grayson's birth

I guess I should start by saying mother's intuition is not always right... 

I was pretty positive for 7.5 months that we were going to have a baby girl. WRONG. 

I was pretty sure that the baby was going to come a bit early and would surely be here mid-October. WRONG. 

BUT I couldn't be more overjoyed with my baby BOY, born mid-NOVEMBER.

On Thursday, November 15 I had a pretty normal day. I slept in, went on a long walk with Chad, did some things around the house, went over to Art and Cindy's for dinner and then we came home. I was a day late taking a weekly pregnancy picture (probably because I was bummed about having to take a 41 week picture). But it works out well because I have a picture from the day I went into labor... 41 weeks and 1 day.

 Around 10:00pm (still feeling perfectly normal) I started getting ready for bed. By the time I got in bed around 10:30, I was having some pains. Now at this point, being over a week past my due date, there wasn't much question in my mind that they were contractions/labor pains. They were coming about every 7-10 minutes. They just kind of started all of a sudden and I couldn't get comfortable in bed, so I went into the living room to the recliner. I was never able to fall asleep all night and the contractions continued to get closer and closer together. By about 4:00 am they were about every 5 minutes and getting more painful so I decided it was time to call the doctor. Long story (lonnnng couple of hours) short, I was never able to reach ANYONE  through my doctors office/24 hour line and I really didn't want to just go to the ER, so I made it (thankfully) until 8:30am when the regular office hours opened and I was finally able to get in contact with someone. They told me to come right in and the doctor checked me and said I was 3 cm dilated and I could go on to the hospital. woohoo!

Chad and I made our way across the street to the hospital around 9:00am and got all checked in, changed and settled into a labor and delivery room. Our parents both came around lunchtime and got cozy in the waiting room. 

I have to say that the hours passed pretty fast. I thought for sure on multiple occasions that I was surely way more dilated, and they would check me and say nope, still 3... maybe 3.5 cm. I stayed between 3 and 4 for several painful hours. Somewhere in there I went ahead and got an epideral. I am a wimp when it comes to pain. I was soooo nervous about getting it, but it really wasn't bad... sidenote: I totally admire those of you who have done it naturally... wow. Once I was at 4 cm. they broke my water and the doctor said there was meconium in the water so when the baby was born, they would try to keep him from immediately crying, so that he wouldn't inhale any of it. She said it was a pretty common thing. 

We waited some more, had some visitors to pass the time and before long it was 9:00 pm and I was finally at 8 cm (and in lots more pain). 

During my time in the labor and delivery room, I went through 4 different doctor rotations and 4 different labor and delivery nurses. I really can't say enough good things about all of the doctors and nurses we had. They were GREAT. I had 2 main labor and delivery nurses, and they were wonderful! 

At this point, I was on my fourth labor and delivery nurse. She checked me around midnight or so and said I was at 9.5 cm. I felt ready to push but she told me to fight it because I wasn't quite ready. Those were probably the worst 30 minutes of all. so painful.

Once they finally said I could push, I thought "oh, it is time, he is almost here" and then I asked the nurse how long this would probably take and she said "probably around 2-3 hours". I thought I might pass out. I was e-x-h-a-u-s-t-e-d. I started pushing and about 30 minutes into it I wasn't sure how I was going to make it.  Chad and my Mom were so encouraging through it all. I can't imagine doing it without them. My body felt like it had no energy left at all. I hadn't really slept since Wednesday night and now it was early Saturday morning and I'd already been in labor/pain for 26 hours. The Lord was gracious to give me what I needed and somehow after a few hours of pushing, that little boy finally made his entrance into this world. 

Grayson Scott Ferrell

Saturday, November 17, 2012

3:30am

8 pounds 2 ounces

21.5 inches

The doctor grabbed his mouth to keep him from crying and quickly tossed him over to the pediatric team who was waiting in the corner. They stuck a tube down his throat and suctioned him out to make sure there was no meconium in his lungs and he quickly started crying. I was so relieved he was here!

I saw him for probably less than a minute. The pediatric team was concerned about his breathing, so they showed him to us and then took him instantly to the special nursery to monitor him for a few hours. Once the medical team got everything cleaned up in our room, our parents (who had been waiting hours) came in and we talked to them for a few minutes and we all prayed together and then they headed home to get some sleep. Chad and I were able to sleep for about an hour and then around 5:30am the pediatrician came in and said Grayson was breathing great and they brought him to us. So thankful!

We had lots of visitors come by and meet him on Saturday (after he was born at 3:30 that morning). We were so excited for our family and friends to meet him! We were thankful he slept pretty great Saturday night, only waking up to eat, because we hadn't slept but an hour here and there since Wednesday night.



 We stayed at the hospital until lunchtime on Monday and then got to bring our little boy home.


I tried to take a before and after picture like I've seen on pinterest. I probably should have waited until Grayson fell asleep, or tried again at another time, because he was squirming around, but oh well... here is what I ended up with :) such a miracle!

AND November 17 is a doubly significant day for my family because Tucker proposed to his girlfriend, Danielle. I will be gaining a sister-in-law in May... so excited!

Psalm 92:4 For you, O Lord, have made me glad by your work; at the works of your hands I sing for joy.