Our little guy is here!!!

Jace Daniel Anderson

August 3rd, 2010

7 lbs 10 oz., 20.5 inches

Well, after 32 hours of labor, Jace finally made his way into this world.  I went into labor on the night of my due date, August 1st, at 9 p.m. I had hard contractions from 9 p.m. that night until around 3:30 a.m. Monday morning. Around 3:30 a.m. my contractions were 2-5 minutes apart and hurt like crazy.

 

I called my mom to let her know we were headed to the hospital so she could book a flight from Salt Lake to Phoenix. Dan and I got to the hospital around 5 a.m. I was taken back to the labor and delivery triage area and they hooked me up to the monitor and checked to see how dilated I was. I was dilated to a 3 and was still having strong painful contractions every 2-5 minutes. The nurse did not want to give me any pain meds because she said it might stop my contractions. Before I could be admitted to an actual labor and delivery room, they said I had to be in "active labor", meaning my cervix had to continue to dilate.

 

 They told me to go walk around in the hall for a while and they would re-check me. At this point my contractions were so painful that I was really sick to my stomach. So, there I was walking up and down the hallway with my vomit bag. I have never been so miserable in all my life. I would walk for a while, throw up, walk, throw up, they would check my cervix and say "keep walking". Finally around 9 a.m. the nurse gave me some morphine for the pain and some zofran for the nausea. I felt better and continued my diligent walking of the hallway... but to no avail. By 11:30 I still had not dilated past a 3 so they sent me home.

 

By the time I got home the morphine and zofran had worn off. For the next 5 hours I paced the house in a circle still having contractions every 2-5 minutes. By 4:30 my contractions got even stronger and I could not walk, talk, or hardly breathe when they would come. I had big tears rolling down my face... it was time to go back to the hospital. They checked my cervix and I had FINALLY dilated to a 4, so they admitted me!!!! So, after 21 hours of having contractions I got my epidural around 6 p.m.!!! At that point I didn't even care if it hurt to get the epidural put in, I was just so happy to finally get it.

 

I didn't sleep a wink that night, but at least I was not in pain anymore. A little after 3 a.m. on Tuesday morning I started pushing. I was so exhausted at this point. I had been in labor for over 30 hours and had not slept for 2 nights. I pushed for an hour and forty five minutes. Jace was born at 4:59 on Tuesday morning.

 

What a crazy ride. I remember thinking during labor that I couldn't believe I had to go through this again to have more kids. I was really re-thinking the fact that I would like to have at least 4-5 kids. But as soon as he was born I thought, oh it really wasn't that bad. That must be why they make babies so cute, it helps with the amnesia!! I will never forget that moment when they put him in my arms right after being born. He had all this dark hair plastered to his head and was already crying and squirming around. I could not believe this little life had only seconds ago been inside of me. It truly is the miracle of life. I instantly felt all the love in the world for my new little guy. There was nothing better than kissing his tiny little cheeks for the first time. I am so grateful for our new addition.

 

Dan was so good to me during my pregnancy. Thank you honey for the many foot and back rubs. You were a trooper. Most of all, I am thankful to know that families are together forever and that we get to be together for eternity. I am so grateful to my Father in Heaven for sending us this sweet little healthy boy. I hope to raise him in a way that will make Him proud. We love you Jace!!!