Kyle's Birth Story

It was August 9th.  I dropped Jack off at Parent's Day Out at our church.  He of course wasn't very happy.  He doesn't always attend so he isn't used to the kids or teachers like he is at his regular preschool.  But I wanted to be able to work.  This was to be my last official day of working in the office even though baby Kyle wasn't scheduled to arrive until the following week.

After dropping Jack off, I stopped by and talked to a few ladies about how nervous and anxious I was, wondering when Kyle would make his arrival.  The previous day I had my doctor's appointment and was told I was 4 centimeters dilated but only 50 - 60% effaced.  It was the 4 centimeters dilated that had me so anxious.  In my head that was the key number you had to be to get an epidural...it also meant I was in "active labor" at least according to my phone app.

I then walked across the street to work.  My suite mate in my office area asked how I was feeling and also said "I think it would be so cool if your water broke today, here at work".  I laughed because I didn't think that was going to happen.  I also emailed a friend who had been praying for our little family this whole pregnancy. I shared with her my concerns and worries and asked her to pray for them.  She sent back this verse in her email:

Praying that you will cast ALL of your fears and anxieties at His throne. 

1 Peter 5:7, Psalms 55:22

I continued working and decided around 11:45 I'd better go to the bathroom and then get my lunch.  On my way out the door to the restroom our secretary decided to carry on a short conversation.  As she was talking I noticed something was happening.  I was trying not to be rude, but also trying to run to the restroom to see if my water had indeed broken.  Once I got there, I was pretty sure it had.  My water also broke with Jack so I was familiar with how it felt.  But this wasn't as big of a change as with Jack so that was why I kept telling my family "I think my water broke?" 

So I went back to my desk to log off of everything and tell my co-worker that I was pretty sure my water had broken.  All of this while laughing because she had wished for it.  Needless to say she was very excited but I told her just in case I was wrong to not say anything to anyone yet.  So off I went to the hospital.  Ben also left work to meet me there.

I arrived and parked on the 3rd level of the parking garage, walked past the welcome table at the hospital and asked where triage was (I thought I knew where it was, but I wanted to be sure).  They asked if I needed a wheel chair but I said no, I was fine.  As I neared the elevator, I noticed more and more fluid.  I now knew for sure that my water had broken.  I arrived at the check-in station and one of the things I remember most vividly was when they asked for my social security number, I had to pause and seriously think for a moment.  As I was getting checked out at triage, Ben arrived.

I was right, so they wheeled me over to a delivery room.  They started the pitocin and my antibiotics right away.  I wasn't really feeling much for the first hour or two - except for the horrible pain the antibiotics were causing in my veins.  My mom arrived (Ben's mom picked up Jack from Parents day out and later brought him to the waiting room) and after a while I started asking my mom and Ben when I should be asking for the epidural.  I didn't want to ask too early but I wanted to say, "I'll take it whenever you will give it to me."  My mom and Ben said I didn't seem like I was having any pain or contractions but I was.

Jack in the waiting room...supposedly used up everyone's phone battery while watching Bob the Builder on their phones.  And when I say watching Bob the Builder, he doesn't actually watch the show, he just watches the first 10 - 20 seconds of the intro song and then plays it again.

Finally, around 3pm they came in to give me the epidural.  I wanted to let the guy know that my epidural with Jack did not do what it was supposed to because I was still in horrible pain...one little spot in my back and I could feel everything!  This time was so much better.  I was having contractions but I was still able to be super still and let him do his job.  Although, while he was working my water then REALLY broke.  Originally, they said my water must have ruptured at the top of the uterus and was just trickling down, now the whole thing broke.  It was the strangest feeling.  After that, everything started progressing really fast.  But the best part was...I felt nothing!

My dad and Sherry came a little later and the tv show Friends was on so we watched a little tv.  My dad kept commenting on how much better I looked this time than when in labor with Jack.  At around 5:30 they checked me and I was at a 10.  So everyone left the room except for Ben and at 5:45 we did two sets of three pushes while counting to 10.  After the second set they said we'd better stop or the doctor wasn't going to make it.  So we just all hung out (for about 20 minutes) until the doctor arrived.  Still, I didn't feel a thing.  She came, I did two or three sets of pushes and out came Kyle.  He was born at 6:18pm.

First official photo... he was a screamer!

It's a boy!

Still upset...ready to be wrapped up.

Skin to Skin time with Mommy.  I'd like to preface this picture by saying I was at work the  morning Kyle was born...I did not do my makeup just for these pictures, it was already done.  :)

Officially 8 pounds 5 ounces

Mommy and baby eye contact

More to come on the first days of Kyle's life and when Big brother meets Little brother.

Kyle's Fire Truck Room

This is the view when you first walk through the door.  Starting on the left we have the Texas A&M framed artwork that includes Kyle Field, Reveille, the Yell Leaders and so on.  Our main goal was to have something that represented Kyle Field since Kyle Reid is named after it, sort of.  

Moving right you see the curtains.  These are navy blue blackout curtains with the matching fire truck valence above.  This room has a half-moon window above the regular window.  I couldn’t find an easy/inexpensive way to blackout that half-moon window, so I just raised the height of the placement of the curtains.  

Below the curtains is a small table.  We didn’t have this in Jack’s room but I’m thinking this will be very helpful.  The furniture is an old bookshelf/tv stand that Ben has had forever.  I decided to get some fabric and let my mom help me hem it to create a “table cloth”.  Then I put the matching lamp and a picture frame that says “Me and My Brother”.  I can’t wait to put a picture of Jack and Kyle in it.  I found a “coaster” at Hobby Lobby that has a fire fighter emblem on it .  This will be good for either mommy and daddy’s drinks or a bottle.  In the blank space on the furniture, just imagine a white i-pod docking station.  It is currently in Jack’s room and plays Jack’s lullabies every night at bedtime.  We have ordered Jack a blue Lego cd player to replace this i-pod dock since he will probably want to play more kid songs.  We will also have a sound machine playing as well throughout the night and it will go on this table.

To the right of the window is another Texas A&M print.  My dad and Sherry found this at an antique mall.  It is cute if you ever have a chance to look closely at it.  It has a lot of their traditions featured in this cartoon.

Below the picture is the glider, of course...can’t do night time feedings without this.  This time around we aren’t planning on keeping Kyle downstairs as long as we did Jack.  I realize this could change.  With Jack, we had him in our room, in a pack n’ play, for the first two weeks.  Then, we moved him and the pack n’ play to the dining room till he was 6 weeks old.  Then up to his room.  I’m hoping with Kyle, after two weeks in our room, we’ll put him in his crib and if need be, I’ll sleep in the guest bed which is right next door.  My main concern is not wanting to go up and down the stairs in the middle of the night, sleep deprived to feed.  So if it means sleeping for a short time in the guest bed to be safe, then so be it.

Here is the ladder shelf.  These are the only shelves we have in his room.  

Take a closer look:  

On the top shelf we have a "vintage" looking fire truck frame.  Next to that is a touch and feel fireman book.  Then we have firetruck bookends which I got online.  The last three shelves have canvas bins from Land of Nod.  I have to admit I'm a little obsessed with that store right now mostly because I looked forever for storage bins in the correct color and happened to come upon this store.  In the small bins I have socks, shoes, soft hats and little nick-knacks.  In the larger bins I have swaddle blankets, newborn blankets, sheets, and books.

Then we have the growth chart.  I found someone on Etsy who creates matching fire truck items so this is one of them.  I couldn't find anything worth paying for until I found this.  This is made from wood and hand painted.  The other growth charts were all poster paper and could be ruined easily.

Moving to the next wall.  The crib.

These are three hooks:  Each made to match the growth chart... one has a fire truck, one a dalmation, and one a fire hydrant.  This is my new diaper bag.  I'm excited to get to use it.

This is to show Kyle's name above his bed. This was probably the second thing I found to go in the room after picking out his bedding.  This is a wall applique that comes in three parts, the 'K', 'Kyle', and the firetruck.  So you could place them however you'd like.  I also got these from Etsy.

Bedding and crib mobile.  Jack still uses his mobile.  It has animals that light up and move up and down and he calls them his "animals".  I think he really just likes pressing the buttons.  So we picked this out for Kyle.  If you want, it can project moving animals onto the underside of the canopy.  Then you can take the canopy off and it will project the same image on the ceiling.  

Wanted to show the light switch plate and trashcan that matches the growth chart and wall hooks.

Last wall.

Not shown in the room is the cute wreath my friend made for Kyle.  It is now hanging on his bedroom door but at the time I had it packed it up to take to the hospital.    But here it is before we hung it up:

  

Next to the door is a red hat rack with 10 hooks!  I realized with Jack that he had so many hats and jackets and we had no place to hang them.  In turn, we forgot about them.  Also, I plan on us getting in the habit of hanging Kyle's bath towel on one of these hooks.  We went through so many towels with Jack because we didn't hang them up right away.  Below the hat rack is a red hamper for dirty clothes, located right next to the changing table.

I also bought a hat rack to go downstairs next to the front door.  Since I have three boys living in the house, I'm sure we will accumulate many hats.  I have also wanted one so that I can hang up my coats in the winter.  I like it because Jack can already reach the lowest hooks and grab the hat he wants.

Moving right, I have his dresser with the changing pad on top as well as the diaper organizer.  This holds all the diapers, wipes, rash cream, Vaseline and thermometer and other little things.  Above the changing pad is an elephant hanging so that when Kyle looks up he can see the different colors/patterns on the feet of the elephant and there is also a mirror so he can see himself.  I placed a round mirror in the middle of the dresser.  Jack has a mirror in this location and it was fun when he was old enough to start standing and looking at himself in the mirror.  I also liked it for days when I still needed to put my makeup on and had to get Jack.  He could play while I finished getting ready.  :)

Next to the dresser on the wall are two peg boards.  I also got these from The Land of Nod.  I wanted something to display Kyle's art or pictures, fun things like that.  I'm thinking about making something larger like this for the play room.

Last corner.  You can see the peg boards and A&M picture and on the floor is a three compartment storage canvas bin.  This is for toys or blankets.

I wanted to show a picture of the closet.  Since Kyle is the second boy, he already has most of his wardrobe.  We'll see in a few months how the sizes match up to the seasons.  

I also wanted to show a picture of all of the diapers and wipes that we have.  My sweet Sunday School class threw me a diaper and wipe shower.  We have tons of wipes and diapers sizes one to three.

I completed this room the day before Kyle arrived.  Whew!