double l's birth story

pre-birth story here

so there I was sitting in the office, emailing friends and family to inform them that my little one was not going to arrive that day. I sent my bub to work and went to work myself. actually, at this point I was working from home full-time, so I called my boss and team to inform them they were stuck with me for a couple more days. as I sat through conference calls, analyzed reports, and sent emails. I frequently noticed the contractions that I never stopped having since california where more intense at times and by the end of the day I notice they seem to be closer together. after preterm labor and two false labors, I told myself there was no way I was going back in the hospital (on my own) until I could walk. bub arrived home and we chatted about how we heard that pepperoni pizza induces labor. we laughed and decided to take claire for a little walk before we would put our order in. we went for a little walk and headed home. at this point, I acknowledged I just was not feeling well. we stopped to speak with a neighbor and I headed up our porch ahead of kris. as I reach the last step, it is the most vivid memory I have of labor, a pain that I never felt before shot through my belly down through my legs, almost dropping me to my knees. and then it was gone. I immediately thought "what the heck was that". I headed in the house and upstairs. and then "they", you know the contractions, kept rolling in. every three minutes, the next one hard than the last. tears fell involuntarily down my face as I rolled around on our bed. kris came up and told me it was time. time to call the doctor and time to head in the hospital. so, we did! the car ride felt like an eternity. even though my bub made it in record time (25 minutes) to the hospital with me yelling through every contraction. which at this point they were ever 2-3 minutes and seemed to overlap one another. one comes in and as it dies down, the next one was already starting. For a second, the pressure I felt, I actually thought "could this child be born in this car!!!". we got to the hospital.

a short comedy acted followed, not sure if it was relief that we were finally there or a break in the contractions, but I demanded we park the car and walk. um, yeah not the best idea COURTNEY. bub reluctantly parks as he told me later he was not going to debate any of my decisions at that time with me. no way. no how. we headed through the parking lot and there they were. you know, those contractions. I took a few steps and then literally propped myself up on the brick wall. I looked at him and said I can't walk. thinking maybe I could have the baby right there :) he ran inside and came out with a wheelchair. "where the heck did you get that", I asked as it wasn't like a nurse or doctor was with him. he told me it was just in the lobby. a brief smile came out as thought he totally stole this from someone. at that point, it was the sweetest thing he has ever done for me. I know insanity. but cut me some slack, I was in labor. we run through the lobby and a group of people say "you know where to go?", we yell "yes" and head straight, they yell back " you need to go left", we look at each other smile and then I quickly go back to my grunting which is me trying not to scream from pain. finally, we make it.

now the real fun begins right. the nurse checked my immediately and with a somewhat scared look on her face she said to other nurse, "she is almost 8, we need to call the doctor". um yep, apparently my doctor wasn't there yet. I heard 8 and said "WHAT". and then I proceeded to inform the nurse that I changed my mind and that I no longer would like a natural birth. drugs were becoming a great option. she looked at me and said as soon as the doctor gets here we will speak with her. I knew it is too late and I did not how I was going to get through this birth. I told the nurse I could not do it and I will never forget her sweet response, she looked at me and said "sweetie, you are doing it". I labored on which felt like hours but it was barely 45 minutes and then I got this intense urge to PUSH. nurses rushed over telling me "NOT YET". they checked me and then said it "she's 10 and baby is down". SHOWTIME!

the doctor comes in, knees go to the ears, the hollywood spot light comes down and shines you know where, you ladies know the drill... I pushed and pushed. the nurses told my doctor about my change of heart regarding drugs and the epidural lady peaked her head in. me - I am just pushing and yelling along. the doctor asked if I wanted to stopped and I just thought to myself I wanted this over, I wanted to see my baby and stopping would just prolong it. so I pushed. the baby's heart-rate seemed everywhere on the monitors. and then it happened. the pain was so intense and it felt like the baby was just not coming out. and he wasn't. he wasn't making it through the birth canal. they gave me the epidural. and I most say, I turned into a new woman. for the brief 10 minutes when it was calm, bub and I regrouped, prayed and laughed. enjoyed the thought of meeting our little one and finding out if the baby was a boy or a girl. and then in a blink of an eye, I had three nurses and my doctor in the room. oxygen on my face, them turning me to my side, no change. "what is going on?" "baby is in distress and the heart rate is now remaining low". the doctor grab the little vacuum device and I was in pushing position again. she was clear and simply told me "courtney, I am not a hero. three pushes and if the baby is not coming out, you must go to the OR". nothing but agreement passed through my mind.

the baby was not coming out. so, they rushed me in the OR, and before we knew it they were pulling our baby out. my doctor and nurses were amazing. they were so quick, but at all times made me feel well taken care of. as they pulled my baby out, I watched my bub's eyes light up and then look at me. I heard these words "it's a BOY", "look at those big feet", "oh my he has a big head". but no cry, and as soon as I said "I don't hear him". I did. it was beautiful. that sound was music to my ears. I was so overjoyed. as they were wheeling him out and bub was going with them, the nurses said "what's his name?". I said it, even though it was still in question, because I just knew that was his name. and as I said "l...", it made me cry. not sure way, but I laid on that table and thanked the Lord for my beautiful son and keeping us all safe. here we were, new parents on july 17, 2007. this was exactly a year after we lost our first baby.

and now I am a mama a beautiful superman. he makes me want to be a better person. to speak softer. to love even more. he makes me happy.

for such a laid back little man, he sure made a dramatic entrance...

thanks for reading our long, but exciting story!