Wade's First Week

With gratitude and rejoicing in our hearts, we announce that after waiting months and months and months and months....Wade is finally born, healthy, happy and strong!

Contractions were first really noticeable on Saturday evening when I had three in the space of our 30 minute drive home from Salt Lake.  Then they stopped.  At 3 AM on Sunday morning I had three in 10 minutes, got WAY excited, but I rolled over and they stopped.  I experienced the occasional contraction throughout Sunday morning, thinking they were all Braxton Hicks.  As the intensity steadily increased, Eric whipped out the pregnancy bible and started reading up, and concluded that I was "probably a lot closer to the real thing than I realized".  This made my hopes rise of course, as I lamented the possibility of a full week of these painful abdominal cramps.  As we were all getting ready for church at 11:30, I suggested to Eric that we may want to sleep at his parents house that night in order to be closer to the hospital, just in case.  And if not, we could enjoy a visit with family, and be in the city already for our morning appointment with the doctor.  Eric suggested that after church we all pick our top five names for the baby, and write them down.  

As we were about ready to head out the door for church, I decided that heading to South Jordan immediately would be the better option.  Eric ran upstairs to change clothes and pack the car.  I walked to the church to deliver the opening exercises sheet for primary and experienced three contractions in those 10 minutes.  Then we were on our way!  I was hoping that we would just have to meet Eric's parents at the hospital, but after two intense contractions, they totally stopped for the rest of the drive.  I was about to despair that our baby would ever be born.  When we arrived at the in-laws, I discovered that when I was moving, the contractions came fast and hard.  When I was still, they stopped.  So we went for a walk.  But it was cold, and Eric thought it probably wasn't helping things along anyway.  Either he was coming or he wasn't.  So I decided on a nap, and of course, the contractions stopped.  And I rested, which turned out to be awesome.  I awoke and stood up and felt the familiar cramping, but was overjoyed when another came while sitting on the couch!  I moved to the dinner table and had three while SITTING and eating in 10 minutes.  I decided it was time to go, and if they sent us home, so be it.  So, we took our picture in front of the clock and were on our way.  We arrived at the hospital at 5:15 dilated to 4.5, and after approximately 10 minutes of pushing, Wade was born at 7:30 PM.  I am not sure I have ever felt so happy as when I finally touched him.

Sam cracks me up! :o)

The hospital stay was nice.  A few things happened that I would like to note.

1.  The nurse that helped with delivery lives in Stansbury Park and I had met her at a Stake activity two years ago.  I loved having her there.  Until I was pushing, and then I didn't care who was there.  Only that this child be born already.

2.  Wade had the contents of his stomach emptied with a tube.  He had a large amount of chunky fluid spew from his mouth at midnight on Sunday, which nearly gave me a heart attack, so I called the nurse.  She took him to the nursery where they emptied his stomach of excess amniotic fluid.  It happened again a few hours later, (not quite as much fluid the second time) but they were certain he would be fine.  And he has been.

3.  They wanted to keep Wade for two nights of observation to make sure he was infection free.  I tested GBS positive and the penicillin was not in my system for the minimum time due to fast labor.  I was confident that he would be fine, since infection rates are already way low, and my water didn't break until pushing.  I was happy to stay the maximum time, free of responsibilities and free to cuddle Wade whenever I wanted.

4.  And able to enjoy 24-hour room service at the touch of a button!  I love hospital food.  I enjoyed pretty much everything they brought me--especially the parfaits, chocolate milk, omelet LOADED with ham, and roasted tomato soup.  These are things I never get on a normal day and these are things I did NOT have to prepare.  I do love to cook, but I do love a good break as well.  :o)

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 Thanks to Wade's arrival, we had an eventful week filled with family!  After checking out of the hospital on Tuesday, we met Steph and Ryan's family on Temple Square.  Then, Grandma and Grandpa Anderson, Sylvie and Eli visited, staying over Friday night and leaving Saturday mid-morning.  Clark and Maria's family stopped by on Saturday afternoon.  On Sunday evening, Grandma and Grandpa Cropper, Marisa, and Wes and Debbie's family visited.  So much fun.  

Today has been VERY quiet. 

The pain I experienced through eight and a half months of this pregnancy, I feel, has been immense.   But the reward is immeasurable.  Having children is amazing.  Watching them learn and grow  is amazing.  The family is amazing.  I am SO grateful for mine!

Wade has already been such a joy and a blessing.  He is the perfect baby.  He is sweet, quiet, beautiful, GREAT at eating, an AMAZING sleeper, and calm. 

Is he not perfect?!  I declare he is!



Just for fun...

Lucy...6 lb 14 oz             Sam...5 lb 7 oz             Wade...8 lb 6 oz

Lucy Eliza                    Samuel Erickson                  Wade Thomas