Watson Alan Hill
July 21, 2011
7lbs 4oz, 21 3/4" long
The past 2 1/2 weeks have been..well...there is not just one word to describe it! Amazing, overwhelming, emotional, tiring, filled with learning experiences, and most of all filled with caring for the most incredible blessing Graham and I have ever experienced! Being parents is hard, but I would not trade one second of it for anything in this world! Watson has already blessed our lives so much - our little family now feels complete :)
My original due date was July 27. I had full intentions on waiting until my due date before being induced because I so badly wanted to go in to labor naturally. I wanted to experience that moment where I look at Graham and say, "This is it!" For some reason I had looked forward to that from the day I found out we were expecting. When I went in for my 39 week appointment, however, I was measuring behind what I had been, which made them think I may be leaking some amniotic fluid. They did an ultrasound and a test to check for that, and although both came back looking okay, we were encouraged to go ahead and induce while everything was still okay with both me and Watson. At that point, though I wanted it to happen on its own, I was so uncomfortable and ready that it did not take much convincing! So we left the doctor and went home to get ready to head back up to labor and delivery at 6am the next morning.
We got to the hospital at 6am, checked in and settled in to our room, then they began the whole process around 7am. First they started me on a Pitocin drip, then my doctor came and broke my water. This was extremely painful - I was not ready for that at all!!! Once it was broken, my contractions really began to pick up in intensity, pain, and frequency. I was already 4cm along when I got to the hospital, so I luckily only had to wait through 20 minutes of bad contractions before I got my epidural. Yet another painful experience...but oh so worth it! I went from screaming out loud through contractions to looking at Graham and asking if I was having a contraction! God bless women who go through labor naturally - from the contractions I experienced I'm pretty sure I would not survive with no meds! I progressed relatively quickly to 9cm which is when my nurse put me in a funny position to open up the pelvis to prepare for delivery, and help me progress to 10cm quickly. She left the room and said to call her when I began to feel pressure. It was probably only 5 minutes after she left that I began to feel immense amounts of pressure! My mom, sister, and Graham were in the room and I told them it was time to call the nurse back in the room...I was afraid Watson was about to deliver himself! Our nurse came back, checked to see if I was at 10cm, and said, "This is it! Time to start pushing!" Such a surreal moment. Immediate tears from me :) I was so fortunate to only have to push through 5 strong contractions before his little head began to make an appearance! After that 5th push, my nurse looked at me...while holding Watson in...and said, "Do not laugh any more...Watson is about to come!" (I guess I had some nervous laughter going...I don't remember!) Luckily my dr came in right then and after two more pushes, Watson Alan Hill was born into this world :)
He immediately began crying which at the time was the most beautiful sound I had ever heard. I was able to hold him for about two seconds before they took him over to the warmer and to clean him up. I cannot even being to explain the feelings that came over Graham and I at this time. Lots of crying took place out of extreme, immense, JOY for this blessing in our lives. Laying there, watching Graham hold Watson for the first time, was a moment that I will absolutely never forget. Such a precious, precious time for me (and of course for Graham!)
Since we have been home we have had some hiccups along the way landing us in the ER at Children's Hospital, and a pretty bad infection for me, but God is faithful and has brought us through those times and healed our precious little boy! We are now adjusting to this new-normal that is our life and loving every second of it - yes, even those sleepless nights and tired days that we are walking through right now :) Any time it gets overwhelming, all we have to do is look at Watson's sweet little face and we are instantly reminded of the blessing and honor it is to be parents. The Lord has blessed us with this responsibility and I pray that we will continue to look to Him for guidance along the way.
There will be plenty more updates to come, but here are some pictures from the day Watson was born!
Introducing Abby to Watson - such a sweet moment!
Poppa - I love seeing my dad with his grandchildren!
My original due date was July 27. I had full intentions on waiting until my due date before being induced because I so badly wanted to go in to labor naturally. I wanted to experience that moment where I look at Graham and say, "This is it!" For some reason I had looked forward to that from the day I found out we were expecting. When I went in for my 39 week appointment, however, I was measuring behind what I had been, which made them think I may be leaking some amniotic fluid. They did an ultrasound and a test to check for that, and although both came back looking okay, we were encouraged to go ahead and induce while everything was still okay with both me and Watson. At that point, though I wanted it to happen on its own, I was so uncomfortable and ready that it did not take much convincing! So we left the doctor and went home to get ready to head back up to labor and delivery at 6am the next morning.
We got to the hospital at 6am, checked in and settled in to our room, then they began the whole process around 7am. First they started me on a Pitocin drip, then my doctor came and broke my water. This was extremely painful - I was not ready for that at all!!! Once it was broken, my contractions really began to pick up in intensity, pain, and frequency. I was already 4cm along when I got to the hospital, so I luckily only had to wait through 20 minutes of bad contractions before I got my epidural. Yet another painful experience...but oh so worth it! I went from screaming out loud through contractions to looking at Graham and asking if I was having a contraction! God bless women who go through labor naturally - from the contractions I experienced I'm pretty sure I would not survive with no meds! I progressed relatively quickly to 9cm which is when my nurse put me in a funny position to open up the pelvis to prepare for delivery, and help me progress to 10cm quickly. She left the room and said to call her when I began to feel pressure. It was probably only 5 minutes after she left that I began to feel immense amounts of pressure! My mom, sister, and Graham were in the room and I told them it was time to call the nurse back in the room...I was afraid Watson was about to deliver himself! Our nurse came back, checked to see if I was at 10cm, and said, "This is it! Time to start pushing!" Such a surreal moment. Immediate tears from me :) I was so fortunate to only have to push through 5 strong contractions before his little head began to make an appearance! After that 5th push, my nurse looked at me...while holding Watson in...and said, "Do not laugh any more...Watson is about to come!" (I guess I had some nervous laughter going...I don't remember!) Luckily my dr came in right then and after two more pushes, Watson Alan Hill was born into this world :)
He immediately began crying which at the time was the most beautiful sound I had ever heard. I was able to hold him for about two seconds before they took him over to the warmer and to clean him up. I cannot even being to explain the feelings that came over Graham and I at this time. Lots of crying took place out of extreme, immense, JOY for this blessing in our lives. Laying there, watching Graham hold Watson for the first time, was a moment that I will absolutely never forget. Such a precious, precious time for me (and of course for Graham!)
Since we have been home we have had some hiccups along the way landing us in the ER at Children's Hospital, and a pretty bad infection for me, but God is faithful and has brought us through those times and healed our precious little boy! We are now adjusting to this new-normal that is our life and loving every second of it - yes, even those sleepless nights and tired days that we are walking through right now :) Any time it gets overwhelming, all we have to do is look at Watson's sweet little face and we are instantly reminded of the blessing and honor it is to be parents. The Lord has blessed us with this responsibility and I pray that we will continue to look to Him for guidance along the way.
There will be plenty more updates to come, but here are some pictures from the day Watson was born!
Introducing Abby to Watson - such a sweet moment!
My mom stayed with us for several days after we got home - I cannot even begin to describe the BLESSING this was! I could not have made it through those first few days especially without her. She is amazing!
Poppa - I love seeing my dad with his grandchildren!
