Presenting:

 Kannon Darwin Nelson!

It was July 6, 2012. I had discussed being induced with my Doctor at my last appointment. I wanted to see if my body could do the whole labor thing on it's own, but I was nervous that if I went a week over my due date that I would be having a HUGE baby! I had a feeling that this baby was much bigger than Max was. He agreed and so we set my induction date for my due date, July 6th,  and I was bound and determined that I wouldn't need that appointment at the hospital to be induced, my body would do it on it's own. I was having a lot of contractions and I was feeling pretty crappy so I was convinced that I would head to the hospital before my due date in labor.

Well, my body had another plan and the morning of July 6th came and we were set to head to the hospital for the induction...if I sat and thought about it I probably would have been disappointed in my body. Good thing for nerves and a lot to get done before heading out because I didn't have time to be disappointed. I tried to stay positive. This pregnancy was WAY different than Max's. I had high blood pressure, swollen like crazy, gained 70 pounds, and was miserable with Max. This pregnancy I started 35 pounds smaller than I did with Max, blood pressure was good, no swelling, and I gained 40 pounds, which is still a lot of weight, but I was feeling better about it!

The plan was to call the hospital at 6 am and they would tell us a time to head up. Brad's mom was up then and all set to head over to watch Max. After many hours and a big run around 4 pm came and we got the call to head up. Of course it was the busiest day of the week and they couldn't fit us in until then. I had no nails left, (spent the afternoon WAITING, biting them all off!) but we got in the car and headed up.
I hated waiting so long, but at the same time it gave me time to treasure with my little Max man. I was able to put him down for a nap and say bye before we went up to the hospital. I'm glad, now that's it's over that I got that time to be with him!

When we got there we checked in and they got me all hooked up. I had to have antibiotics because I was negative for Strep B this time, but with Max I was positive so my Doctor played it safe and gave them to me. They waited on the Pitocin because I was at a plus 2 when I went in so they were just gonna break my water and wait to see how I progressed, but Dr. Kirkman talked to me and explained that it would be best to do the Pitocin. I agreed and so they started that.

My mom made it up and then my Uncle Eric was working (he's over the Security there) so he and Brad gave me a blessing. Brad gave me so much comfort and I loved that he was willing to do that for me!

The antibiotics had to be in me for 3 hours before they broke my water so after the blessing it was the waiting game. The contractions weren't bad at all and so we watched a movie, I blogged, we chatted, and I ate lots of Popsicles and Dum Dum suckers. Let me add that I was thinking that we were going in in the morning so I ate breakfast and then didn't eat again because of nerves and thinking we would be going in at any moment so I was STARVING...the Popsicles and Dum Dum's were helping me cope with my hunger pains!

The 3 hours went by pretty quick and at about 8:45pm Dr. Fowers was in the building delivering a baby so he came in a broke my water. It was clear fluid and all was good. My AWESOME nurse Nanci upped my Pitocin and that's when the pain started. It wasn't as bad as with Max and I felt like I knew how to breathe through the contractions better this time. I had hard labor for about an hour or so. I knew that with Max the epidural helped me progress really fast so I opted to get it quicker this time. I was at  plus 3 when I got it and the Anesthesiologist was so amazing and did a great job!

After the epidural FINALLY worked I felt great and was ready to get going!!! I was stuck at a 4 for about an hour and then once I hit a 5 it was smooth sailing! I went from a 5 to an 8 in about 45 minutes and I was going so quickly that Nanci turned my Pitocin down and called the Dr. Kirkman. He arrived and I was at a 9. We sat and chatted for a bit...I LOVE Dr. Kirkman! What Doctor sits and chats with a patient at 1 in the morning?! He does cause he is AWESOME! After about 20 minutes he checked me and FINALLY I was at a 10!

The pushing was way different. I pushed for 21/2 hours with Max. This time I pushed for 3 contractions and our little man Kannon was here!
He had the cord wrapped around his neck and was quite blue. I wanted him on my belly when he came out, but not hearing him cry and seeing his color made it hard for me to look at him. I was scared that something was wrong. The NICU nurse assured me that he was OK and she took him to get him pinked up. Brad went over to his little station and watched him get all the little tests done.
At first we thought he looked like a little clone of his big brother Max, but as his swelling went down he changed a lot and looked nothing like him!

 

Kannon Darwin Nelson
born at 1:45 am
8 pounds 7 ounces
20 inches long

When he first came out I was surprised and thought, WOW he looks smaller than Max, but they put him on the scale and I was SHOCKED. He was 7 ounces bigger. His head was definitely smaller than Max's so I think that is what made me think he was smaller!

Thanks to this guy I was able to get through the Laboring part! I didn't get a picture with my mom, but she helped me so much too!

I'm so amazed at the love that you can have for a person. It was the greatest feeling to share this experience with Brad, someone that I love so much! I'm so glad that we were blessed with this precious boy, he is such a blessing and watching Max become a big brother is something that I will never forget! (I'll share that soon) I'm so glad that Kannon is a part of our family!!!

 

Dr. Kirkman is the BEST!

 

First picture of the three of us...missing Max!

 

 He met brother the morning after...post coming, along with the blessing day, summer fun activities, and LOTS and LOTS of pictures of what we've been up to!