{Grayson Oliver Wood}

Welcome to our family 

Grayson Oliver Wood

October 3, 2012 

4:27pm

9lbs. 7oz. and 19 1/2 "

The Story:

Tuesday night I started having contractions. Nothing super strong or painful but I had them all night long {I didn't sleep very well due to this}. I did not time them or anything because I had a doctors appointment Wednesday morning and I just figured we would see what was happening when we got there. We had to wait a VERY long time to see the doctor {like 2 hours}. While waiting I decided to start timing my contractions. They were about 5-8 minuets apart and lasting anywhere from 20 - 45 seconds long. They were still not super painful just a bit unpleasant. We finally got in to see Dr. Tate and when he checked me I was a 4 and 90% effaced. He said we were going to the hospital!!! Wahoo!!  Ryker and I headed home around 12:30pm to pick up Brady and my bag. Not thinking things were going to happen very fast we were just taking our time. We dropped Ryker off at Chris and Lindsey's and headed to the hospital. By this time my contractions were getting closer and stronger.  We got to the hospital at 2pm and FINALLY got into my room at 2:30pm. The nurse checked me again and I was a 5 and 90%. The contractions were now VERY strong and painful. I kept asking the nurses what we needed to do to get me my epidural and finally they started to get my blood work going so I could get my drugs. They said it would take about 45 minuets - I was NOT happy to hear this but what could I do. They made me stay in my bed {who knows why because I didn't have any drugs yet} and it was awful. I could not find a comfortable position to help me through the contractions. All I could do was scream and cry. They decided to check me again and I was a 9 and 90%. It only took me 30 minuets to go from a 5 to a 9. This would have been wonderful IF I had had my epidural. By this point my contractions were about every 2 minuets and lasting 2 minuets long. I was officially THAT crazy lady in labor screaming at everyone and BEGGING for drugs!!!! The only thing that was kind of helping was chomping down on ice chips. I was so hot and sweating like CRAZY and it hurt so bad I could not even keep my eyes open. Poor Brady had no clue what to do to help me. He said I kept screaming "where are the damn drugs?" "Why are they taking so long?" after almost every contraction. One of the residents dared say that it might be too late for me to get my epidural and ohhhh was that not happening. I was yelling at him that there was NO WAY I could push this baby out without one. And then the anesthesiologist walked in. She could not get me drugs fast enough. They gave me a spinal block first {it takes effect faster} and then a partial epidural.  2 contractions later I could finally breathe and calm down a bit. I asked Brady to wipe the mascara off my face {it was EVERYWHERE due to how much I was crying from the pain}. 

Now it was time to push... The drugs took the pain from the contractions away but I could still feel more than I wanted to. I pushed for 14 minuets and our sweet "little" baby Gray was out! He was not breathing when he came out so that was super scary. They started working on him and he still had not cried and I was totally freaking out...again. They insured me that he was breathing just not very well - he had inhaled a bunch of fluid on his way out. As they were working on him I was falling asleep waiting to get to see/hold my baby. They decided they needed to take him to the nursery - not NICU to make sure his breathing was OK. I finally got to hold my baby for about 2 minuets and he was 45 minuets old and then they took him away.   That was super sad. I am grateful they were taking such good care of him but I just wanted to snuggle my sweet baby. At least Brady was able to go down to the nursery with him. Now that I was calm the nurses told me that I set a new record - we were on the far end of the floor and before my epidural they could here me screaming  clear on the other end of the labor/delivery floor. We thought that was pretty funny. 

I have NO clue people have babies without drugs. I never wanted to feel that much pain in my life and I surly NEVER want to again. I am SO not someone who thinks labor is this wonderful/beautiful thing. I pretty much HATE it. It was not fun but now that we have our sweet baby Gray here I am happy. 

I am having a MUCH better/faster recovery this go. I have been feeling great other than the post labor contractions/cramps. They have been terrible! Every time I get them I still want to cry. I know it is my bodies way of getting everything back to where it needs to be but man does it not feel nice. 

It was SUPER crazy to us how fast everything went down. Arrived at the hospital at 2pm and Grayson was born at 4:27pm. Pretty Nuts. At least we know for our next baby that once my contractions become consistent it is time to head to the hospital so that I can get my drugs before I want to die. 

 Waiting to get checked into the hospital. Me TRYING to be happy and pretending not to be in pain in between contractions. 

 And we were thinking he was going to be around 8lbs. Ha you showed us Grayson! 

 I finally got to see/hold my baby for the first time. 

He was almost an hour old. 

Daddy finally getting a good snuggle in the nursery. 

{Pregnancy Journal - 40 Weeks}

October 1st came and left and baby Gray is still not in my arms.... bummer. I am feeling really well just wanting to meet this guy already. 

Grayson your eviction notice has been served! 

Maybe he is deciding not to come out yet because we don't have a middle name yet??? Who knows because everything else is ready for his arrival. When we pulled the swing out this weekend and Ryker made it apparent to me that baby Gray is going to die in the swing by his brothers hands. Maybe Ryker has scared him too much that he doesn't want to come out. 

{Daddy + Ryker + YouTube}

Brady has passed his love of YouTube on to Ryker already. Ryker begs to watch this with daddy almost daily. He can even do some of the dance moves with Brady. Yesterday Brady turned it on and Ryker was in the other room and he heard the music and came running to the computer to watch. It is their special father/son bonding time I guess. 

{County Fair}

 Last weekend we went to the county fair with some friends. Ryker was MOST excited to see cows.... he has been begging for weeks to go to a farm and see cows. Why? I wish I knew but this is as close as we get to cows and farms living in the city. 

This is the BIGGEST cow I have ever seen. This picture doesn't even really do it justice. She is HUGE I mean check out that head. 

 Ryker and Em's had loads of fun seeing all of the cows and pigs. Despite their not so happy faces. 

 Ryker didn't want to pet the cows but Em's was LOVING it! Poor girl even stepped in a HUGE cow pie...and Steph was AMAZING and didn't even freak out when they both got poo on both of them. I can't say I would have been that calm about it. 

 We were there just in time to see the FFA kids showing their cows. Man were those the best looking cows I have ever seen. Their fur was so shiny and pretty and they were even hair spraying their backs to have mow-hawks. It was pretty cool. Ryker loved climbing up and down the stairs and watching "The Cow Show" as he called it. 

We forgot to get a picture of our "good eats" but we got to try frozen root beer {Ryker was loving this - I don't know how that kid didn't get a brain freeze with as fast as he was drinking it}, fried snickers, fried pickles, and fried oreos. They were all delicious!! I think the oreos won for the best treat! It was fun to try some traditional southern fried fair foods for the first time. Too bad Brady couldn't come he would have LOVED it! He has a slight obsession with fried food. 

{Pregnancy Journal - 39 Weeks}

How far along? 39 weeks        

Weight Gained? 38 lbs

Best moment this week: On Wednesday Brady was in class until late and Ryker and I totally had a dance party/golf playing/ bouncing on the yoga ball/ million bedtime stories/ a dozen songs in bed kind of night. It was so fun. We just laughed and played our hearts out. It was just what we BOTH needed - earlier in the day we were not getting along so well and I was ready to sell Ryker to the Gypsy's. So it was a GREAT end to a not so wonderful day!    

Any pregnancy symptoms? My back is getting worse everyday. I feel like I am waddling now because it is so painful. While at the park today a lady asked me "how much longer?" and I said a week and she said I look ready and in pain. So that right there told me how bad I must have looked. Given I was having contractions and I'm pretty sure Grayson was hitting a nerve at the same time because I was having shooting pains down my leg and almost didn't make the walk home alive. I was in so much pain. 
Movement: He has not been as active - I think this is due to lack of space.   
Food cravings: Cherry Coke and ice cream instead of dinner. I have not been very hungry the past few days. Mostly living off of instant breakfast. 
Anything making you queasy or sick: Still oil. Brady made french fries {I know he is on a kick right now} one night after I went to bed and the smell of the oil woke me up. I was NOT happy about this at all! 
Have you started to show yet: The same. Its not really changed in the past month other than he has dropped some. 
Sleep: It was a pretty good week. Only getting up once to pee. I have been having some CRAZY dreams this week. I am just thankful they are not nightmares like I had with Ryker. For example Brady doing some illegal trafficking to get school loans paid off and me being scared that he was going to go to jail and I would have to raise our boys alone. I woke up freaking out! Good thing it was just a dream. 
Gender: Boy 
Labor Signs:  Contractions and loads of pressure. I finally convinced my doctor to check me today {he doesn't like to until you hit your due date} I am almost a 3 and 40% effaced and Gray is at a -3. I was THRILLED to hear all of this. Mostly because I was a zero everything when I was induced with Ryker. So I am super happy that my body is getting ready to have this baby all on its own. I just keep praying that my body will keep up the progress so this little guy can come soon! My doctor was very pleased with where I was at so lets hope Gray decides to join our family sometime this week. That would be AWESOME! 
Belly Button in or out? Outtie
Wedding rings on or off? ON    
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy! Other than today I have been feeling really well. I am just ready to hold my baby. 
Looking forward to: Some adventures with friends, the consignment sales this weekend, the pumpkin festival at Stone Mountain with Ryker, and the Reliefsociety General Broadcast/ dinner with our stake. 

 Ryker being chased by a dinosaur.

Ryker had lipstick all over his face from mommy giving him a hundred kisses. This little face just makes me smile. 

{Roz 1st Birthday Photos}

I did a little photo shoot for my dear friend Erika's baby girl Roz who is turning 1 this week. I will admit trying to take photos of a toddler this pregnant was tricky - mostly because it was hard to squat down to get the right angle. I am super happy that we got a few that turned out awesome! 

{Baby Shower}

I just want to start by saying I have the best friends here in Atlanta!

If it weren't for them I KNOW my life here would be VERY different and I would not be nearly as happy as I am. They are so wonderful and good sports to put up with me and all of the crazy that comes with me. 

Lindsey and Stephanie were super sweet and threw me/baby Grayson a baby shower last week. They did a fabulous job. It turned out so cute and the food and games and company were the BEST! They know how much I love shower games and we played one where they had asked Brady a bunch of questions about this pregnancy and then I had to answer the question the same as him. They didn't think I would rock this game BUT I totally did! Funny thing is we played one like this at one of my bridal showers and I did terrible. Good thing Brady and I {almost 4 years later} think more alike. It was super fun to just spend the night hanging out with the girls. Much needed! 

 I love how creative Lindsey is - she used bobby pins to hold these balloons in the grass. 

 The AMAZING host. 

I didn't think to take a group picture until almost everyone had left... oops. 

{Maternity Photo Shoot}

Steph was so GREAT to take some maternity photos for me. I was super happy that we got a few to turn out... neither one of us are photographers but we try. Too bad Ryker was NOT feeling up to being in pictures. Why is it that he is a total camera lover when we are just at home being silly and then when I really want him to be cute and smile for pictures he wants NOTHING to do with it... Oh yeah he is a 2 year old. Silly me. 

OK Baby Gray I think I have done everything on my "to do list" and the blog is up to date you are officially now welcome to come at anytime!! 

I did have a doctors appointment today and found out that baby has dropped and his head is in the canal - so that is exciting news! We are getting close.  Interesting side note  per the doctors measurements {you know how they use the tape measure on your belly} my tummy has not grown in the past 3 or 4 weeks. Weird. But they said it is nothing to be concerned about. Lets hope so. Baby is still moving all the time so he must be alive! 

{We LOVE the Park}

The weather has finally cooled down to the 80's so we have been LOVING spending a LOT of time playing at the park and enjoying being outside. At least 3 days a week we walk to the park {3 mile round trip}with friends and we all have a blast. I am loving this weather!!

 Ryker and Em's love filling the slide up with wood chips and then "crashing" {sliding} into them. 

This was a total roll reversal day for Abby and Ryker. Abby was not a fan of the slide this day and Ryker  and Em's were LOVING on it. It has been so fun to watch all three of them get more brave at the playground and explore and climb more. 

Ryker is obsessed with swinging now also. He was a lucky boy and went to the park EVERYDAY last week. It has been so nice to just get out of the house and be outside. 

 The kids have all gotten braver and now LOVE to jump on the bridge. They think they are pretty cool for doing it also. 

Ryker and Em's think rocks and pine cones are pretty AMAZING! I especially like this picture of Ryker in the swing waving at the camera. Such a silly guy! 

{Pregnancy Journal - 38 Weeks}

This is my "I'm over it" face. 

How far along? 38 weeks        

Best moment this week: Having a super fun weekend full of parties. I had a baby shower this week, then Ryker and I went to a friends baby shower, and we all went to a friends birthday party, and then today we had a dinner party with the Partridges and Hoyts. We all know I like to party and be with friends so it was a win, win, win!    

Any pregnancy symptoms? My back has been killing still and so is my round ligament. Brady loves to laugh at me when I get up off the couch because it takes me a few steps of pain before I can walk normal. Oh and I have been getting headaches and feeling VERY nauseous at bedtime. 
Miss Anything? Putting on my shoes without feeling like I am ready to throw up.  Rolling over in my sleep and actually staying asleep. Annoying that it actually wakes me up right now. 
Movement: He has had a pretty active week. Ryker loves to touch my stomach and if I am ever a bit aggressive to try and make him move so Ryker can feel him move Ryker is quick to say "be soft mom!"   
Food cravings: Cherry Coke. I don't even normally like Coke at all. 
Anything making you queasy or sick: Brady fried french fries one night while I was gone and when I came home the house smelt so terrible of grease it was NOT doing me well at ALL! 
Have you started to show yet: My stomach is really hard and people keep telling me he is still VERY high... not sure what to think about that.     
Sleep: Pretty good. Just wishing Ryker would stay in his bed all night so I didn't have to get up to put him back in bed multiple times a night. 
Gender: Boy 
Labor Signs:  Some braxton hicks, a few days with CRAZY amounts of pressure on and off for an hour or so. Tonight I hopped down 12 flights of stairs, hopped up 6 flights, and ran up 6 flights. So we will see if this does anything to help Grayson to come out. Ryker keeps asking for him to come out... I think we are all officially VERY excited and anxious to meet this little guy. I am also VERY anxious as to when I am going to go into labor.... I HATE the feeling of not knowing or being able to control this. 
Belly Button in or out? Outtie
Wedding rings on or off? ON   and my feet are super swollen tonight- this is new! 
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy! Just love thinking about what baby Gray is going to look like, act like, and what my labor is going to be like this time. 
Looking forward to: Another fun adventure filled week with lots of playing at the park with my Tiny man.