Coopers Birth Story

Well I am going to try to start this.. hes asleep dont know how far I will get!

I awoke at 2:30 am Sunday Oct 4th with what I thought were cramps, I thought I was dreaming so went back to sleep. Woke with more.. so around 3:30 I woke up Bucky and told him I "may" be in labor. I laid in bed a little longer around 3:45 I told him no I am pretty sure it is "IT" . So we got up to see that it was snowing outside, first snow that was sticking of the year and also come to find out later in the papers "most snow for Bend on this date ever... broke records. Bucky and Tanner had been deer hunting until 7pm the night before( glad they didnt decide to camp!).. I was only 37 weeks 4 days... So Bucky woke up Tanner and said "ready to get up.. " and Tan thought they were going hunting.. he said " no we are going into Bend, Moms having the baby" and man did Tanner get going fast! I called the OB and he said to hurry as my labor started getting intense and contractions were maybe 3-4 min apart... we raced out of the house. Then started the scary drive into Bend in the snowstorm! A nearly 1 hr drive.. well at least 45 min!

I got to the hospital at 5:30 ..they out me in a room and checked me and I was 6cm dialated! They could not draw my blood( my stupid veins) to get the okay for an epidural for SO LONG! They finally got it and got me in a room... My blood pressure was really high..

I was getting in some serious pain. The anesthesiologist finally came in maybe 40 min later( I almost didnt get one) at this point I was at 9.. he had a hard time inserting the catheter...

I did real good..until this point.. then I was not so sure I could do it- he finally got it in. The doctor came in( I was lucky my Doctor was on call) and he said " your a 10 ready to have this baby".. that was about 6:45 am... so he broke my water and realized we had meconium in the amniotic fluid.. so they told me to begin pushing.. I pushed for about 12 pushes and out he came at 7:06 am! We were lucky we made it in time to the hospital.. !They wanted him not to scream so they could suction the meconium first but he did scream.. I didnt get to hold him right away as they took him over to the table to suction him out and stuff.. and Bucky cut the cord. Tanner was present for the birth as well, and that was very special to have him with us! At one point when I thought I was going to die( at that time I wasnt sure! , I told them both I loved them! I continued to have BP problems... My doctor told me that Coopers placenta was only 1/3 of the normal size and the cord was thinner and twisted in a couple spots.. that could be why he decided to come early!! When he came out I was shocked at how small he was.. I was sure I was having a huge baby! He was so tiny, but so, so beautiful.. just a tiny amount of spun gold hair and a beautiful little face that reminded me of both my huband and Tanner.

We had a few other " complications" his sugar was low so we had to supplement with some formula feedings and he had to be poked in the foot over and over.. it went up the next day.. then we found out he was jaundiced and had to stay under the billi lights. That was torture.

Night two of our hopital stay they had him in that little incubator in our room under the lights where he wore eye protection and was only in a diaper, no swaddling for his poor newborn startle reflexes.. we could put our hands in there to soothe but could only take him out to feed him. It was toturous on Bucky and I. Hearing him scream and trying so hard to soothe him.

The next next night night 3 they gave us a billi blanket so we could hold him.. that was better.I hadnt slept in 3 days and was beyond insomnia..I couldnt sleep . I am still having alot of trouble with it. They out me on BP and pulse medications.Coopers thyroid was also slighty high but has since come down.

We were finally released the next day with Norco coming out to install lights at home for us.

He had to be under them 2 more nights but the ones at home he liked much better.

I was VERY thankful that my Dad and Stepmom could take care of Tanner for us during this time. It would have been so hard without their help, we are very grateful for it! Also for them picking up needed items we had to have!

I want to say thank you for the flowers in the hospital to Jen and Mom and Amy ( and the sleepers/goodies/diapers) and to Diana and Rob for the beautiful basket

Hospital visitors: Grandma and Grandpa Reynolds.. Amy Ringering

We had a bit of a rough start.. and add to it some latching /milk supply issues we are still working on.. but I have to say he is the most precious little baby and we are so blessed to have him in out lives

A special THANK YOU to my husband.. Bucky I couldnt have made it through these past weeks with out you... thank you for all you do for me and the family... we love you!