Granger Kenway Haun Arrives

Wow! What a day... It goes like this:

The night before the big day, I was only still having Braxton Hicks contractions, so between prayers and declarations to my body and baby to come, I was dealing with some disappointment. I really didn't want to induce - I really wanted to go into labor on my own and do the whole birthing experience naturally. Jett spent the night with Honey and Tatu and we finished getting ready for our hospital stay.

We checked into the hospital at 5 AM and they started my pitocin drip around 5:30. Mom met us there at 5 and Jen came around 6. It was great to have people we love with us. More friends and family came throughout the day and I was so grateful. I think the hardest part of the day was that I was SO HUNGRY! But we had great worship music playing all day, which was awesome. I labored until 3, trying to move by my bedside without moving the monitors and making the nurses come in to find baby's heartbeat. My pain level was at a 5, I was dilated to 6 cm, 70% effaced and stuck there for 4 hours. Granger's heart rate was fine, but there were some signs that concerned Heather, so we decided to get an epidural to see if that would move things along. It didn't.

I did not care for the effects of the epidural - I preferred the contractions! Since nothing changed, we decided to go ahead with the C-section. They gave me WAY TOO MUCH medication in my epidural and I was essentially out (despite my best attempts and protests) for the surgery and Granger's arrival. Casey and others have had to fill me in. I just remember that I kept saying "I can't keep my eyes open. I really want to."

He arrived at 7:54 PM and he was 21" long and 8lbs 7 oz. He looks like both of us, but he looks more like my baby pictures to me. He nursed great, even though I was OUT!

I am very grateful that Kim flew out from California to stay with us and she arrived just in time to see Granger as he made his debut in the hospital nursery :) It was awesome to have her and Jen looking out for us in addition to our parents, family and friends. Thanks, y'all!

Casey sprang for the Luxury Suite in the hospital, since he had to spend his once-every-four-years birthday there, and we quite enjoyed it! We had 2 dozen Sprinkles cupcakes to celebrate our Leap Day babies. I stopped being sleepy enough to scratch myself silly (after effects from the epidural).

As expected, not all the details were our "ideal" but at the end of the day, we held a beautiful, healthy baby and that's all we REALLY wanted. Thank you, Jesus, for all of the answers to so many prayers. So glad to have gotten the privilege of this day.

Due Date

Well, no baby on his due date. But I've really been preparing myself for that since I found out I was pregnant... We saw Heather, my midwife, today and scheduled an induction for 5 AM on Wednesday, February 29th. She is out of town this weekend, so I'm hoping that he comes on his own, but not before Sunday - I'd really like for her to deliver him. I'm not really having any signs of labor other than Braxton Hicks contractions, but I'm dilated 1 1/2 cm and 70% effaced, so that's "favorable." Thankfully, Jesus knows all of this and has every detail in his loving hands :)

We've had a fun, beautiful, springy day! We all wore shorts, t-shirts and flip-flops and spent at least 2 hours outside. We had a picnic with the Goars and they stayed with Jett at the park while Casey and I went to see Heather. We ate Italian Ice/Frozen Custard at Rita's after the appointment and then said goodbye to our sweet friends. Sadly, both Casey and Jett are sick with upper respiratory infections :( Praying that they are all well when Granger arrives and that I remain well throughout the duration!! Jett watched a lot of shows since he wasn't feeling well, Casey got some work done and I got a manicure and pedicure so I can have pretty nails for the big day (thank you, Paige and Sean!).

Planning to go to the Ladies' Retreat at Sojourn this weekend and looking forward to it. Waiting...

A New Chapter

Well, we're getting close to our transition from a family of 3 to a family of 4. It's hard to believe that my due date is just 4 days away... We're thinking baby Granger may take his sweet time, though. And, who knows? Maybe he'll come on his Daddy's 9th birthday :)

I'm feeling good and just taking in these last days of Jetty being our only child. He is such a delight to my heart and this stage is so much fun. He makes me laugh and smile hourly (at least) with his dancing and singing and book reading and playing and working and interacting with people. He is such a flirt and it's so funny and cute.

It has been such a blessing to have the long-awaited pregnancy that I've hoped and prayed for and to have such grace on it. I am really not uncomfortable or sleeping poorly or miserable in any way. I'm mostly just thankful to have this sweet baby bumping around inside me and reminding me how faithful God is. It has been like God told me - every day is a gift. It hasn't been completely symptom free, but easy and enjoyable enough for me to know how blessed I am!

Looking forward to how "the birth story" will take place. I don't feel nervous, just curious. I'm not in a hurry, but I am thankful that I'll get to have that experience soon. Not having my own birth story has been one of the hardest parts for me in relating to other moms - it's very much a rite of passage I have wanted and been missing for a long time. I'm grateful to have been a part of 4 (almost 5 - wasn't fast enough for that last one!) birth stories, but looking forward to experiencing it myself.

Thinking of all the lovely ladies I've had the privilege to walk with through the same kind of waiting season and praying that they'll get to feel what I feel right now. Thinking of all the people who have prayed with us and for us (friends, family, strangers) and how God is answering a lot of prayers with one little person. Thinking of who this baby will look like and how he'll nurse and how he'll sleep and how Jett will adjust to being a big brother. Imagining it will be harder and more rewarding than I can get my mind around...

Feeling full. Humbled. Happy. Round. Tired (the good kind). Hopeful.

Here is a little comparison photo: 1 month vs. 9 months:

Here's one of Jett's first moments on the outside captured by our friend Beth:

Can't wait to have a little one that small to love on so soon.