Milo Andrew Stott

Milo Andrew Stott

7lbs 5oz -- 19.5in -- 12/11/12 -- 4:04pm

*If you want the short version skip to the end.

It was a week past my due date when we headed to the hospital to be induced. I had already been there once for false labor so a part of me felt like this still wasn't going to produce a baby. As much as I told myself I wasn't leaving that hospital without a baby, it still didn't get real for quite a while. 

We got to the hospital early so we could 'hurry up and wait.' We waited for over 3 hours just to get my room. There must have been love in the air 9 months before that night cause that labor and delivery was hoppin'.

We finally got settled in around 8 or 9pm and they started me on Cervidil to get me ready for the induction in the morning. I had heard that many women go into labor just after the Cervidil but I knew better than to get my hopes up. Milo wasn't going to make it that easy. :) I started having irregular contractions after a few hours but nothing really happened until about 1:30am when his heart rate dropped. The nurses rushed in and put oxygen on me and flipped me around to get his heart rate back up. They told me he had been showing some signs of distress during long contractions and that last one was over 2 minutes. 

Before then I had considered trying to do this without an epidural. I wasn't anti-epidural by any means, I think I was just curious to see what I could handle and what the fuss was all about :). After this happened I started to seriously consider getting an epidural just for the possibility of a C-section. I knew that if it was an absolute emergency and I didn't have one, they would put me under general anesthesia and I didn't want that.  

Well morning came around and at 7:30am with Kyle and Mom by my side, they started the Pitocin. Well we had more 'hurry up and wait' -ing to do. She slowly upped the dosage until I finally started having regular contractions after a few hours. These still weren't too bad. They felt a lot like my Braxton Hicks and I was a little concerned that I wasn't going to progress much since I was only dilated 1cm that morning. Sure enough, after a few hours of these I was still only at a 1 so my doctor decided to break my water. And that's when the fun started!

So THESE are really contractions! I started to feel the pain. I must say it still wasn't awful at this point. After two hours of painful but bearable contractions, I decided to get the epidural. Epidurals are seriously miraculous. I knew they would numb me but I didn't expect such instant relief. I could have been in labor all day if that is what it felt like! I smiled, chatted, and watched jeopardy for the next three hours before my nurse came to check on me. I had dilated to a 3 and was close to 100% effaced when they started the epidural so I expected to be about 5 or 6cm now. I didn't think these contractions could have been very effective since I didn't feel them. But the nurse had barely put her gloves on when she said "Oh! You're nine and a half! It's time to push!"

Everything happened quickly. I think the whole town came into the room with various carts and kits. Mom snapped one last belly pic and Kyle came to hold my hand and I started pushing. We got through two pushes and the nurse said she could see his head when his heart rate dropped again. It was down to the 70s, which is almost to brain damage level. My doctor said she wasn't comfortable having me push in there so she wanted me in the OR just in case. I was rushed to the OR and poor Kyle and Mom were left in a completely empty room with no real idea what was going on. Once they hooked up my monitors in the OR it was clear that Milo was still not tolerating labor so Dr. Thompson said "We're cutting!" and it was go time. I could feel them pouring buckets of betadine on my stomach and I had people asking my name and DOB and putting a hair net on me and putting up curtains and upping my epidural strength and then I felt the doc tugging and pulling at my belly. And then I heard those glorious cries.

I must say that even when his heart rate dropped and they decided to do a c-section, I still never thought anything would be wrong with Milo. Somehow, I just knew he would be fine. And he was more than fine. He was perfect. 

It was about then that the nurse said "Oh crap! I forgot Dad!" Poor Kyle was still back in the room so she went to get him in a gown and bring him in. He got to see Milo first and he brought him over to me. I kept telling him to bring him closer so finally the nurse said "Here's how you do it," and grabbed Milo and put him right next to my face. I was so happy to see my sweet baby boy after all this time. It wasn't the birth experience I had anticipated but it really didn't matter. I left that hospital with a baby. Our little family was all I needed. 

*I had a C-section because his heart rate dropped but he's happy and healthy. The End

That's too far!

Pure Joy

The epic blow-out that went across the room and all over my leg.

39 Weeks!

The End is Near

We're almost there! All at once, everything is getting very real. Of course I'm nervous, but I'm also unbelievably excited to meet our little guy. I had a dream last night that he finally came and he was adorable and smiley and had big blue eyes like his daddy. Dreams come true right? 

I have had tons of Braxton Hicks but no sign of real labor. I've gone from dreading that he would be too early, to wishing that he would come early, to accepting that he may just be a little late. He must really love being so close to me while I sing 'Wicked' songs all day in our empty house. 

Kyle is frantically studying for all his 6 (and that's before finals) tests in the next two weeks so he will be ready to take a couple days off with us. I'm so grateful I have such a hard worker for a husband!

So I thought I'd do this little 'Pregnancy Recap' I saw on a friend's blog. You don't have to read it, I just wanted to have it all down for myself. 

Beginning height/ weight?  5'3" and healthy :)

What you weigh now?   I've gained exactly 25 pounds, which I'm fine with.

Gender?   Boy

Name?   Milo

Nursery colors/theme?   Green, orange, blue

Stretch marks?   Not really. One tiny one by my belly button

Do you have braxton hicks?   All the time!

Did you get any medical issues?  I have a heart-shaped uterus but it hasn't caused any problems. I had Placenta Previa but that went away. Nothing harmful so far.

Have you been checked for dilation/effaced?   Last week. Nada so far. 

How much does baby weigh?  A few weeks ago he was estimated at 6 lbs 2 oz

Have you started nesting?   I wish! Instead I just have to come up with my own motivation to clean my house!

Latest craving? Fried Chicken. Oh man I always want fried chicken. I guess that's what the South will do to you...

Bags packed? Mostly. I have a few last minute things. 

If yes, are they in the car? No

Car seat ready to go?  We've practiced putting it in and it's waiting in the nursery!

C-section or vaginally?   Hopefully vaginally, but things happen :)

Do you think it will come early or late?  My gut says late, along with my doctor... 

Biggest fear?  The usual. Something could go wrong. But I'm thinking positively!

What are you most excited for? To see, smell, hear, touch, and kiss our little boy. I think about it constantly.

Looking back, do you regret anything you did during this pregnancy?   I should have taken more pictures, just for my own records. But no other real regrets.

Are you going to miss being pregnant?  Yes actually, I will. But there are things I'm looking forward to, like hugging my husband without a basketball between us. 

Stress; it's a Killer

Stress; it's a Killer

My life in general is absolutely wonderful, but I do have occasional stresses. Those of you who know me really well will know that I tend to plan far ahead and that can cause a little anxiety. I want to know exactly how everything is going to work out and exactly what I need to do to prepare. If someone were to tell me that next month my house will explode, we would witness an epic crime, and our family would be relocated to Namibia where I will be raising goats the rest of my life, that would be just fine(kinda). I appreciate the heads up. As long as I have adequate time to prepare and plan, nothing is too stressful to me.

But then there is the unknown. Now, that does not mean I don't like surprises, because I absolutely do (hint hint Kyle). But having no control over things that really matter; that's tough. Going through the process of buying a house has opened my eyes to a whole new world of stress. Will we be closed by the time the baby comes? Will we be closed ever? Do I need to start looking for rentals? All these things are constantly going through my head, and there is no off button.

What I've really learned about myself is that I need to be flexible. I've always considered myself an easy-going person because, generally speaking, I am. Ask me where I want to go for dinner or what movie I want to watch and I am genuinely content with whatever. But i need flexibility on the big things too. Flexibility and faith. So when I'm faced with questions like, "When will our baby come," or "Will we have a house next month" I can still feel peace and know that everything will be ok.

So thank you to Kyle and my parents and all the other people that are constantly telling me that everything will be ok, because they're right. I have my husband, our families, and soon we'll have our son and that's all I need. I have faith in the Lord and faith in my ability to cope.

37 Weeks!

Yesterday marked 37 weeks, which was a huge milestone in my mind. Technically, he's now 'full term' which is a relief. I had some fears about early labor because I have a heart-shaped uterus and with that, a risk of preterm babies. But we made it! And he's measuring small, but normal and that's great news to me.

I also got to see him again with an ultrasound and he's cute already! It looks like his cheeks are filling in and he looks like a baby, not an alien. I feel like I know him already but I can't wait to SEE him. And hold him and kiss him and cuddle him of course...  

Can I just say what a good dad Kyle will be? He likes to play and sing songs to my belly and he often sings him to sleep. It melts my heart. Yes, we both look at each other sometimes with a deer-in-the-headlights stare and say, 'Holy crap! We're having a child!' But we are so so excited and happy. It will be a wonderful, crazy change. 

'Intro to Blogging'

Well I guess it's about time.

I've put off blogging until three weeks before the birth of our first child. I know the protocol is to start blogging when you get married, but I've always thought of myself as being a little edgy. Hah. 

I never took 'Intro to Blogging' (what was my college education good for?!) so I'm not sure what this first post should really be about. I guess I'll give a quick synopsis of our life up to now.

Kyle and I have been married about a year and a half (don't do the math about our baby and get all judgey on us) and I really can say it's been the happiest time of my life. We lived in Provo for another year and finished off school before spending an amazing summer in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho and then relocating to Memphis, Tennessee. 

We've been here in Mississippi, just over the border from Memphis, for almost three months and it's really been quite pleasant so far. We've seen our fair share of crazy Memphibians and have yet to have our fair share of BBQ food but I think we've both been growing a lot in this strange new land. 

Kyle is busy busy busy with Optometry school. I see him sparingly but love him lots. He's really succeeding in school, which is no surprise, and actually enjoying the material. I'm very glad that we haven't had the "Honey, I hate my career. We just wasted $30k" talk. 

I am trying to stay busy learning how to do new things and take care of grown-up stuff like buying our house.  We are closing annnny day now on our beautiful 3 bedroom home. We really love it and think it's just perfect for our new little family. Yes, the buying process has been a bit of a nightmare but I'm confident it will all work out. 

We found out we were expecting just a few weeks before BYU graduation and it's been an exciting few months preparing for this huge life-changing event. We can't wait to meet our little boy. I'm 37 weeks along so it could be any day now. I woke up a couple nights ago and thought, "Wow, I can breathe. This is strange..." Then I stood up and realized I had 'dropped'. My little pregnant belly is not so perky anymore. So, although my belly is sagging, my oxygen levels are up and I'd say it's worth it. 

I've been lucky to have such an easy pregnancy. I really can't complain much. I don't have the typical swollen feet or stretch marks (yet) and I really feel pretty good. I got frustrated trying to play tennis with Kyle on Saturday because I just couldn't juke like I used to. Sigh. But really that's to be expected when you're carrying 25 new pounds in your mid-section and your joints are stretching like rubber-bands. 

I guess that about covers the generals! I promise my future posts will be more entertaining and exciting. I'm new at this, ok?

Love,

Emily, Kyle, and our little Stott Tot