about silly little things. That is what makes me laugh the most.
Thinking of how you must see me sometimes. You make me a better person.
I am grateful to be your mother.
God made you so special and we are lucky you are apart of our family.
Just know that as you grow over the next 100 years or so.