Our birth story

Josiah Mathew’s birth story.

Yay, our little one is finally here! What an adventure it has been. I Wish I could be posting more often, I don’t want to forget a second of this precious time we have with our newborn. I know it will go by all too fast. But, being a mommy is a lot of work and top priority right now. Forgive all the extreme details but I really want to remember everything about the labor and this is how I keep track. Anyway onto our birth story…

It started on Saturday night (09/12/09). I met some of the youth at Bollweivel for karaoke, Ken was working late. I started to feel not so great by the time I got home later that night. I didn’t know if I wanted to puke or eat because I was starving. I just felt lousy, so I went to bed and couldn’t sleep all night for the life of me. I started to feel cramps, something I have never felt before while pregnant. I tossed and turned all night. At about 4am I thought I wet the bed! My water was starting to leak (but I wasn’t sure if it was my water or not yet). I was up and down in and out of the bathroom all night. Later in the morning I woke Kenny up and told him I might be having contractions, he grabbed his phone to time them…then he fell asleep! LOL. I woke him up again and we started timing them. We finally got out of bed and I sent him off to grab some breakfast burritos. I was starving. I called the hospital and explained what was happening. They really make you doubt yourself when you call (probably because they were so overcrowded that weekend). They pretty much told me to wait and see. We continued timing the contractions but they were so sporadic I didn’t think I was in labor. They would come 10 minutes, 30, 20, back down to 8. They never stopped, but they weren’t getting worse either. So that Sunday I sent Kenny to work while I stayed home from church. I called a few people to tell them, we might be in labor. I still wasn’t sure. Gaynell then left church to come over and time the contractions with me during the day since Kenny wasn’t here. She brought me a chocolate-banana shake from Mi Ranchito…it’s all I wanted that day. I was pretty sure by this time that my water was in fact leaking while it ran down my leg as I ran to the restroom. It was a slow trickle all day, but during the more intense contractions it would leak more. I still wasn’t positive if I was in labor or not. Mostly because the contractions weren’t as bad as I thought they should be. I kept thinking it’s got to hurt more than this. I called the hospital to let them know I was pretty sure my water was leaking. The nurse said to come in within the next couple hours and they will check me out but I wanted to wait it out at home most the day, and try to wait on Ken to get home. So, Gaynell and I sat around the house and timed the contractions all day. Again, sporadic. They were getting a little closer together, but they still ranged from 15, 5, to 10. We went on a couple walks to speed it up, and nothing really happened. Gaynell finally talked me into packing for the hospital so I did. I didn’t really want to, I still wasn’t sure if this was really it. Later Ron came over, he was a little freaked out I wasn’t at the hospital yet. It was pretty amusing. Kenny got off about an hour early and made it home, we sat around and visited while timing contractions for a while.

After a few close contractions that were lasting over a minute, we decided to head down (8:00pm on Sunday 09/13). We checked into the hospital through the ER, since it was afterhours. It took awhile getting in, apparently they were super busy that day/weekend and there really wasn’t any room. After getting into a room, they checked me. My water was leaking, and I was dialated between 3-4 centimeters! I was shocked! Right after the nurse checked me, she put the contraction monitor and the fetal heart rate monitor on my belly, and had me sign a bunch of papers. It was hard to think at this point, the contractions were getting much stronger, and shortly after this they were about 5 minutes long each contraction! I was beside myself. I could hardly take it. I was so scared that my body was shaking, and my lips were quivering. I was scared mainly because I didn’t really allow myself to think, wow this is it..Im in labor. I basically kept telling myself all day, this isn’t it, this cant be it! So mentally I wasn’t prepared at all. Everything was happening so fast! During these long painful contractions I was contemplating the epidural. I was scared out of my mind to get it, I thought it would hurt so bad. But I finally caved in and asked for it. Meanwhile, the nurse was hooking up my IV. Oh my it hurt like no other! She kept jabbing me up the arm, over and over again. Nothing. So then she went into my hand which hurt worse. At this point I was deathly afraid of the epidural, but the pain of the contractions ruled over my epidural inhibitions. Finally the anesthesiologist came in to give it to me. Piece of cake. Little did I know the IV is what really hurt. I could have taken a million needles up my back for the epidural than to get that IV. I really was afraid for no reason in comparison! Funny, no one ever told me that! Anyway, once the epidural was administered I started to relax and calm down. The shaking went away, and my lips stopped quivering. The contractions started to come stronger and closer together after the epidural because my body was so much more relaxed. But the contractions still remained very sporadic the whole time. I think they became stronger and closer as labor started progressing more because I wasnt fighting the contractions anymore, and I was so much more relaxed. In the meantime, my Grandma Carole, and my sister Amy showed up. Ron and Gaynell left shortly after Grandma got there. And Grandma and Amy stayed the whole night while I labored. It moved fairly quickly. At one point the nurse checked me and I was at 7 cm, an hour later, 9 cm. (Of which I slept that whole hour! Yay epidural). My dr. showed up in the morning at about 9 am to check me, and said that I should deliver the baby before noon that day (Monday 9/14).

My contractions were not staying very consistant so the nurse put me on pitocin to keep them regular as I pushed. She started the pitocin a few minutes before I started pushing. My nurse had me practice my pushing as soon as the dr. left. We got pretty far in our “practicing” as the baby’s head started to crown. We ‘practiced’ maybe 20 minutes, before the nurse decided to stop and allow my dr. to show up. As soon as he came in, he took a quick peek, it was pretty funny to see the surprised look on his face, and then he rushed to get ready for the delivery. He was going so fast, I thought the baby might pop out right then! After he was ready he checked me to see if I needed an episiotomy before pushing again. I didn’t, so he had me push through another contraction. As soon as I bared down to push he started telling me..no no, too hard, stop pushing, stop pushing. I actually laughed, because I wasn’t really pushing yet, I stopped anyway. As soon as another contraction came, he told me to push, but this time push slowly…I gave one little tiny push and out came our precious baby, Josiah Mathew Ragsdale. He weighed 7 pounds exact, and measured just over 19″ long. As soon as he came out and the nurse placed him on my chest all I could do was weep. I cried and cried, and said over and over again, he is so beautiful! He was perfect, 10 fingers, 10 toes, beautiful skin. He literally came out, perfect. I didn’t see a spot of blood, or mucus on him, his head was perfectly round too. We got many comments from the dr. and nurses, of how beautiful he came out. It was really amazing. The whole experience was incredible. The dr. had to give me 2 tiny stitches that dissolve on there own and that was it. From the time I started pushing to the time he came out it was about 20-30 minutes.

Here are some pics…

Time to go home!

pregnancy journal: 39 weeks

Wow, the days have been slowly dragging. It has been so nice being on maternity leave and getting so much done. Not only that, but Kenny and I have been able to spend a lot of quality time together when he is off. We have been having picnics, lunch dates, playing at the beach, and spending time with family and friends. It has been such a blessing, we really have made the most of this time and enjoyed these last few weeks at this stage in our lives (without the little one) and I really wouldn’t of traded them for the world. They were very much needed.

 Last weeks dr. appointment, I was about 2 cm dialated (up 1cm from the week before), 60% effaced (up 10% from the week before). Also, his head is still down. My dr. told me he really doubts that I will make it all the way to my due date on the 14th, and that he wouldn’t be surprised if he came this weekend, maybe a labor day baby? LOL. I think I have been having contractions, well I must be if I’m dialated. But I keep doubting myself. Its hard to know when you’ve never done this before. I feel pretty good other than the same pain in my pelvis, only on  my left side. This pain has gotten a lot worse and must be from the baby being lower now. I really feel great, and haven’t been gaining weight the past couple weeks either. Its hard to believe I can go into labor at any minute, because I feel fine and so normal…. I am huge despite not gaining weight lately. My stomach is popping out, it is much harder getting around, and bending over is definitely out of the question! Josiah continues to move but I can tell that his movements are a little constricted because of the ‘tight quarters,’ but he is still SO active. This little guy is such a mover.

 It has been hot, and sleeping can be a chore at times. But luckily I am home during the day to rest on the days I don’t sleep much. I have had major nesting fever the past few weeks and I am trying not to go overboard. I always thought it was a wives tale. But, it seems to be true for me. I cannot stop getting some of the most ridiculous things done, cleaning the kitchen from top to bottom, wiping down cabinets, rearranging things, the list goes on and on.

 I keep begging God to let me in on when this little guy will arrive. I cannot wait!!! It is taking so loooooong! I feel like it’s never going to happen, especially because I feel so ‘normal’, it makes it hard to see the end in sight. We cant stop talking about what Josiah will look like, and what it will be like to finally hold him in our arms. SHEESH, the wait is finally feeling unbearable! Hopefully the next time I journal will be about the birth of this precious angel!

Pregnancy Journal: 32 weeks

Wow, it’s hard to believe I hit the 8 month mark. Let’s see…. hot and stressed would sum up how I have been these past few weeks. It has been in the triple digits making me not so comfortable. But I can say God has given me the endurance to push through it. It is hard to sleep at night, but I have been so exhausted that it hasn’t taken my sleep away completely. That’s a plus! I have really been taking it easy at home because of the heat and my growing uncomfortable(ness). The heat has made me get pretty creative when it comes to running appliances of any sort. The dryer only comes on in the middle of the night, the stove…never; we have been learning how to grill just about anything. Ok, enough about the heat….

 I have been stressed out because of work. They just did more cutbacks; this cutback was ANOTHER 20%. Putting me at 40% of what I used to make. It is extremely stressful to say the least which leaves me counting down the days to maternity leave. How pathetic that when I am on leave, I will be making more than what I am now? Sad stuff….it just makes me wanting leave all the more (regardless of the idea that doing nothing all day makes me want to pull my hair out!) God will provide no matter what. I am relieved to know that he holds our finances in His hands. I just have to keep telling myself that every second of the day.

 On to other business, I have been seeing the dr a lot more lately. The time is winding down. Shesh it goes by so fast and so slow all at the same time. I feel so unprepared for this little guy but so anxious to meet him. We have been so blessed by friends to get hand me downs so I have been sorting through all kinds of clothes. The idea now is to wash them (that’s the tricky part because of the dryer).

And that cradle needs to be put in our bedroom (hint, hint daddy)

And the shower is coming up in a little less than 2 weeks, which is super exciting! Ken and I are going away on a “baby moon” to Vegas this weekend. I can’t wait to relax, sleep in, and swim from Sun to Weds. Should be nice and relaxing! It will be our last trip before ‘we’ become ‘us’. Craziness.

 My 8 month pregnant body has been holding up for me this far. However, the aches and pains are increasing. It is mainly my lower back, I can be walking just fine one minute and then BAM an insanely painful pinched nerve that makes my knees buckle. I assume it’s a pinched nerve anyway. Also I have been getting pains in the pelvis area (TMI maybe) but truth. I guess its growing pains. These are the pains that wake me up in the middle of the night. Oh and hands are swollen, my fingers are now fat sausages, I can’t wear my rings at all    It makes me sad. I hope this doesn’t all sound like complaining, I do love being pregnant, maybe not AS much as earlier on…but I still wouldn’t trade it for the world…(ok maybe I would in a heartbeat for a little baby boy named Josiah). The little Mr. has been moving A LOT. Which is funny, my pregnancy emails I get tell me that the movements should be winding down since there’s less room. Quit the opposite I would say “Mrs.She knows”! He is such a mover!! I get a few movements every once in awhile that hurt or are very uncomfortable. Especially when he gets under the ribs, or the one spot he likes to jab or kick is the left lower side. I don’t know my anatomy well, but there must be some kind of sensitive organ over there…and he likes to kick it! Lucky mommy

Pregnancy Journal: 28 weeks

YAY, 3rd trimester!!!!!!!!!!! I can’t believe how fast it’s gone by. But wowza has my back hurt like nobodies business! The past week or so, I have had shoooooting pain down my lower back. It hurts SO bad that it makes my knees buckle if I’m standing. It happens mostly when I’m standing but also when sitting. I’ve noticed the only time it doesn’t hurt is when I’m laying down. This only makes me want to be in bed by 7! Anyway, I’m starting to feel a little less comfortable (aside from the back pain) I feel my whole lower body is getting its toll finally. My hips, legs, feet….oye! But it’s not completely unbearable (yet). And everyday I am counting my blessings that it isn’t hotter than it’s been. I feel very lucky.

 On a happy note, Kenny put together the baby room furniture. It is so exciting to go into the nursery and see a crib in there. It was such a huge reality for us when we finally saw it put together. We both just kind of stood there speechless for a few minutes. Something about seeing it in your own house, the place your baby will be sleeping. It really is amazing. I keep getting teased by how much I go into his room, just to stand there and stare! I know, lame! I haven’t taken the glucose test yet; I should really get my but into gear and do that. I need to have it done this week. Our next baby appointment is next week, then after that appointment I will be going every 2 weeks (oh joy!)

The time is winding down, and I have had serious “nesting” fever. I want to clean, clean, clean….prepare, prepare, prepare. I have to take it easy though, I’m really quick at overdoing it. Last weekend I decided to clean the floors, and instead of using a mop I thought that I should get on my hands and knees and scrub away! I still hurt from that brilliant idea. I seriously need to take it down a few notches. I just need to relax, or this is going to kill me!

 Baby boy is moving a lot as usual. I read this week that he can dream now…..dream?! I can’t stop wondering what in the world can he possibly be dreaming about. So interesting. Oh, and of course he can hiccup, but he can also sneeze and cough. Isn’t that amazing? Amy was able to poke him and play with him over the weekend. She would poke poke poke him in one spot and he did the same poking back. It was funny.

 I will post baby room pics…

Ultrasound 26 weeks

So I am getting frustrated with the scanner, it is not scanning this photos the way I want it to. Oh well, maybe I will do it later. Anyway, the ultrasound went good. The four heart chambers were located on the boy! Yay! And all looks fine and dandy. It was great seeing him again, I love it. Grandma was able to go with us. She enjoyed it to. And the baby is still a boy! So no doubts there, LOL. He is a little over 2 pounds she said, and the due date will be between September 14-17. So most likley sooner. He is getting so big! Anyway all was fine and we are right on track!

Pregnancy Journal: 26 weeks

The past couple weeks were very rough. I was really sick, caught a nasty cold that didn’t want to go away. And on top of all of that sliced my finger really bad and bled all over the place. Thought I would have had a heart attack seeing all that blood. It could have been alot worse though. I’m lucky I didn’t slice a part of my finger right off! The valuable lesson learned…do not operate any kitchenware while sick and drowsy!

On another note I am Growing, growing, growing. My tummy is getting bigger these days. But much to my surprise I’m loving it. It is a joy, a reminder of our little one growing and getting bigger and stronger himself. It is very exciting. Baby had his check up last week. His heart beats so loud and strong, when the Dr. had his heartbeat on the Doppler he had to turn it way down because he thought it would bust a speaker! The Dr. is very pleased with the sound of his heart, and so am I. Amy got to come with me to our check up so she was able to hear it too, Kenny had to work. He doesn’t miss many appointments though, I think he has been there for every single one except this one. Anyway, I lost weight again, 2 pounds. Making that a -6 pound weight lose since our very first baby appointment. But not to worry, the Dr. says it is fine and we are both healthy. I’m not sure why I’ve been losing weight, but I sure don’t look like it. I don’t know how it’s even possible to have a growing stomach, and continued weight lose. It’s a mystery to me, I sure don’t mind it though! If this keeps up, I will be one hot mama after the baby’s born! LOL, but I know it won’t last much longer. As he is growing bigger and bigger!

Josiah has been moving so much lately. I am actually able to see my stomach shift when he is rolling around in there, it is so much fun! I started feeling these weird movements within the last couple weeks, a movement I haven’t felt before. It feels like he is tickling me on the inside of my stomach, or blowing bubbles or something. Maybe he has gas? I don’t even know if that’s possible. But it is a weird feeling, that feels totally different from the other regular movements. He mostly moves at nighttime after dinner. And most nights Kenny and I lay in bed shortly after dinner just to watch him move around. My favorite part of the day.

Anyway, the Dr. is sending me to get another ultrasound. He said that the last one we had done, they weren’t able to get very good images of the different heart chambers, since he was  SO active, and we were there for SO long. He said there is nothing to worry about, just enjoy being able to see the baby again. So we will be doing that hopefully this week, can’t wait!  I also need to go in for the glucose testing (I think that’s what it is) and drink that nasty orange stuff sometime in the next few weeks…oh joy!

Over the weekend Amy was up to help clean (and I mean CLEAN) out the baby room and closet.  We also had to clear out some things in our own bedroom just to be able to fit a cradle. We worked so hard getting everything cleared out. We had a big yard sale and got rid of pretty much everything that was in that bedroom, and we moved the office into another room. It was so much work, but I feel more ready now than ever. The room is completely empty and Kenny is starting on painting it this week.  I can’t wait, I am so excited to fill the room up!

I will post belly pics, and the ultrasound pics later….

Pregnancy Journal: 23 Weeks

I have been bad about Journaling lately. I have been so busy. But can’t complain too much, I have been feeling pretty good. Food is less of an enemy now that my appetite has increased, and there are certain foods I want more than others. I have been eating an entire watermelon every week by myself! I can just sit there and eat and eat and eat it until it’s all gone. I’ve also been on this Italian food kick, not the dominos (gag me now) pizza, but like the Italian restaurant pizza, and salads….Mmmm. But other than that, there isn’t much I want to eat. It is tricky eating out (especially fast food), it’s all so gross to me, unless its salad of course. Nothing tastes the same anymore. It is sad.

On a happy happy note I have been feeling Josiah move a lot more lately. Most of the time, I can look down and see my stomach move (not the stomach shift from side to side, or the hand pressed into the stomach wall or anything) just a bumping. It’s really neat. I keep telling Kenny I think he will be a worship leader. The boy goes nuts during worship at church or if I listen to it loud in the car. It is so funny! He may be getting hiccups on occasion also, because I will feel the same repetitive bumping in the same exact spot for a couple minutes. It actually woke me up the other day! It makes me seriously wonder what he’s doing in there, I guess he has to stay busy some how (just like his mamma!).

Sleeping has been becoming more difficult. My back has been making it hard to stay asleep at night. And yes I have been using a lot of pillows. On occasion if it’s real bad I will take one Tylenol pm, but I don’t like doing it; so typically just suffer through it. I’ve also been getting swelling in my hands and feet. I had to take off my wedding band this last weekend, when we sized it before we got married I left the engagement ring ½ size bigger than the wedding band for this reason alone (pregnancy). So let’s hope I won’t have to take off my engagement ring too.

Next week is our monthly check up. I will leave an update. For now we are planning on going to register for the baby soon. We have been putting it off. And we still need to paint the room, along with a few other things. My Grandma and Aunt have been asking when we want to get the nursery furniture delivered, so we better get on that baby room soon! We are blessed beyond belief! We decided on the theme we want his room to be, and the bedding. I will attach a pic. The colors are blue and brown; it has stripes and a little bit of plaid in the bedding with puppies. It is called Handsome at babies r us: http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3472228 it’s so cute!

Pregnancy Journal: 20 weeks

We had our sonogram yesterday! It was so exciting. Amy came up to be apart of it and waited with Kenny while the technician took all of the “doctor” pics. It took FOREVER! The ultrasound technician kept sighing and saying how active the baby is!!! Every time she would blink the baby was in a different position. She seemed a little irritated, it was pretty funny. After she got enough pictures she called in Kenny and Amy, then showed us the baby. He was in such a weird position that she couldn’t determine at first what the sex of the baby was. I was severely disappointed. But after having me in different positions, on my side she was able to get a good angle of the ‘goods’ and there it was A BOY!!!!!

He definetly didn’t hide anything he let us see it. The only problem was getting him to stay still long enough to get a good glimpse! I looked over at Kenny as soon as she showed us his male parts, and he just stood there with this HUGE smug, proudful look on his face! It was priceless, he said…I knew it! That’s my boy! It was a very sweet moment. Amy was very excited too, she wanted a nephew since we have so many girls in the family.

All in all it was such an amazing day. The news shocked me, but I couldn’t be happier, it felt so perfect so complete. So I am pleased to announce that Josiah Mathew Ragsdale is looking healthy. We are on schedule for the due date, although he seems bigger than I thought he would be right now. She said he weighs almost 2 pounds. I thought he would be under a pound. Oh well, whatevs, I guess not all the pregnancy guides can be 100% accurate. It was also pretty funny hearing the disappointment in my mom and dads voice when I told them boy (especially mom). It doesn’t bother me, they are both so used to girls and I told you mom NOT to buy stuff yet!!! It was my gut feeling it was a girl, an opinion, not a fact!!! ha-ha. Oh well, what can you do? Both Kenny and I just couldn’t be happier!

What was that?!

What was that?!

 

On Sunday while we were praying at church I kept feeling the little flutter I’ve been feeling for the past week of so. It kept getting stronger, and stronger and stronger, then a BIG movement like a kick or something. I was staring down at my stomach totally wide eyed and freaking out, saying Oh my gosh what was that?!?! Kenny just looks at me nervously….what? What’s wrong? What? The baby just kicked me!

 

I felt it doing those same movements later in the day after lunch and then in the evening.  I kept trying to feel it with my hand on the outside of the tummy, but no luck. I can’t wait for Kenny to be able to feel his little acrobat. Yesterday it was those same movements about the same time of day. Just so strong! It probably freaked me out more yesterday when I got to thinking more about it. It scared me to think, if I can feel the baby than that means it’s big enough for me to feel. If it’s big now, it will only get bigger and one way or another…. is coming out of me! And that’s what freaked me out the most.

 

It is absolutely like nothing I have EVER felt though. It makes me laugh sometimes when I feel it, I’m not quit sure why. I’ve read that you can determine the sleeping pattern of your baby before it’s even born based off of movement in the womb. The times I feel it most active while pregnant should be its waking times when it’s born. Interesting to keep in mind….

 

I’ve been feeling the baby again this morning too, there is a lot of action after I eat and also towards the end of the day in the evenings. Don’t get me wrong its amazing to know the baby is there, whenever it happens I hear in the back of my mind, “mommy, I’m here” but it is still a little freaky, especially when you’ve never felt it before. I will get more used to it I’m sure and enjoy it even more. This kid is pretty active for being barely 5 months; I think we have a kick boxer on our hands…or maybe a little ballerina, hmmm..We will see in just a few short days.

Pregnancy Journal:18 Weeks

I cant wait for our ultrasound next Friday, we will finally find out what our little spud is! Let’s keep our fingers crossed that we can find out anyway. My mom told me that she never knew what I was untill she delivered me at the hospital. She said that everytime they did an ultrasound my little legs were crossed, so lets hope that doesn’t happen to us. I would LOVE to know ahead of time. But I am mainly just excited to see the baby. It is such a blessing to be able to see whats going on in there.

I have been feeling pretty good latley. I have had cramping like always, apparently it is the ligaments growing and stretching since there is so much growing and moving around for my body to do. They havent been too bad latley, but they are there off and on. I have still had one wild overly active bladder, not much fun at night. But I know it will most likley only get worse. Eating is still touch and go, I havent been eating a lot, just more often. I noticed that my appetite has kicked up a few notches, but I still don’t really ever want much…salad, fruit, and cold foods (not by choice!). And needless to say I have had one sensitive stomach, which is so not normal. The dog has been getting sick at night (lucky me… the time I have him…alone!) It has been a train reaction, monkey see… monkey do. All it takes is one swoop from paper towel in hand, to the trash can and I am a goner! I was SO sick over it this past weekend. What a whimp!

On a less nauseating note, I think I’ve been feeling baby movements. They started very lightly about a week ago, I wasn’t so sure what they were. But they have gotten more frequent and a little stronger. It feels like a flutter, it is really quick too, that’s why it is so hard to say if that’s what it was. There are a lot of things going on in there, its hard to tell if it’s the little spud or not. This week those feelings have kicked up a little bit, I mainly feel it during or after eating, sometimes it seems like a muscle spasm except inside my stomach! One day last week there was a strong movement, and I wasn’t sure what it was, I looked down to brush something off my shirt thinking it was a bug. But it was inside, no brushing that away! Only time will tell for sure if what I’m feeling are baby or just bodily functions. I should know soon, cant wait to know FOR SURE that it was/is the baby moving!