24: The Birth

The following took place between 0100 (3 Feb) and 0100 (4 Feb):

0100 -- Deanna woke up about a half an hour earlier. Definitely contractions, definitely painful. After about an hour of her trying to get comfortable and going back and forth to the bathroom, she finally wakes me up. At 0130, I awake to her nudging me in bed saying, "Just so you know, I'm having contractions and am in early labor." I immediately shot up - time to get in gear. I ran downstairs and got the cameras charging and grabbed the few things that I needed for my hospital bag (her bags were already packed and in the car). So, what do we do now? We had been through the hospital class, taken a dvd class on preparing for childbirth, and talked about it. It was all a blur. So I grabbed the "What to Expect When You're Expecting" book and ran back to the bed with my contracting wife and began to speedread.

0200 -- Common sense begins to prevail. We are not having this baby in the next hour. I can slow down and think things through. As Deanna runs back to the bathroom, I run downstairs to let the dog out, realizing that Lucy will likely spend much of the rest of the day locked up in the bathroom. As I open the backdoor to let her out, sirens begin to wail (so much for common sense). I turn off the alarm and yell "Sorry" upstairs to Deanna -- she probably didn't need any additional alarms than the ones going off inside of her. After returning upstairs, we decide to call labor and delivery at Dewitt Military Hospital (Fort Belvoir, where I am stationed). Though we know her contractions just began, she is having them continuously. On the other end, a nurse named Kelly answers the phone. We know what she is looking for. She wants to hear Deanna talk and hear how painful it really is. Ironically, she does not have a contraction during the entire five minute phone call. Kelly is very helpful though and gives us many tips for the events to come. She instructs me to time the contractions. Before she hangs up, she lets us know that her birthday is tomorrow and that maybe our baby can come and share the party with her. We laugh -- nice thought, but not so nice to imagine this lasting until the 4th. Hopefully, our birthday celebration will be before Kelly's.

0300 - We put in our Friends DVD to help pass the time. I purposefully choose the disk with the four episodes before Rachel has her baby. My timer is out, as is a notebook. I am keeping a very official looking log of contractions and kick counts. The contractions are coming between three and six minutes. From a Friends episode we hear Rachel yell at her stomach, "Get out, get out, get out!". Mid contractions Deanna grimaces and says, "He's finally listening to us".

0400 - I take a shower. Clearly, this will be a very long day. Deanna takes one after me. Every few minutes I hear her yell "Contraction!" through the noise of the shower water. I update my log accordingly. After her shower she goes to the bathroom. She comes out, not looking very happy. The pain is increasing. We decide to call Kelly from Labor and Delivery again. I proudly give her the results of my record keeping. She compliments my efforts but tells us it is still too early to come in. She tells us Deanna that when it feels like she is hit by a mack truck -- it's time. And of course, Deanna manages once again to not have a contraction during the entire phone call. Are you kidding me???!!!???

0500 - I go downstairs and make coffee and bring up juice and cereal for Deanna. She is in too much pain to eat. As the contractions increase, the tears start coming. This has to be hospital time. I call Labor and Delivery and somebody different answers. I explain the situation and that the intensity of the contractions increased. After speaking to our nurse, she tells us that we can come in. That's all we need to hear.

0600 - Instead of locking Lucy in her crate (like normal), we set her up in the bathroom with her food and toys. Our friends from church, the Feehs, have a key and volunteered previously to look in on Lucy when the time comes. We make it to the hospital in about twenty minutes. Ater checking in, they hook Deanna up to a monitor to record blood pressure and contractions. A nurse comes in, sees the monitor, and says "Healthy baby!" Well, that's a good sign. After about a half an hour of this, they move Deanna to the exam room.

0700 - After waiting for a while, our Doctor comes in. She smiles and says "Hi Deanna, I'm Dr. Wells." Now, that's kinda funny! But then I remember that we are in a Army hospital and that she has a rank. I look at her badge and laugh. I inform Captain Wells that I am also a Captain Wells and that my family will love hearing about this. Captain Wells does her checks and informs us that we are at 2 cm and 50% (whatever that means). We must get to 4 cm to reach active labor and be admitted. After finding out that we live close, she advises us to return home. If the contractions continue, call again in four hours or so. Deanna begins to tear up as the doctor leaves. The thought that this might not even be the day is not what we wanted to hear.

0800 - Walking is the number one piece of advise to speed this process up. Despite the pain, we go to the grocery store and post office -- anything to make the time pass and move around. The pain is a little much, so we head up after these two trips.

0900 - Back at home. Lucy is excited for us to be home. She is confused and concerned about why Deanna moans and yells every three minutes. She also doesn't realize that it isn't good to lick a woman in labor and get's herself into trouble . . . repeatedly.

1000 - I go to work for an hour and a half. I don't want to start leave today or the next day (if there is no baby), so I decide to pop into the office. Deanna approves this decision and says she will try to nap. I get kicked out shortly after arrival (but I do get all loose ends tied up, so there will b no need for phone calls to the office when leave begins).

1100 - Deanna feels best standing and begins pacing around the house. I realize that this is going to be a long day and take a shot nap.

1200 - More contractions, more intense.

1300 - I am beginning to come to grips with the fact that I am helpless in this situation and can do nothing to stop the pain. I attempt to do normal things around the house and try to ignore the screaming woman who I love and am married to walking around the house.

1400 - Even more contractions, even more intense. We call the hospital and inform them that we are coming back. We went past the original goal of four hours because Deanna does not want to get to the hospital and be sent home again. She spent etxra time trying to walk the baby out - what a trooper!

1500 - Deanna is only at 3 cm. Dr. Wells is sending us home again. When she sees the look on Deanna's face she assures us that we are vary close. She tells us to come back in two hours. She says we can stay on post if we prefer and continue to walk out the baby. I try to envision us walking around the PX or commisary with Deanna screaming and clutching my arm. We opt to go back home instead.

1600 - Not gonna lie . . . we are not having fun. I put Deanna's favorite movie "While You Were Sleeping" on to try to take her mind off of the pain. I don't think it worked, but she appreciated the effort.

1700 - At 1745, we head back to the hospital. We go over the two hour mark because we are fearful of a third rejection. Within seconds of beginning her check, Dr. Wells smiles us and tells us that we are at 4 cm and 90% (still not sure what the % means, but 90 sounds really really good at this point). I see the relief on Deanna's face. She even smiles through her next contraction!

1800 - It's "Go Time"". We are now admitted to the hospital. They take us to the Labor and Delivery room. Unlike other hospitals, they don't give you a seperate room for labor (part of the reason we had to wait until 4 cm). But you get your own room the entire time from 4 cm until delivery. It was unreal to walk around a room, and know that you are going to meet your son here. While they begin to get setup, I go outside, brave the cold and make cell phone calls to the parents as well as text messgaes to some of Deanna's girlfriends and facebook.

1900 - It's shift change at the hospital. Dr. Wells wishes us the best and hands us off to Dr. (CPT) Lumbad. She is also really nice and puts Deanna at ease. It is at this point that we meet our nurse, Kamie. I didn't know how this was going to work, so I didn't realize at the time how involved Kamie will be the rest of the way. Kamie is awesome and makes Deanna and I comfortable instantly. Dr. Lumbad examines Deanna and determines that she is now at 8 cm!!! This is pretty amazing and the rest could happen very fast.

2000 - Deanna recieves the much anticipated epidural. Within a few minutes she no longer feels pain. Time after time she looks over at the monitor (showing the intensity of the contractions) and laughs . . . because she feels nothing!! She has had a long, hard day and she deserves it. I am so relieved that she is able to relax. She is funny to watch because she has become "chatty" . . . she is now sharing stories with anybody and everybody who walks in (she thanks the epidural man repeatedly).

2100 - Dr Lumbad does another exam and reveals that she may have been a little too generous with her first inspection. Deanna is only at 6 cm. This is still good, but we aren't as close as we thought. We meet the nurse, Kelly, from the early morning phone calls and discuss that we may share February 4th birthdays afterall. Kelly is a Cowboys fan (this is discussed because I intentionally wore a Cowboys shirt for the big day) -- glad to know our baby will be in good hands!!! :) Kamie shows me how to turn my armchair into a bed and orders us both to take a nap. There is much work still ahead.

2200 - Deanna and I enjoy our much needed nap.

2300 - Time for another exam. We are at 10 cm. Time to push. I run outside for a quick bathroom break and call Deanna's parents (they are awake and on the road from Illinois to Virginia).

0000, 4 Feb 09 - I am shocked when I get back in the room and see that Kamie already has Deanna in position and is coaching her on how to push. I expected that this would be the point that the room would fill with doctors and nurses and the future Dad (me) would take a supportive role by my dear wife's head. Nope. Every contraction (beginning at 0015), Kamie lifted one leg and I lifted the other as she coached Deanna through the pushing. It was a very relaxing setting. And I was actually helping -- very cool! I was still positioning myself towards the northern portion of Deanna's body. After about two pushes Kamie asks me if I would like to see the baby's head. I boldly said yes. During the next push I took the big step forward and, sure enough, I clearly saw the beginning of a little head. A couple pushes later I could make out whisps of hair. Wow!! Kamie assured Deanna that she was doing great. After doing this for about fifteen minutes Dr. Lumbad and the other nurses began to enter. Upon entering, every single one looked impressed and told Deanna how good she was doing. I think it was the quality of her leg lifters (just kidding). Once Dr. Lumbad took center stage there was very little left to do. A few pushes later and there is a head. And at 0043, on the next push -- he is out and I hear his first cry. Within a split second they have our baby on Deanna's chest. A couple of second later he is wiped clean and remaining on Deanna's chest to begin bonding. The three of us are together as a family. It is all very surreal. One of God's greatest miracles just unfolded before my eyes!

0100 - Deanna and I pretty much already knew his name, but wanted to wait to see him to confirm. When we said Garrett he gave a half smile -- I think he approved! The doctor's continued to help Deanna heal. The nurses gave Garrett his first bath. He weighed in 7 lbs, 6 ounces and was 20 and 3/4 inches -- a very healthy baby. After a couple of hours they moved us to the Mother / Baby unit. Deanna, Garrett, and I were now together and beginning to figure out this new family thing. We have been there for a day and a half now and don't go home until tomorrow (Friday morning). More details about the rest of the story to follow.

Many people out there know that I LOVE the show 24 . . . some know that I go so far as to joke with select friends that I actually double as Jack Bauer, working for CTU (from the show). Those familiar with 24 know that I kind of modelled this post after the format of the show. However, in this story it is very clear that the role of Jack Bauer (tough as nails -- kicking butt and taking names) was not played by me but by my wonderful wife Deanna. I love my wife and am in even more in awe of her after being side by side through not just the last 24 hours but the last nine months.

A Tour of the Nursery. By Deanna and Lucy

Well, three days after due date - still no baby. But his room is all ready!!!

Five Minutes Until Kickoff

Baby Wells appears to be resting quietly. So far it looks like he will let us enjoy the Super Bowl. Go Cardinals!!!!!

We are now Sam's Club Members

The purpose of the trip to get membership at Sam's today was two-fold. First, we expect that the savings we make in diapers over the first month will more than cover the cost of membership. Second, we hoped that traveling through the aisles of the store would walk the baby out of Deanna.

STILL no baby

Yes, tomorrow is our "due date" and no, he will probably not show up on time. :) I went to the Dr. again today and zero progress has been made. If we still haven't had our baby by next Friday then I go in for an NST (non-stress test) and schedule an induction for the following Monday. Our little guy must really want to be a February baby. Ugh.

Still No Baby

Maybe tomorrow!

Special Surprise

Deanna and I work with the Children's Ministry at our church and teach 5th and 6th graders in the morning. This Sunday, I was finishing up the lesson with about five minutes left when the children's ministry director, Sherri Markle, knocked on the door and said that she needed to talk to all the classes outside. I figured that she had an announcement about one of the new programs that we were starting. After the last of our kids was up and out the door, Deanna and I followed behind. And we were completely clueless as we walked right into our surprise baby shower!

It was great! All three Elementary classes were out there and they all cheered as we walked in. They had seats for Deanna and I in the middle with presents all laid out. It was fun to open the presents with all the kids there. As we unwrapped gifts, the kids enjoyed some special celebration cupcakes. At the end ,we took photos with all the kids. Deanna and I were completely blown away by this really special surprise! Big thanks to Sherri, Nicki Phillips and Casey McAllister for putting it together!!

Baby's Romo Jersey

Yes, our baby already has his Tony Romo jersey -- and he matches Dad! His jersey sits in his bouncer in the livingroom in front of the tv to root on the Cowboys in his absence . . . awaiting him to take his proper seat and gamegear in the near future. Unfortunately, he will not be sitting in front of a Cowboys game anytime soon as they bowed out of the Super Bowl hunt before the playoffs began. Deanna assures me that the Cowboys actually did this for us. They were clearly worried about the potential stress and difficult decision to make if Deanna were to go into labor in the middle of a Dallas Cowboys Super Bowl appearance. So they gracefully removed themselves from the running (ok, it wasn't very graceful) until next year when we are in Dallas to enjoy!

The Countdown Continues

So, I had a Dr's visit on Wednesday and apparently Baby Wells is facing the right direction, measuring on target, but not very interested in moving south anytime soon. :-) We've done such a fabulous job of making him comfortable that he wants to stay where he's at. Ugh. I really can't complain about being too uncomfortable yet but I was hoping to meet this little guy sooner rather than later. Those of you who took our poll and voted for any day beyond our due date, those dates are looking more and more likely every day. Sigh...at least I'm getting extra time at home to clean and rest, right? Go, baby, go!!

The Belly Picture

Well, here is the picture that everybody really wanted to see. Doesn't she look amazing? I think so . . . Now if we could only get that lil guy inside her to decide to come out . . .

The Calm Before the Storm

Here is Lucy -- ten days before the baby -- she has no idea how life is about to dramatically change . . . .

Ten Days Out!

We are now officially only ten days away from the due date. Ten days!!!!!!! So, the time has finally come for me to embark on my fatherly responsibilities and I am entering the blogosphere for the first time. Scary. Anyways, I'm refreshing myself on our video camera and digital camera and am all set to begin documenting every moment of Baby Romo's (his name for only a few more days) first year. Well, not that much -- but I'm ready! Here is a picture of Deanna relaxing in her brand new glider (Thank you Mom and Dad!). Enjoy . . .