Home Sweet Home: Archer Vincent Brewer

Yes, we are still alive! To say that we have had a busy past month would be an understatement! Things have been very crazy for our family in the last month, some good things and some (sadly) not so good things. But right now, I want to talk about our sweet baby boy!

ARCHER VINCENT BREWER

was born one month ago tomorrow! But the story started one month ago tonight. So I wanted to share more about his birth story!

Once we found out our sweet boy's due date (12/23) my entire family kept hoping and wishing for him to be born on 12/12/12. Well that morning started out just like every other morning. But about 2:00 that afternoon, I started feeling really crampy. So I laid down and drank some water. But a couple of hours later, the contractions were still coming, and starting to get regular and stronger. SO we called Labor and Delivery and I told the nurse my history and what was going on. She said that we should come in and get checked. I was so worried that I was going to be sent home and all of the nurses would think I was just a crazy lady trying to have my baby on 12/12/12. My mom got to our house about 6 and we headed up to the hospital. By the time we were almost there, I knew we would be staying. The contractions were starting to get VERY strong- enough that I was in tears with a few. And I don't cry for pain. So I knew we would stay.

We got to L&D, and went to the triage section so they could monitor and check me. I was at a 4 and 70% effaced. And, as the nurse put it, I was "banging out" contractions. So the doctor confirmed- this was it! We were having a baby!!!

We got into a room and got all hooked up to monitors. By that point, my mom had arrived (I think my dad or sister was with Ava) and I was still uncomfortable, but nothing I couldn't handle. But since it was looking like it could be a while, I opted to go ahead and get the epidural so I could get some rest before the show started! So I got that pretty quickly- about 10:30. Then we waited. And waited. And WAITED. Midnight came and went, so no 12/12/12 baby. At that point, I really didn't care! I was so tired and HUNGRY! By 6 the next morning, I was 100% effaced, but still only at 5cm. So the doctor ordered pitocin. About the time I was getting my pitocin, the doctors changed shifts and my regular OB came on call. Dr. Wiedower is awesome and she also delivered Ava, so I think Archer was just waiting for her! HA!

About that same time, we had decided that Cole should go on to his 7:00 am doctors appointment that he had scheduled. It was nearby, and we all thought it would be another 3-4 hours before it was even time to push. We were all very wrong...

I should probably explain, too, that my body responds REALLY WELL to medication. It doesn't take much to have an effect on me. So once the pitocin started, my water broke, and I went from 5cm to 6cm pretty fast. Then about 7:30, the nurse rushes in and calmly- but quickly- tells me that the baby's heart rate was dropping and they needed to take some counter measures. Now I know this is fairly common. But when it is YOUR baby, it doesn't make it any less scary! So as they were putting me on oxygen, rolling me over to my side, and turning off the pitocin, I was praying my baby was okay and mentally preparing myself for a c-section. But soon his heart rate had returned to normal and he was looking happy again, and I was still at a 6. Then, not 10 minutes after that, I feel an excruciating pain in my lower stomach- you know, the part that is supposed to be NUMB?!?! Well it was really intense. So my mom called the nurse. I described the pain, and she decided to check me again and call the doctor. When she went to check me, her eyes got BIG and she looked at my mom, and said "You need to call dad (Cole) right now." Then she looked at me and said "You are at 10 cm and I can feel hair. You need to try not to push." Come to find out, his heart rate dropped because I had started the process of dilating, and ended up going from 6cm to 10cm in about 10 minutes! Then things started happening really fast! My mom called Cole, and he was still at the doctors office, but was leaving right then. The nurses started rushing around and we found out that my doctor was caught in traffic (a good case for why doctors should have dashboard emergency lights!). My mother-in-law arrived and was helping keep me calm(ish). And I kept being told to "NOT PUSH" despite the horrific contractions and pressure I was feeling through my epidural. And let me tell you...it is hard to do with an epidural. If it wasn't for that, the nurses would have been catching him!

After what seemed like forever, my doctor walked in and I was allowed to go ahead and start pushing. Ahhhh..... It felt so much better to push, but still not good! I pushed for about 20 minutes, and then my sweet boy made his entrance! Sadly, he did so about 5 minutes BEFORE his daddy got back! So my mother, mother-in-law, and my wonderful doctor and nurses welcomed him with me! My mom even got to cut the cord, which was amazing for her!

It was chaotic, painful, wild, and nothing like Ava's birth. And nothing like I had planned, in so many ways. But it was so very special and a moment and day I will never, ever forget!!!

Archer Vincent Brewer was born at 8:37 am on 12/13/12, weighing 7lbs15oz and was 22" long!!!

Archer, we love you so much and are so blessed to have you in our lives!!! You are a gift from the Lord and, although your birth didn't go as I had planned, it went as the Lord planned and you are here! And for that, I am so thankful!!!

Happy (almost) One Month Birthday, sweet boy!!!