So here goes :) On the Saturday before Mother's Day (which is Birthmother's Day) I decided to go down to hang out with Rachael so that she could get her mind off of everything for a few hours. We went to lunch and then got Roxberry smoothies (white gummy bear - YUM!) and went to get pedicures. After we were done with that we decided to walk a couple of miles (she had already walked about 25 miles total that week :)). When we got back from our walk her pelvic bone hurt really bad and she could barely lift her legs. (We found out later that something (don't know medical terms) had separated from her pelvic wall.) Her mom and I told her we wanted to take her to the hospital just to make sure she was ok. In Rachael style she said... "If I'm going to have the baby tonight... I need food." hahaha. She decided Chilis would do the trick and finished off 10 hot wings before we left for the hospital. hehehe Our waiter asked her when she was due and she said... "oh... right now".
Here's a pic. of Rachael that day - - She was definitely ready to pop!
We got to the hospital around 11:30 that night and the nurses hooked her up to the machines. The nurses were perplexed by a huge cat face drawn on her belly and her mom (Nicole) & I just about fell off our chairs laughing - we had forgotten that we went crazy earlier that day with a mini-sombrero and an eyebrow pencil. For the first hour Rachael's contractions were 4 min. apart and she didn't move past 3 centimeters. The 2nd hour her contractions became steady at 2 minutes apart and at around 1:30 the nurse came in and told us that we could stay :) YEAH!!! We moved into the delivery room and immediately tears sprang to my eyes because we were going to meet our little guy soon! I called Matt and he took Brynners up to Grandma & Grandpa's house. We had the bags packed in our living room for 2 weeks before this so we were ready.
Rachael got the epidural and said it didn't hurt... it only hurt all of us that were watching I guess! Her doctor then broke her water and we all sat around and talked/fake slept until the nurse came in and checked her at around 5:30 and told us that she was a 5 and would probably be a 10 within an hour. Sure enough... 45 minutes later Rachael was ready to push. The nurse came in and checked her and she was definitely at a 10 (and told us that he had tons of hair - understatement). The doctor was called and came in just in time for the delivery. Matt got there about 20 minutes before Gavin arrived. At 6:23 a.m. after Rachael had pushed through 6 contractions... baby Gavin joined the world. We knew he was a cutie from the very first moment. Rachael's mom and I were crying lots of happy tears - this will be one of my life's most unforgettable experiences. (It gave me more insight into how much Brynnlie's birthmom went through also - WOW!)
After the birth Rachael and I looked over at Matt and his face was white as a sheet & the doctor told him to sit down (he says it was because his knees were locked... sure babe, whatever you say ;)). The nurses cleaned Gavin up and Rachael held him for a few minutes. They then took him away to clean him and give him some oxygen. We waited for Rachael to find her legs again (she ended up not being able to feel one of her legs for almost a full day!). A couple of hours later we went down to her room and were able to see Gavin again... It felt like 10 hours even though it was probably only 2 :). It was awesome to hold our sweet boy for the first time!
That night Brynn was able to come see her baby brother. She hadn't slept since 3 o'clock that morning when her dad had taken her to her grandparents (sorry guys!). She was just TOO EXCITED! When she came to visit that night, she burst into the hospital room with her "BIG SISTER" shirt on and said, "where's my brother?". She wanted to hold him immediately. As soon as she saw him she whispered, "OH MOM! HE IS SOOO CUTE!" and kissed him gently on his head. It was probably the sweetest thing I've ever seen (I thought she'd be 9 before she'd have a sibling! What a blessing this is!!). Both sets of grandparent's came that night so that my parent's could take Brynn to their house for a few days. It was really fun to have them come see baby Gavin the day he was born :).
We spent Monday in the hospital and it was very relaxing - Rachael and her family were so gracious and have been wonderful! I was able to spend Monday night with Rachael and it was really neat to share that with her (sorry it was another all-nighter Rach).
Placement was on Tuesday morning at 8 o'clock. It was really neat and Rachael was amazing through it all. Matt's and my heart ached as we watched her and her family say their goodbyes. They are such an amazing family and we know that our Heavenly Father will bless them for their sacrifice.
A little side note about placement from my perspective. It is very difficult to explain how incredible a "placement" is unless you've experienced it. -- Several years ago when I was dealing with being barren (I love that word) and had no children... I mourned the loss of that special time when Matt and I could bring a child into the world. It was such a special experience that I felt we would completely miss out on. Now that we've experienced the placements of Brynn and Gavin... I will never feel like we've missed out on anything again. When Rachael and Brynnlie's birthmom placed our beautiful babies in our arms... It is truly the most humbling, spiritual experience I can imagine having. What a sacrifice... how truly amazing and completely unselfish these women are! I truly believe they have their salvation secured. These women have the foresight for their tiny babies future and want them to have a mom & dad and to be sealed into our Heavenly Father's eternal family. They follow through with their decision no matter the cost to themselves. I truly can't explain our experiences and probably never will but they are etched in our hearts and minds forever & for that I am grateful.
We then walked out of the hospital as a big group and loaded up in our cars (this is what Rachael wanted.) It was so bitter sweet. I had to part ways with Rachael who has become one of my closest friends and had to let her go home and hurt without me. I wanted to go home with her and curl up next to her in bed and bawl together. I prayed before we left and pleaded with our Heavenly Father to hold her and lift her like only He can.
It was neat driving home with Gavin but I WAS SOOOO TIRED... completely drained. Matt drove separately and we had to stop in Ogden for a break. Matt's little brother Marc was nice enough to drive me the rest of the way home (THANK YOU!). I didn't think it would be safe for me to drive our 2 day old baby home with crossed eyes and a droopy head. (Little did I know that my bladder would have done the job.)
This is getting incredibly long... so I will follow up later with life at home. It has been magical! Brynnlie has been an amazing BIG SISTER! We knew she was excited but we have still been excited with how sweet she is with her brother and how willing she is to help. We've been able to see Rachael twice since placement which has been neat. We pray for her all of the time. We love you eternally Rachael! Our birthmommies are truly the best! :)
