Thursday, May 17, 2012

Riggs Crocker Leonard's Birth Day

It all started with....

my water breaking about 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 18 as Watson and I sat down to eat dinner.  At first, I didn't believe what had happened but as I stood up I KNEW what was going on.  From what I recall, there was not a panic moment - more of an "ohhh, this is for real!"  I didn't eat dinner because 1) nerves had already taken over and 2) in child birth class, we were told not to eat a heavy meal before going into hospital (spaghetti and meatballs would fall under heavy) so I frantically just paced around the house. Not really sure what I did... I think I straightened up, finished packing mine and Riggs' bag then took a shower.  Watson enjoyed the spaghetti and meatball dinner because after all he needed his strength to be my coach!  I consumed some brothy soup, jello and Gatorade - dinner of champions.  If I could see the future, my lunch would have been more substantial that day!  
Needless to say, we left for the hospital about 7:45 p.m. and got all checked in and up to our room about 8:30 p.m.  At this point, I started feeling some contractions but nothing unbearable. My Dr. came in and checked for dilation... 3 cm.  Perfect, progressing right along!  She said that as soon as my IV was placed, they would start pitocin drip to start contractions and anesthesia would be called once I reached 5 cm.  At this point, Watson started making the phone calls to family letting them know we were at the hospital and would have a baby sometime tomorrow morning or afternoon. 
IV was started, monitors were placed, blood pressure cuff was on - ready for business!
The rest is somewhat of a blur to me.... I remember my contractions getting stronger, breathing the way I was taught - ha!, telling Watson to find something on TV to distract me, eating a Popsicle and nurse coming in to check for dilation....4 cm with no pitocin.  At this point, I wasn't going to receive it because dilation was happening without it.  I received stadiol instead.  Wow oh wow did it relax me!  Contractions were getting stronger and very close together to the point that the stadiol wasn't knocking the edge off anymore.  This is where it's really a foggy memory.... I remember telling Watson that I felt a lot of pressure, so he told the nurses.  Red flag!!  They were on it... dilated to 8+ cm.  Dr was called as well as anesthesia.  Dr arrived within a matter of minutes and it was pushing time.  She said I could "receive an epidural but it would take about 15 min to kick in and the baby would be here before then." I believe I blacked out or something but was later told that anesthesia arrived at same time Riggs' head did...  The rest is history!  
Riggs Crocker Leonard arrived at 2:03 a.m. on Thursday, April 19, weighing in at 6 lb. 9.5 oz and 20 in long with a head full of hair!
Us with my Dr
"He's here!"  were my first words after his arrival
Crazy hair from the beginning!
Daddy watching in
Papa checkin' out his new grandson
 Already trying to escape!


Proud Mimi!
with Aunt Lauren just after he arrived

Lots of visitors came that day and the next!  Wish we had pictures of everyone!
with Nana, his great-grandmother
with Podsie
Aunt Kimery
Aunt Laura
Cousin Ashley
Cousin Hannah
First photo as a family of 3!
Proud Papa and Mimi!  They were there for the long haul... arriving just after Riggs did.  Good thing they left Franklin when they received the phone call!  They cleaned our house, fixed meals, decorated our front porch, did laundry, ran errands and so many other things.  Couldn't have done it without them!!

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