Life With the Norman's: Happy Birthday Judah!

Wow. The past few days have been a complete whirlwind. A few days ago, we welcomed our 2nd Baby Boy into this world. And while it has been crazy, and sleep deprived and chaotic, it was been some of the best few days of my life and our marriage. I imagine I'll say that with every child we have, but it really is true. I am so in love with this baby boy. It amazes me how much love I can have for both of my boys, one of God's mysteries.

It also amazes me how incredibly different this entire experience was from Curtis.

Here's Judah's story:

Since last Sunday, I had been contracting pretty steadily, every day, every afternoon and most nights. When they would happen, I'd get my phone out and time them, but rarely were they very close together, usually 10 or 15 mins at the most. Even Saturday night, they weren't close enough that I was thinking it would happen. But I woke up about 2 Sunday morning with contractions. I began timing them and they were 5 to 10 mins apart, still not quite close enough for me to be worried, so I just continued timing them and waited for Isaac to come home about 4. We hung out and watched Scrubs, then I was gonna try and get a little sleep, but of course my pregnant bladder wanted to go to the bathroom first and when I got up, I thought my water broke. I came down stairs and told Isaac it was that time, we needed to go. So we called our friend several times to make sure we could drop Curtis off and we were on our way. As we drove, contractions seemed to come closer and they were stronger, I definitely knew I was in labor. I went to triage, they checked me. My water had not actually broken, but I was dilated at 4cm and during my contractions, Judah's heart rate was dipping some, so they admitted me instead of telling me to walk around because they wanted to make sure he was ok. Once they admitted me and monitored Judah for a little while, I was allowed to get up and move which was so different than with Curtis. I bounced on the birthing ball, walked around the room, sat on the edge of the bed, anything I could to not stay in the bed, cause I knew that once I got the epidural, I wouldn't be getting up. So I labored like that till about 12. As the contractions got closer, though, I was definitely ready for the epidural. Every one I was having to grab the bed or the IV pole or whatever was near. So they checked me again, I was 6cm dilated and then they anesthesiologist came. I was so incredibly thankful for that. It was nice to rest some and not have to feel those contractions. We watched Bat Dad and an episode of Chuck, then they came to check me and break my water. I was at 8 cm, they broke my water and within 2 contractions I was ready to push. For this reason, I pray my water never breaks at home because I'm pretty sure I'd also be delivering at home. My midwives came in and we got to work. I pushed for an hour and 15 mins. I went from one side to the other. I played tug of war with my midwife. I refused to rest because I was ready for it to be over. As he moved closer to being born, they determined that he was face up rather than down which is why the process was a little harder. They thought he was turning as I pushed. But this little boy probably was already showing his personality, he decided to turn back. He, like Curtis, was born sunny side up. They immediately put him on my belly then wiped him off. That part was pretty amazing since they immediately whisked Curtis away from me. They did have to take him away for a minute to clear his lungs, but then I got to have my skin to skin time with him and actually nurse him. I was so excited that he nursed right away. Again so different since Curtis didn't nurse for 5 weeks. So that is Judah's story. Through the whole thing, Isaac was a champ. He always is. He stayed calm going to the hospital, stayed calm as they told me about Judah's decels, snuck me part of a bagel because I was starving, held my leg and encouraged me the entire time. I pray I never have to do this without him because he's what makes it a doable process. I am so incredibly thankful for the man God has given me. We spent a little more than 24hrs in the hospital. Judah stopped nursing around midnight that night, I think because he was super tired and then he had a busy day with all the newborn stuff they had to do, but once we got home, he nursed before we went to bed. And has nursed ever since, again so different and I am so thankful.

Life at home has been crazy. I'm exhausted. Curtis is jealous so I'm thankful Isaac, mom and dad are here so he gets all the attention he needs while I'm nursing Curtis. But I did get to cuddle with him some this morning while Isaac and Judah slept, which was wonderful since we haven't really cuddled in a few months. I am loving having 2 little boys at home and am so thankful for all God has blessed us with. I am looking forward to seeing what He has in store for our little family.