He's Here!!!

Matt and I welcomed our first child to the world on May 20th at 11:32pm. We are so blessed to have a healthy son and could not be more excited to be a family of three:) 

As you might remember from my last post, I talked about how I was 38 weeks and 1 day and was really hoping to be early for various reasons. Well, God had a plan in mind for us (just as he always does) and Grayson was born just one week later (39 weeks and 1 day). 

The NATO Summit was taking place a week before my due date, so my mom came in town early just in case I went into labor before my due date. This way I would not be trapped alone and left to get to the hospital by myself. I am not sure if you all saw anything about NATO but there were lots of protests and some of which got pretty violent only three blocks away from where we live; so bad that on Sunday and Monday people were having to come back and walk our dogs for us, but could not make it to our place because there was so much congestion on Michigan Ave. BUT...fortunately for me, NATO started on Sunday, May 20th and I started having contractions on Saturday night.

Picture right before dinner. Our last night with just the two of us;)

Lookin' large!

 

At dinner, my contractions were pretty steady at 5 min apart. While I was not in excruciating pain, I did have discomfort. They give you the analogy that you will be in really bad pain, but honestly I have a high pain tolerance, so I just thought I should call anyways. After dinner, they told me to come in to evaluate me. There I was evaluated and my contractions had moved to about 3-4 min apart. BUT, I was still not that dilated, so they had me walk the hospital in a circle for 2 hours (this was at midnight)...


After walking, I had to get monitored again for another hour. By then, my contractions were 1-2 min apart but I was still not in excruciating pain. So, the nurse came back in and was just about to let me go when she noticed something odd in the charts. Apparently, his heartbeat had dropped when I had a few contractions, which worried them. Also, at this time the nurse checked me again and "thought" I was 4 cm dilated... So, at this time they went ahead and admitted me to labor.

Waiting in triage

After being brought upstairs, I settled in and went ahead and got my epidural before they broke my water (pretty much I had a pain free labor and delivery). Shortly after that, the Dr. came in and discovered something.... I WAS ONLY 2cm dilated...!!! So, I have now had an epidural and the nurse, Brenda, from downstairs had sent me up to labor pre-maturely. However, since I had already had the epidural they went ahead and started me on Pitocin (this was at 8 am). 

Waiting...

Well...9 hours later, I was only 5 cm dilated and he was not dropping at all. Apparently, he was face up which was delaying the process. Since I was not progressing they were just going to go ahead and break my water. But, there was a risk involved, the umbilical cord could drop before his head and they would have to do a c-section (which next time I am opting for) OR there could be no risk and his head would come down first, just like it did:) I quickly went from 5-10 in an hour. At 9pm, they said to start pushing and two and half hours later he was born. I was bound and determined not to have the dr's use any devices and they did not have to (another huge blessing). While my labor was long, I would not change any of it because we got the most precious gift from God! We could not be more excited!!!

Daddy and Grayson right after birth

  Day 2 - Family Time

 Grandpa Turner - name TBD

Kiki and Grayson

  Daddy and Grayson

 

Tex and Grayson

Grandpa Mike - name TBD

Aunt Maddi

 

 Leaving the hospital

Time to start our new journey as a family of three!!!

XOXO, 

The Slatapers

Grayson's Nursery + 38 Weeks

First, Happy Mother's Day to all you moms out there and to my own special mama! She has definitely been a ROCK in my life and shaped me to be the woman I am today. I love you MOM (which I am pretty sure she does not read these - but hey she knows I love her!). 

Well, I am now 38 weeks and 1 day...I am really hoping he comes early, but if not then we will just induce late. Right now, she is telling me the earliest I can induce is 10 days POST due date (THIS WILL NOT HAPPEN)! I am not opposed to inducing late, I am just opposed to inducing this late for a few reasons: 1. Matt has finals from June 4th - June 9th (he can re-schedule them, but he would literally be able to only re-schedule the one the day of or after his birth - OR he could be taking a final and then get a call from me...ALL not great options...) 2. We have to go back to Texas for Matt to start his internship in the middle of June - the older he can be the better 3. I don't want to be pregnant that long and to be quite honest, I do not feel like it is that safe nor do I want this child to get any bigger than he already is going to be. 

However, with these things said I know that God has already picked out a BIRTHday for him, so I just pray that I have smooth delivery and a healthy baby boy. I just have to trust that everything will work out like it is supposed to and not worry. I have pretty much lived by Phillipians 4:6-7 my entire pregnancy. It is no surprise to those of you who know me that I am a VERY anxious person, but I have to just keep saying this verse over and over and it helps to get me to the next thought/day;)

Now, on to the FUN stuff. We have finally finished Grayson's room. There is still room to add things, because I want to make it personal to him, but the foundation of the room is finished. Plus, he really will not be in this room for another 4 months, since we will be in Houston from June to Sept. for Matt's internship. 

We wanted to keep everything soft and neutral for his room. 

A wreath from one of the showers is right at the doorway - I just love this wreath with sweet messages!

We got a painting from Grandma Silly (Matt's mom) 

The center of the room - the glider/recliner from Little Castle on the left and a chair and half sleeper sofa on the right from Pottery Barn, so that when we have guests come they will have somewhere to stay.

His crib with some antique frames hanging above - right now, there is a maternity picture and a scripture, but the other ones are empty for pictures after he is here

Jeremiah 29:11

Another angle - the TV is hidden behind the crib

A little cross on the night stand. The night stand was a fun and good find from HomeGoods

 Bookshelf - We have one more, but I am not sure we are going to put it up yet

I love this little nightlight!

This will be a pretty nice view reading/rocking him in his chair

For now, that is all we are going to do in his room. Hopefully, the next post will be ALL about Grayson! Any and all prayers are welcome for a safe delivery and healthy baby boy!