Alexander Jac Wray

We are still in the hospital, but I thought that I had better write down our birth story before I forget some precious details. This week has amazing and we have had the best experience of our lives. We have been through lots of ups and downs, but we feel so grateful and blessed. This is a long story, and sorry if it is too personal.

So...We decided to wait until Monday to be induced. We were hoping that he would come on his own over the weekend and did everything we could to get him started, but he was just to comfy in there. After a sleepless Sunday night- (we were so anxious and excited neither of us slept!), Monday morning we went into be induced at 7 am. I had been dilated to a 2 since Thursday. They got me hooked up and started around 8, and the Dr. broke my water at 10. It took him a couple of pokes to get it (this is an important detail for later!) Contractions definitely started after that! At noon they gave me an epidural. (Not nearly as bad as I had thought- I am glad that I was having contractions while he was doing it because I was focusing on breathing and not on what he was doing back there.) Taylor loved watching it- but the nurse has a rule that the dad's must sit down if they choose to watch. The hour after the epidural was a hard one because I was still in pain, and only one of my legs was numb.  I was only at a 3 at this point, but I was feeling the contractions completely. Our nurse was amazing! We seriously loved her and I am so grateful she was there- she was an answer to my prayers. She was pretty determined that the first epidural didn't work, but I just kept telling her I was fine, cause I thought it was normal, but she said that I should not be feeling anything at all. So the guy came in and gave me another one. Man! I am so glad she was so persistent because I felt immediate relief and was able to relax for the next several hours as I kept progressing. So we just enjoyed the day napping, watching tv and visiting. I was feeling so peaceful and I am surprised how relaxed I felt. It wasn't until about 7:30 that I was fully dilated and they had me wait until about 8:30 to start pushing. I was so relaxed and felt so peaceful and I was very emotional. I just couldn't believe the time had come and I felt so grateful and overwelmed. I think everyone thought I was crazy because between pushes I just cried and cried. It wasn't from pain, I was just so happy and so excited and I really felt the Spirit. It was everything I had prayed it would be. My sweet husband next to me holding my hand- and my leg! And my amazing Mom and Mother-in-law, Jill encouraging me on the other side. I only pushed for a few contractions when the nurse said she had better go grab the Doctor. The Doctor came in and saw my progress so they got everything ready really quick and I pushed for just a few minutes and our little miracle baby came on out at 9:14 pm! Taylor cut the cord- he is a pro!

They took him over to the table to check him out and all was well as they finished me up. But a few minutes later the nurse was concerned with his breathing, so they called in the NICU specialist, Wendy. Wendy just explained that they were going to take him to double check him so Taylor went with them. I was only able to hold him for a couple of seconds before they whisked him away, and it wasn't skin to skin like I had hoped. But, I know it was for the best. So they got me all ready to go to our recovery room and they came and said the baby was fine and that they would meet us in the room. Once we got in the room I was able to start breast feeding him. He did really great and latched right on. It was amazing and I just sat there holding my sweet little baby and praying with all the gratitude in my heart for him. The well-baby nursery came in to get him for his bath and some shots. A few minutes later they told us they were concerned about his breathing again and they did an x-ray of his lungs. They had to get a couple of different angles and were finally able to see his Pneumothorax- which is a collapsed lung. This happened when we took his first breath, they think it was too deep and it created a little hole in his lung. So- they explained the treatment would be a giving him 100% oxygen under a hood that is humid as well. So off to the NICU he went. All of the nurses have been so amazing and answering all of the questions we have had. So Tuesday he was under the hood and they did another x-ray that night to see the progress. It was healing but they wanted to do another 12 hours. So Wednesday morning they did another x-ray and it was all clear, so he got off the hood.  My Dad and brother Mike had come up Tuesday to see us and they were able to hold him before they left home Wednesday morning. I had been pumping, but was able to begin breast feeding him again and most importantly Taylor and I have been able to hold him whenever we want. The rest of Wednesday was focused on his pee. He was very dehydrated and so they increased his fluids and monitored him that way. Then he started peeing like a mad man and has done great ever since. Thursday they removed his IV.

With Grandpa Vince

 This is Sue- she was awesome and has kept checking up on us

This is the oxygen hood

They discharged me on Wednesday, but the NICU has a few rooms for those who are breast feeding to stay, so we have been able to stay here with him. Currently, we are just watching his body temperature. The goal is to go home Sunday. He is still in an enclosed bed, and he has to be in an open crib for 24 hours and pass a 1.5 hour car-seat challenge before we can go. To be able to begin the open crib, he has to get to a 28 degree C bed and still have a body temp of 36.9 C. Right now he is at 29 degree C and they only decrease it every 3-6 hours. So hopefully we will start the 24 hour count down in the morning and that he will maintain his temperature. He is breast feeding like a champ and winning over the hearts of all the nurses with his huge feet. 

We are trying to be very patient, and mostly we are just very grateful for all of the prayers, phone calls, texts and visits we have had this week. I’m so grateful for an amazing husband and best friend. I could not do this without his positive attitude and great humor. So, hopefully we will be able to go home in time to celebrate Taylors birthday on Sunday!!