Our Newest Addition: Titan Tony

On July 3, at 3:30 am we left our house quietly while our two precious boys, Easton and Graysen slept being watched over by my amazing mom who made the 5 1/2 hour drive to Baggs that day. We left the house a family of four and drove in the dark and peaceful early morning quietness to Yampa Valley Medical Center in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. We met the Emergency room doors at 5:25 am and a security guard walked us down three very long hallways to the Family Birth Center. It was kind of funny, when we showed up they were surprised because they thought I would be there by 7 am but my doctor forgot to switch that in the orders so the message got mixed up and here I was ready to be induced, thank goodness they let me stay I was extremely swollen in the July sweltering heat and ready to meet our little Mr.

It felt routine checking into the hospital, the nurses asked all the familiar questions about my health history, etc. and I slipped into that flattering baby pink hospital gown and no-slip grip socks! Dr. Petersen walked into the room at 7 am and checked my progress, still a three sigh... her plan was to break my water when she came in that morning but little mr. decided to pop his head up as she went into break it so the plan was averted and we went straight to plan B. She said, "I can tell by the look on your face Pitocin wasn't in the cards but all he needs is a little shove and for those contractions to get a little bit stronger to keep him in place." She assured me it wouldn't take much and my nerves were settled as they began my IV. Dr. Petersen explained that if she broke my water and he popped up that easily then the cord would flow out past the baby and cause her to rush me in for an emergency c-section, hearing this I knew she made the right choice to start me on Pit.

Around 7:45 they began the pitocin and I tried to relax as the medicine went to work. At first it was nothing just the same uncomfortable braxton hicks I had been feeling for months and then the tightening worsened and the contractions were coming in waves causing me to breath heavily and break a sweat. I asked my nurse for a birthing ball to roll around and bounce on while we talked about her family, my family, anything in between. It was nice to have a nurse who liked to talk because it helped me to relax and work through my contractions more easily. They brought me a breakfast tray around 8:15 which was really nice because the muffing and fruit I ate on the drive over was wearing thin. That was a really nice thing about the Steamboat hospital, they really took care of you- I never ordered the breakfast but they knew I would need some energy to get through labor so they went ahead and put the order in for me. I was on Pitocin for three hours and at 10 am, Dr. Petersen came back to break my water. It was more routine this time and everything went as planned. Before long I decided it was time to hop in the labor tub. This was a totally new experience for me because Ivinson Memorial didn't have tubs and I found it easier to relax as the contractions continued coming on strong. I was watching Grey's Anatomy... ironic to be watching a medical show all the while working on getting this sweet baby out of me. My nurse walked in with my lunch and noted my choice of show, I am sure she thought it was silly especially being a medical professional but she assured me she loves the show ER! I thought it was awesome they let me eat through my labor, I never missed a meal and it really helped me through that day. When I got in the tub I was dilated to a 4. At first the warm water was relaxing, but soon I found myself having to shift around every minute or so alternating between squatting and standing all the while rubbing my hips for relief. All at once I felt every bit of pain in my lower back and it felt like someone was sawing my hips in half! In excruciating pain I called out for Mark to come help me get out of the tub, I needed to lay down. My nurse helped while they dried me off and got me back into that baby pink gown. Dr. Petersen came back to check me, in the 40 minutes I spent in the tub I went from a 4 to a 8! I had never gone this long without an epidural so no wonder the pain I was feeling was REALLY VERY Real! I wasn't able to keep quiet at this point... side note- you know in the movies where the women curse and scream at the top of their lungs all the while chanting owie owie owie owieeeee! That was me! I couldn't even help myself... the nurse kept telling me to blow the contractions away like birthday candles--- at first it worked then it became a cruel joke because they weren't going ANYWHERE! I gripped the bedside and did my best the breathe and scream and breathe again. I think it would have been a different story had I planned on doing this day without an epidural but I always had it in the back of my mind I would go as long as possible but that if I needed one I was definitely going to be getting the magical drug that made all the hurt go away! I had no idea it would be at an 8 but suddenly I was desperate and cried for Dr. Petersen to call the anesthesiologist. Being 4th of July weekend, there was very little staff on call so I waited for what felt like an hour (20 minutes) before Dr. Kempers came to the rescue! Everything was smooth after he placed the epidural. I was able to relax and close my eyes for about thirty minutes and then started to feel the dull aching pain in my left hip. After placing the epidural they laid me on my right side, my nurse checked me and the whole right side of my cervix was gone and all that was holding him back was the left side. They shifted me to my left and within minutes I began to feel the familiar pressure letting me know it was time to get to work and push this baby out. When Dr. Petersen confirmed what I thought it almost came as a shock to Mark and I, he was sitting on the couch eating a brat from the bbq taking place for the 4th of July at the hospital and I was thinking it would be at least another hour. I pushed once during a contraction and his head was out- Dr. Petersen had a look of concern on her face and said to stop pushing because the cord was tight. She didn't tell me at the time but Mark saw it first hand, the cord was wrapped tightly around his neck and she had to pull it away with one finger while cutting it with the other hand in order to let him breathe and come all the way out. I gave another half push and they placed that warm, squishy, vernix covered baby on my now empty belly and I couldn't help but feel all the feels. There is nothing better than a fresh baked newborn, even as gray as he was because of the cord and as frightened as I was because he actually never cried everything felt perfect in that moment.

They had to take Titan over to the incubator bed to get him to cry, seconds passed and he finally let out the most perfect little sound, if you have never heard that beautiful cry in the peaceful quiet you're missing one of the most amazing sounds ever. Nothing is like that cry. They were able to suction him out and bring him to me within a few minutes and as I held his tiny little body in my arms and watched him try to open his little eyes my heart swelled with joy. Heaven comes to earth in moments like this.

We spent the next moments loving and getting to know Mr. Titan, my mom brought his big brothers to Steamboat to meet him too. We are so lucky he chose our family to join. I feel incredibly lucky to be able to hold him in my arms after 9 long months waiting to meet him. He is perfect in every single way, 6 lbs 6 ounces, 19.25 inches of pure pink snuggly perfection. He is so tiny yet such a big part of my heart from his long little toes and fingers to his handsome black hair. We love you Titan, we couldn't imagine life without you. Welcome to the world!

First Bath:

Getting footprints:

Meeting G&G Gillies:

My AMAZING Doctor!!! I can't say enough how wonderful Dr. Petersen was! I have always loved each one of the docs that delivered my babies but this one is someone really special! She always made me feel like a priority and I was totally comfortable with her each step of the way. She made labor enjoyable for me and was there during one of the most special moments of our lives. She helped me every step of the way and I wouldn't have any other physician by my side during birth. I can't say thank you enough for helping make this such a sweet day!