Night before the big day... this is Dave Horton from my stake back home in New York- his daughter lives right across the street from me- he came over to assist in a blessing for me on Thanksgiving. He is awesome :)
Minutes after he was born
Cousin Karsyn couldn't wait to hold him (children under 18 were not allowed in the hospital- main reason I didn't stay longer- I couldn't wait to see Treyson!)
Chilling in the car seat
Treyson is still unsure about his baby brother- this is the closest he ever got to him except he "held" him for .047 seconds
He seems to like it here :)
DEEGAN WOODWARD RICKS
Birth story (short version)
Deegan Woodward Ricks was born 5:22 pm on November 27th weighing 7 lbs. 15 oz. and was 19 inches long.
Birth story (LONG VERSION-maybe TMI for some)
I am blessed with really good pregnancies :) I didn't do so hot the first trimester with Deegan but after the nausea subsided (just nausea, no vomiting) things were great. We were very excited to find out we were having another boy however Treyson kept telling us "Baby Sister!" whenever asked what was in mom's belly kept us skeptical. I found out I was group b strep positive and needed to have penicillin again while in labor.
About a week before my due date I started feeling very anxious and almost paranoid about the baby. On tuesday I went into the doctor's office crying hysterically because the baby was not moving. After a non-stess test I went and talked with my midwife. She suggested I schedule an induction on my due date (well one of my due dates- November 27th). I was hesitant because I wanted to have a natural (drug free) birth and I was afraid an induction would make it more difficult. My midwife put me on the schedule but said it was my choice and to think it over but to atleast go to the hospital that day for a non-stress test. Marshall and I went back and forth about it.
Thanksgiving morning (about 3 am) I woke up and was worried about the baby. I really wanted my dad. He and my brother gave Marshall and I a blessing the day Treyson was born. For those of you who don't know- my dad is in Brazil serving a mission for our church for 3 years so he and my mom were unable to come. Ironically, Dave Horton who I would consider one of my dad's "best friends" (next to my mom of course) was in town visiting his daughter who is my neighbor. I felt like I should call him and ask for his counsel.
Thanksgiving was great- we went to Marshall's aunt's house with my brother and his wife and did a little "nesting" while Marshall worked on the floor drains for the garage. Dave Horton came by and assisted with the blessing and I immediately felt at peace. The next morning I called the hospital and said I still wasnt sure about the induction but wanted to come in as an outpatient and have a non-stress test and talk with a nurse. Dara Kae (Marshall's mom) came over to help with Treyson and we were off to the hospital (7:15 am). The non-stress test came back good and the nurse said I was 3 cm and 70% effaced (which I had been two weeks before). Marshall and I mulled it over and at 8:45 decided to proceed with the induction. They admitted me and since I was group b step positive needed the penicillin. Well the pharmacy lost it or something so I didn't get hooked up for over an hour. They also started pitocin (AHHH!) and increased its strength every half hour. I told Marshall to check on Treyson and what not because I needed to have the penicillin in my system for 4 hours. He came back about 2pm (when my midwife was going to come back). I just hung out and watched "The Deadliest Catch" marathon. I was glad it was on because it made the time go by faster having the same show on. The monitor was showing I was having regular contractions but I couldn't feel anything.
My midwife checked my at 2pm and I was still 3 cm and 70% effaced... lame. They cranked up the pitocin to 16. At 4pm she came back and I was STILL a 3 but 90% effaced and she broke my water. At about 4:30 I was feeling very regular cntractions and told Marshall to go get something to eat at the cafeteria (I was still not allowed to eat anything and was STARVING). At 4:50 I called him because the contractions were getting a lot stronger. He came back at 5pm and I told him to call the nurse and have her turn down the pitocin (I was in the bathroom NAUSEOUS and felt like I needed to use the bathroom). They had just switched nurses because our (awesome) nurse had a wedding to go to. The new nurse came in and said she wouldn't turn it down until I was hooked back up to the monitor. I kept trying to get back in bed but would have to turn around and go to the bathroom. At 5:15 I told him to call the nurse back in. The nurse came in and I insisted she turn the pitocin down because I was not having any break with the contractions. She turned it off and made it back to the bed.
I pushed the call button to tell her to hook me back up BUT right when I pushed the button- I HAD TO PUSH! Three nurses came in and my nurse said, "Oh... yeah... there's the head!" My midwife barely made it and I had him at 5:22pm. No medication... no tearing... perfect. We still had not decided on a name but finally on saturday afternoon we decided on Deegan Woodward Ricks. We were able to leave the hospital saturday evening. Things are 'so far so good.' Treyson is... adjusting. Deegan is sleeping and eating well. I took him to the doctor today since our doctor was not in town when he was born to do the checkup. He is down to 7 lbs 8 oz but they say its normal to lose some weight. OK, I better go... I am shocked Deegan stayed asleep this long (Treyson is over at Dara Kae's making cookies- she has been awesome). Take care!
