HAPPY BIRTHDAY SOLDIER BOY!!!

Today is Crews 1st birthday, we had little family party for him on Sunday at Richard and Julies

Granny Myers gave him this new car, Crew loves his cars



not quite sure what to think about the cupcake









alright its ok

So in honor of his b-day I thought I would retell what happened on this day one year ago, so here it goes...

Jared and I had been out and about running errands and doing things around town, I'd been having some braxton hicks contractions all day but they seemed more intense then I was used too, I didn't think much of it since I'd heard of lots of women having those types of contractions for days or even weeks before they had their babies, plus I actually was at the hospital that morning getting some "non-stress tests" to check my amniotic fluid level as it had been low a few days before that. I told the ultrasound tech lady about the mild contractions I'd been having and she said it was probably nothing and not to worry about it. The contractions gradually started to get more intense and I told jared we better go home so I could lay down, as sitting up in the car was getting very uncomfortable. By the time we got home things started to get even more intense, I laid in the bath for while which made everything feel so much better, until the hot water ran out and our tube had a slow leak in it so I eventually had to get out. I stayed at home for a while longer trying in relax, go limp and breath through the contractions as I had been taught to do in my hypno-birthing classes. It had been about an hour and half since we had been home and my contractions were getting closer and closer together and more and more intense, so I decided we needed to go to the hospital. We arrived at Orem Community Hospital at about 8:30pm, Jared went in and told them I was in labor and I walked in just behind him, the admissions lady was about ready to send us home, she said if I was able to walk in it most likely was too early to be admitted but they checked me anyway and found out I was dilated to a 8, so needless to say they got me into labor and delivery right away. I labored for another hour when they asked me if I wanted them to break my water, they said it would move things along faster and the contractions would get much more intense, this scared me as I was already in an insane amount of pain and couldn't imagine it getting much worse. But the contractions were going to get more intense anyway this would just help move it along faster so I told them to do it. I guess I should mention here that I opted not to get a epidural. why? you might ask, why have pain when you don't have to? there are many reasons but mostly I just wanted to do what I knew my body could do naturally, the way god intended. I knew that millions of women had, had babies naturally for thousands of years before the epidural came out and if they could all do it, there's no reason why I couldn't. I'm also just very competitive and love a challenge, so this was a challenge for me, could I last without the meds? they didn't lie the contractions did in fact get more intense, the next 2 hours were the most difficult and painful of my entire life, I wanted to give up so many times, had it not been for my sister Robin being right by my side telling me I could do it, and reminding me of my breathing and relaxation techniques and Jared supporting me and telling me how good I was doing I probably would not have lasted. I felt so bad for Jared, I would have had a really hard time seeing him in that much pain. Sometimes people ask me, how painful is it? what does it feel like. The only way I can describe it, is that it is the most intense and overwhelming pain you could ever imagine, I couldn't think straight or even form a sentence. Had I not prepared for it I guarantee the amount of pain would have sent me into a absolute panic. When the "transition" contractions came those were by far the most painful and then I started to feel "pushy" it was actually felt good to push, though still very painful don't get me wrong but it gave me some relief, a way to vent from all the pain inside me. I think I pushed for about a half an hour, I remember Jared and Robin saying they could see the head and that was so relieving for me knowing the end was in sight. I remember the last push and hearing my midwife yell "stop stop pushing stop pushing your tearing your tearing" too late, there's no way I could have stopped pushing, all I wanted was that baby out of there. They lifted him right up on my chest, it was surreal. As amazing as that moment was it was hard for me to enjoy because I was in so much pain and had just tore pretty bad. I had second degree tears which I had to wait 45 agonizing minutes for a OB to come stitch me up ( a story I won't get into ) but after all the shock and craziness subsided and Jared and I got to hold and love our new baby boy everything was ok. It was amazing to be holding this little life in our arms, this life we had created, that lived inside me for 9 months, it truly is amazing. Crew was born at 11:41 pm and weighed 7 lbs 9 oz and was perfectly healthy, and has continued to be to this day, only a few little baby sniffles. we are so blessed to have him, he makes me smile and laugh everyday, every morning when I go to get him from his crib he is smiling and so happy, he brings so much meaning and happiness to my life. Words can't even begin to describe how much I love him, I tear up just thinking about it. Its a love that's so intense, so deep, so amazing and unconditional, it could only have come from god. I love you soldier boy your forever in my heart.







totally justified in looking like crap