Grayer's Birth Story

I should give a warning that I'm about to get very personal,and this will be a long post... Okay, you're warned. 

We had an scheduled induction on October 13, 2014. Check in was the Sunday before at 7 pm. It was such a surreal feeling packing our bags and knowing the next time we came back home Grayer would be with us in our arms!

We loaded up the Tahoe, which is on video (thanks to my picture obsessive mother), and headed to our favorite Mexican restaurant (we eat there a good 3 times a week). Matthew, the little chatter-box that he is...almost made us late, but we arrived at the hospital right on time. We checked in and the panic set in.

I. HATE. needles.

I was more worried about getting the iv than I was about actual delivery... Sad, I know. I got the iv in my forearm. I can still feel that iv if I think hard enough about it. Luckily my favorite show, Once Upon A Time, was on, so I tried to just focus on that. When I was all hooked up my nurse, Tammy, let me know the game plan. They would check for dilation and monitor contractions, before giving me a capsule that would be inserted into the cervix to get it ripe (I love talking about my body parts like they're fruit haha). Then the next morning my doctor would come in break my water and start pitocin and get Grayer out! I was already dilated to almost a 3 and was having contractions every 8 minutes apart! WHO KNEW?! I got the capsule and the waiting began. That night was interesting, Matthew, my mom, and sister all stayed with me. One couch and one chair. Matthew slept on the floor on what wouldn't be considered a mattress by my standards... mom in a chair, and Kinsey on the couch. Luckily Matthew can sleep anywhere. Mom and I got zero sleep.

At 7 am  Dr. Supan came in and it was time to break my water. I had to be induced due to too much fluid. Emphasis on Too Much. Knowing what was about to go down. I scooted my foot on my doctors thigh to ensure my sock wouldn't get wet. Side note- Dr. Supan didn't know what to do with me my entire pregnancy. I'm too much lol. WHOOOSH. The first tidal wave hit and it was time to wait again. I decided to try to go natural, so I waited until I was really hurting to ask for the epidural. I waited too long. At 6 centimeters with no epidural, I felt pain like I had never felt before. I have a high pain tolerance, but this was doing me in. I started throwing up blood (still not sure where it came from) scared my sister(nurse) and my l&d nurse half to death. After that, my anesthesiologist got there pretty quickly.

When I was finally getting my juice and had to sit up-right, the second tidal wave hit. It was a small ocean. Matthew couldn't even hold my hand while getting the epidural because he "didn't want his shoes in that". Ha! But I really couldn't blame him.

Then they told me I was fully dilated, but they wanted to wait to let him drop as far as he could. After the longest hour of my life, it was time to push. Surprise! Your doctor was called in for an emergency surgery, so we called in another doctor (love her too) in case he isn't finished in time. Dr. Clay came in and it was time to push! One push (I'm a good pusher lol) and he was crowning... In walks in Supan! "Don't push again yet; let me get ready". Sure!

Once my doctors had switched, I was allowed to push again. Then the dreaded "Kels... you have to make a choice. You are going to tear if you don't get an episiotomy." I made the decision to be cut.

One more push and our lives were forever changed. 5:54 pm Grayer Matthew Richards entered this world.

I had the BEST pregnancy/delivery experience possible. I was richly blessed.

Maternity Pictures

If you guys are in Georgia, you should use Kaptured Photography for all your picture needs. I could not love this couple more. The pictures are awesome, and their prices are extremely reasonable! I love this couple! They have been in my life for a long time (their son was one of my best friends in high school), and I hope they will continue to be!

Here are just a couple of my favorites!

 LOVE. LOVE. LOVE.

Weeks 35-39

35 Weeks

36 weeks

 

37 weeks

38 weeks

39 weeks

Back Again!

I suck at this. I'll be the first to admit it...
However, I still have high hopes to make this work in between balancing my duties as a wife, student, and my newest role- mom. I love saying that! I love being a mom. So I'll play catch up... After 39 weeks of waiting and 2 awesome showers, we introduced the newest member of our family. He is perfect. absolutely perfect. Matthew and I cannot imagine our lives with out him.

Here's to filling you back in!

34 weeks!

How far along: 34 weeks!

Total weight gain: 23 lbs 
Maternity clothes? HA! My maternity clothes don't cover up this bump anymore lol

Stretch marks? It doesn't matter if you lather up in lotion, or if your mom never got them. My belly got them too :( I know everyone says you earned them and all, but call me vain... I still get upset.  

Sleep: Yes, still wake up to go to the bathroom though.

Best moment this week: I went to the doctor and heard Grayer's sweet heart beat.

Miss Anything? Coffee.My body

Movement: I was convinced he dislocated a rib... I still am for that matter lol People can see movement by just looking at my belly now. So cool.  

Food cravings: Carmel this week lol

Symptoms: Heartburn. Always Heartburn. My back constantly hurts too.

Anything making you queasy or sick: Not really 

Labor Signs: A few braxton hicks I think lol but nothing major 

Wedding rings on or off? On

Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy!

Looking forward to: Maternity pics!

Momma & Grayer Updates 

Well... we went today for our 34 week appointment, and this belly of mine is measuring 38-40 weeks! 

It could just be fluids ( it was at 28 weeks, but corrected itself), his position, or he is huge lol either way I'm just excited to see him again :)

Hopefully he stays cooking for at least 3 more weeks!

27- 33 Weeks!

I know I'm terrible at this. The blog was the last thing on my list with finals and trying to keep up my home and marriage. With that being said, SCHOOL IS OVER! This girl has her degree! I'll start back in January to continue my education but for now... all focus is on Grayer!

Catch up Weeks!

 

 

 

I did a silhouette shot and LOVED IT

 

Must haves during your 1st Trimester

Being in my last week of my second trimester, I went back reminiscing. This pregnancy has flown by! I thought I would compile a list of things that I felt were absolutely essential to have during those first weeks. 

1. Prenatal Vitamins. I am a child and got the gummy ones. Don't put off buying them, and taking them. I'm pretty sure your doctor might even give you free samples. It is so important to help you and your sweet bundle stay healthy. P.S. I was taking prenatals as my daily vitamins months before conceiving. 

2. Cocoa Butter... I know they say stretch marks is a hereditary thing, but rubbing my belly and tah-tahs down made me feel better. This is the exact kind I use. I used the actual pregnancy belly butter stuff that comes in a much smaller bottle for a whole lot more, and I really like this kind better. It isn't as thick; it doesn't leave you greasy (I HATE that); it smells like vacation. I'm terrible about remembering to do this kinda thing, so I wanted to start early so I would be in the habit of doing it when I got bigger. Regardless if you think this has no control over stretch marks or not.... when you start getting bigger, your belly will itch as it grows, so it's a good idea to stay moisturized.

3. I have never dealt with acne, so when my cheeks were covered I panicked. I am not a fan of washing my face in the sink. I'd like to call a bull on the commercials with the smiling girls rinsing their face. Yeah right. I end up irritated with a flood around my bathroom sink. These are my favorites. Even without acne, they are a great makeup remover.

4. The famous belly band. This is nice for that awkward in between stage. Where you don't look pregnant pregnant just bloated, and your jeans wont zip. The nice thing about the belly band is you can fold it down when you aren't very big. I got mine at Target.

 5. A night light. Seriously. Buy one. This little guy has served me well the past 26 weeks. I keep mine in the bathroom, and I leave the bathroom door open. When you get up for the 15th time that night, the last thing you want to do is run into the dresser, and then get your booty wet when you fall in because you couldn't see that your precious hubby left the toilet seat up. I really wanted to put this as number one. It is that crucial.

 6. If you have all day morning sickness, I am terribly sorry. I really got lucky and haven't been sick once in 26 weeks. I know, you hate me. Regardless, there were times when I got a little queasy. These always did the trick for me. My ob recommended them in the very beginning to help with morning sickness, if I ever got it. I think it has something to do with the tartness.

 7. WATER BOTTLE. You are supposed to drink a lake a day and it is always easier when you have something cute to drink it out of. I do better drinking out of a straw, so I made sure I got a big cute tumbler with a straw and kept refilling that bad boy.

This was my first trimester in a nutshell. Hope this helps you!