The Story of Miller K...

I can't believe my sweet little man will be 4 in just a few days!

My best friend recently had the best idea for a blog post about her little man who is also turning 4. She went back and had a little time reminiscing about his birth story, Coops birth. I thought wow, what a great way to actually have a digital copy of the story of his birth. So, Rebecca I'm stealing your idea... probably in 2 different posts ;)

My story begins almost 4 years ago on August 9th! I had a really great pregnancy with Miller. Everything was exciting and as a first time mom everything was new. I was scared and ecstatic about everything he did in my belly. The first time he kicked, he kicked a magazine (that was resting on my belly, why not? it was a great prop) all the way across the den floor. I did have lots of morning sickness, but I gained the right amount of weight and overall had a healthy pregnancy.

Miller was due on August 7th. I went to the doctor on my actual due date and she kind of laughed saying he was in no hurry to make his grand entrance. I was just a little over a 1/2 centimeter dilated and she saw no signs of Miller ready to come out. She said to go home and attempt to jump start labor by the typical "home methods." So I walked, got a pedicure, and put the hubby to good use for the next day or so. Still no signs. Then in the early morning hours, 2 whole days later, on August 9th I felt the smallest little almost cramp. Well as a first time mom, I jumped up, went to the bathroom, and thought could this be it! I think I almost expected my water to break, just because I went to the bathroom- oh well! I went back to bed and started timing my "cramps" They didn't really get any worse but they were pretty constant, about every 4 mins. At about 7am, I woke Wes up because they were getting stronger. I had a doctors apt that morning anyways. They had scheduled me to come in on the 9th which was a Friday, to see my progress before leaving for the weekend. I was kind of getting excited, could this really be it? I called my dad, for 2 reasons, to tell him I think I may be in labor and to wish him a Happy Birthday! Yes, my dad's birthday is actually on the 9th too.. Lots going on in August in my family ;) But anyways, he answered the phone, the same way he had for the last few weeks. "Is it Miller time" I excitledly said, i think it might be, and he quickly passed the phone to my momma! haha!

Well my appointment was scheduled for 10 am, by then my contractions were in full swing. They were steady every 4 minutes, but just a little tingle- no real pain yet! I went in to see the doctor, and when she checked me, she agreed, I was in labor! She said since it was a Friday she would send me on to the hospital for evaluation. I was hovering somewhere between a 3 & 4 on the dilated scale. When we got to the hospital, I was really in no pain and they told me to walk the halls for a few mins to maybe get the process started because although I was dilating I wasn't in "Active" labor. I walked the hospital halls for about 3 hours, the nurse checked me again, and still no "Active" labor. The doctor came in and told me that without active labor, she wanted me to go home and sleep in my bed and we would probably not be back for a few days! "A few days".... a few what! Then why the heck did you send me over here, just to send me home! Anyways, after I cried over that for a few mins, I agreed, I wasn't in active labor, and I didn't get much sleep so that kind of sounded nice. Dr. W gave me a prescription for an Ambien to help me sleep and said that she would probably see me in the office on Monday.. ugh Monday!

So we left the hospital, went by the Pharmacy to get the Ambien filled, and I started hurting, hurting pretty bad. I got the pill, went home, laid down like they said to, and literally stared at the clock for 2 solid hours. I never took my eyes off of the clock, I watched every minute count down from 6pm-8pm, and also counting ever 3 minutes when my contractions would hit. They were getting worse- and fast. I was scared though, I thought ok she said Monday, but this is getting kind of bad. At about 8pm I got up, went to the den and sat there for a few mins. Some of my dear family friends were there, watching me as I attempted to sit still and let each contraction hit me. They urged me to go back to the hospital so after some convincing I did just that. Honestly, I don't remember the car ride at all, I have no idea how I got to the hospital or checking in at labor & delivery. However, I distinctly remember the look of the doctor when she walked in and saw it was me. First words out of her mouth, "What are you doing here, your NOT having this baby tonight." I froze, I was like, I think if i'm not having this baby then something is totally wrong. I was in terrible- I mean horrible pain. Contractions were still a steady every 3 minutes and getting so much more intense. I was hurting! Now keep in mind, when this "wonderful" doctor sent me home, a few hours earlier, I was already dilated to 4cm. I'm pretty sure that at 4cm you can get an epidural- just saying! Back on track... She said well since you've brought me up here, I guess I'll go ahead and check you. I was like, um, yes please, I'm dying here! She checked me and immediately her facial expression changed. Her face kind of dropped. "Oh my, your already 7 1/2 cm dilated." Secretly inside I wanted to say "told you so" but instead my first time mom jitters along with the fact that I was in some serious Contraction PAIN! I just smiled and said, then can I have some pain meds. About that time my water also broke, as she was checking me. She then turned into my best friend doctor... um, no you just made me feel like a fool, for no reason, I'm good! Dr. W gave me some pain options, Pills, nothing, epidural, um.. EPIDURAL please! & fast! I'm already near 8 & don't you just have to be at 10!

Well, I got the epidural and a few bags of fluid, and then I felt pretty good. No complaints from me, the Ambien was also kicking in full blast, so I had a nice little nap while everyone else stayed up awaiting the arrival of my sweet baby boy!

A few hours later, around 3am, the nurse checked me again and said I was well ready to push. To what, i thought, ohh my can this really be happening. Yes, it was time to push! I started pushing and nothing was happening. I remember everyone counting to 10, over and over, and not allowing me to stop pushing until they were at 10. I kept praying please let them count faster. I pushed about 15 mins and the nurse told me to relax and breathe through the next few contractions, while she called Dr. W. She came in and while she was getting ready, I started pushing for the nurse again. Dr. W had a little excitement when that happened and for once believed me and kicked her butt into high gear! We were ready. I pushed hard 2 more times for the doctor and she said the most precious words that I have ever heard in my life. "Angela, get ready, your about to become a mom" The nurse placed a blanket on my chest, spread it out and said to me, "your life is about to change forever." I was in full mom mode by that point, I was so excited I couldn't believe I was one push away from becoming a mom, the thing I had dreamed about for months and months. Finally the time came, the contraction was here, ohhh my no turning back now. One hard push and here he was. Miller Kenneth arrived! it wast August 10th at 4:32am. Love, love is all I could think about at that very moment. He was beautiful, he had a head full of dark hair, and I remember thinking, man he looks big! I held him and hugged on him for a few mins and then they took him to be weighed and get his scores and clean him off a little bit. While the doctor sewed me up .. tmi, I know. But, the doctors had to work on me quite a bit, the other nurses took my baby off to weigh him. She placed him on the scales, and shouted out over the room... 9lbs 11oz... All of a sudden, the hustle and bustle stopped, the once busy busy room, turned almost silent. What? what did she just say? She couldn't have said what I thought she said. I looked at Wes, he looked at me.. what? Dr. W looked at the nurse, somethings wrong with that she said, weigh him again. Same weight the 2nd time... wow he was one big baby, perfect, but big!

They finished cleaning him off while Wes went out to the waiting room to show off pictures of our precious baby boy. Wes will forever be coined with the waiting room entry phrase of, "We had a flippin toddler" haha! He was a big baby. They took his footprints, his photos, and Apgar scores. He scored a 7 on the Apgar score, but they insisted since he was such a big baby, he would need to eat within an hour after being born.

I was finally fixed up and they allowed all of our visitors who had been patiently waiting on Miller's arrival to parade through the room. Everyone was so happy to see him and couldn't believe he was finally here! Our family and friends were all thrilled to see and hold him. He had to lay under the heat lamps for a little longer than typically required, due to his size, he couldn't keep up his own body temperature. Everyone paraded through the nursery to see him laying there, just adorable. My mom & dad, Wes' Parents, the Stameys, Teresa & Ali, and Chris & Rebecca with little newborn 5week old Coop were all there to see Miller's first hours.

After he was shown off to everyone, I had to attempt to feed him for the first time. He and I had to learn together, and that first attempt at breastfeeding I'm sure was pretty comical. He had to eat and he was a hungry boy. He was able to feed as much as he needed right away and I thought we did pretty good with it.

After everyone left to go home and take naps, since we had kept them up all night, I sat there staring and really holding my baby boy for the first time. He was amazing. He was beautiful. He was perfect. Immediately I felt a bond with him, he was mine and I loved him more than I ever thought possible. I was scared to take my eyes off of him, he was not leaving my sight. The nurse came in to take him to give him a real bath and I guess she could see the fear in my eyes, so she left, and came back with the stuff and bathed him right there in our room. A few hours later, the nurse did have to come get him and take him to see the Pediatrician in the nursery. I made Wes follow him all the way to the nursery and stand outside and wait on the Pediatrician to finish checking him out and then follow the nurse back to me. I was a little bit of an overprotective first time mom, but he was mine, and we bonded immediately, and I was not letting him out of my sight. We had lots of great family & friends visit us as soon as they got word that Miller was here. We are so lucky to have each of them.

Because I was such a nervous wreck, as soon as Dr. W released me, we were outta there! We actually came home the very next day. I was excited to get home and break full force into a new routine with my sweet boy!

Over all, my birth experience with Miller was a great one. Sure there was lots of pain and a horrible recovery (9lb baby.. I didn't think I would ever be the same). But, it was all worth it. I think the human body/mind has a way of forgetting the most horrific parts of our childbirth, to allow us to even contemplate having a 2nd child. He was a great baby and I am so blessed to be his mother.