Here is the story of how Landon made his grand entrance into this world...it was a crazy, crazy, surreal day with a very happy ending...
I had gone to the doctor the Thursday before and he saw that my amniotic fluid levels were low and that the baby was breech. He put me on partial bedrest to get my fluids up and we weren't supposed to go back to see him until the next Thursday. I couldn't wait that long to see if everything was okay so we went on Monday just to get it checked out. He said my fluid levels were up but the baby was still breech and wasn't likely to turn so we were prepared to schedule a c-section but not for at least a couple of weeks. Well, that night around 2:30 my water broke but I really didn't know if that's what it was...obviously I've never done this before...ha! I told Jim that I thought maybe my water had broken but I wasn't sure so I'd wake him up if I thought we should go. I couldn't go back to sleep because I was nervous so I got up and read a little bit out of What to Expect When You're Expecting and it said that contractions could start as long as 12 hours after your water breaks and I didn't think mine had started. Around 4 I noticed my belly feeling different but again, I've never done this before and just wasn't sure. So, around 5 they were stronger...not consistent but painful! I got up and packed our bags just in case (luckily we had just done the baby's laundry that night!) and I took a shower. I woke Jim up around 6 and called the hospital to see if they thought I should come in and they said that if I even thought that my water had broken that I should go in. By then my contractions were coming more regularly so we left the house around 6:20am. We got there and everyone just assumed that since this was my first that I had plenty of time but my contractions were on top of each other and when they checked me I was already dilated to a 9 and the baby's bottom was in the birth canal! I had to resist the urge to push (very, very hard!!) and they rushed me off for an emergency c-section. Everyone was in a panic and I was in some serious pain...they got me in the OR and got my spinal block in but didn't have time for it to kick in so they gave me something else that sent me into a place I can only describe as serious lala land! I told Jim that I felt like I was in Cirque de Soleil Love and that my body felt like a giant marshmallow! The drape that they hang was "billowing" and I was floating! It all happened so fast that Jim didn't even have a chance to move his car from the hospital entrance. Luckily it wasn't towed.
James Joseph Landon Battreal was born at 7:36am and weighed 6 lbs 13 ounces. He was 18.5 inches long and is just precious! We got to come home last Thursday and we are loving every minute with him. The feelings and love are even more indescribable than everyone says.
Jim is such a good daddy and Landon is a good baby. He doesn't fuss too much but he only likes to sleep when we are holding him or if he's in his car seat carrier (which is where he is now!) We are going to work on getting him to sleep in his bassinette soon but he's so tiny and snuggly and new that we are just going to enjoy the snuggle time for now.
It was such a whirlwind of a day and we are so thankful that he's happy and healthy!
