Our Baby Story

This is Sunday Night. Mark and I decided to take a few belly shots before we went to bed. We were extremely tired but wanted to remember what I looked like a week and a half before my due date. I had been called as a sub in nursery at church that day. It was a bit comical because it was me and Sister Tingey who was also 9 months pregnant and due the same day as me. We did a good job but had an interesting time chasing around 2 year olds and keeping them entertained for 2 hours.

On Wednesday morning, January 13th, I had my weekly doctors appointment before work. Around 7:20 Mark and I met with Midwife Starkey to discuss how I was feeling. Up to this point I had no contractions and was feeling great. The nurse informed me that she wanted me to get checked to see how I was progressing at one week before my due date. Well I had not planned on being checked because 2 weeks earlier getting checked had put me in pain, but then I was on Christmas break and could sit around, today I was going straight to work.

Well I was 2 cm but nothing to worry about. Well, about 11:30 I was in the computer lab with my students and I started having contractions. I figured they were just false labor because I had been checked but they didn't quite feel like anything I had felt previously. I took the kids back to class and taught math but decided to do it from a sitting position as the contractions continued. Next was lunch and I just took it easy. Luckily, following lunch I had arranged for the district reading specialist to teach a lesson and she took over the class for 45 minutes and I went into organization mode. If this was going to be my last day at school I needed to get my desk/books/ grade book/etc. ready for my substitute. I had done all the big preparations but figured I had several days to finish up all the little details. Then the kids went to Art for an hour and I continued counting contractions and organizing. They were around 7-8 minutes apart. After school I had a celebration with my Spelling Bee students and was hurting more and more. I decided it was probably a good time to call Mark. After a few minutes of small talk I said " By the way I have been having contractions all morning." I think I threw him for a loop but it got him more prepared.

After work Grandpa Slocombe came over for me to do some sewing on his hockey jerseys and I just tried to make sure everything was in order for school and the hospital. Mark came home from YM/YW and we watched a show. All along the contractions coming 5-6 minutes apart. After barely being able to walk up the stairs after watching the show I decided that I would shower and we should go to the hospital. It was around 12:00 when we left. The ride to the hospital was surreal and we hoped we wouldn't be sent home.

We weren't! The contractions were strong and regular and we weren't going anywhere. I was dilated to 4-5cm. They didn't have room to move us to labor and delivery so they started my IV in the triage room and the wait began.

Arriving in the delivery room from triage. Somewhere around 2:00 am and the contractions were getting stronger. I had an IV line in giving me Penicillin for Group B Strep, to make sure the baby didn't catch it on the way out.

Watching the Cosby Show as I await delivery. I got my epidural around 6:30 and was finally able to get some rest. At 8:30 Dr. Gibbs came in to examine me. I was around7- 8 centimeters and the contractions had slowed down. She decided to break my water and said she would be back in a few hours to check on me. Well, immediately after she broke my water I felt the urge to push so my nurse checked me. To her surprise I was now 10 cm and the baby had dropped all the way. He had also turned to the correct position which he wasn't when the doctor had checked a few minutes earlier. She called another nurse to go get Dr. Gibbs who had not even made it down the hallway yet. She came back down and I started pushing about 5 minutes later. It was now 8:45 and I pushed through contractions for about 45 minutes until our little miracle arrived.

He came out very nice and pink. I couldn't believe how soft and warm he was. Mark cut the chord in a blurr and stayed close by me and baby. He did such a great job encouraging me along and letting me know how things were progressing. It was extremely tiring but very gratifying at the same time.

Hunter's first bath with nurse Kristen. He tolerated it but didn't love it.

Here are Mom and Hunter a few minutes after delivery. Very tired but very happy. Hunter has the goop on his eyes and was adjusting to life in the open.

Around noon, after a shower, we moved to our mother-baby room and lunch was delivered.

Hunter slept in the bassinet while Mom tried to catch some sleep as well.

He also tried out sleeping with Dad for a little while. He loves to be held!

Recovery day 2. The beautiful flowers in the background were from the Hamm grandparents.

Safe and sound at home. We came home on Friday around 5:00 pm.

Getting ready for a sponge bath.

We sure love our little guy. Sorry it took a while to post pictures but the computer wasn't letting me upload so I had to wait a day or two. Thanks for all the well-wishes and love that has been sent our way, we sure appreciate it.