One Week Old

Happy Birthday Reid! 

The little guy is one week old today! Crazy, one week and I haven't even reached my "due date" yet. It is hard to think that I could technically still be pregnant. Im grateful he is here but still have to stop and realize this  is not a dream. It just all came so suddenly. 

For those of you interested here is the story of Reid William Stryker.

I was one week and 2 days away from my due date and was certain I was going to be late because my body was doing absolutely nothing to prepare for labor. I mean it was growing, but besides that it was pretty uneventful. Friday night I went to a high school basketball game and chased Garret up and down the bleachers. I kept telling everyone who asked I was about a week from my due date and even that seemed weird to me. One week....it seemed to come so soon. Well it was coming even sooner than that. How funny to think back and see that I'd actually have a baby less than 24hrs from that point.

Saturday morning I woke up around 2am with slight contractions....aka cramps. I only knew it to be contractions because it felt exactly how it did with Garret, except less pain in my back. It was uncomfortable enough that I had a hard time sleeping but not so much that I felt like this could be it. I tried to pass the time trying to sleep or puttering around downstairs. I didn't wake Ace this time because I was worried that if this was still days away we both didn't need to be sleep deprived and trying to deal with a toddler. But he was up at 6 am and started timing my contractions. Again nothing to write home about or even call the hospital BUT I had started leaking something and that had me a little concerned. I tested positive for Strep B this time around and so every new thing with this pregnancy made me a little nervous because I didn't really understand what Strep B meant. 

I was grateful I had a doctors appointment at 8 that morning so that I could get checked and get a few questions answered. So Ace, Garret and I loaded up in the car and rushed out into a winter snow rain storm. We pulled into the OBGYN parking lot and it was empty. No one was there. The door was locked the lights were off...nothing. I was so frustrated. So what do I do to show happiness, sadness, fear, anger and every other emotion? I cry! And I did just that. I didn't want to go upstairs to the birthing center because I was worried they would see my wimpy contractions, tell me that the leak was from my weak bladder, send me home and then later talk about "those" pregnant ladies who always think they are in labor. FINALLY, after about an hour, Ace and my mom convinced me to call the birthing center and explain the situation. The conversation went something like this:

Me: "Hi my name is Lacy. I came in for a dr appt this morning but apparently four corners isn't open on Saturdays. Im just downstairs I am having contractions but about 6 or 7 minutes apart and...."

Laura(on the other end): "If you think you are in labor you should just come up and get checked."

Me: "Ok thanks."

As soon as I got off the phone I started crying. I told my mom and Ace the girl on the other line was snotty. I was emotional and frustrated with EVERYONE!

So Ace, Garret and I went up stairs to find out that yes I was having mild contractions and the leak was actually that my water had broken and was just leaking slowly. They said I need to have this baby in the next 24 hours so they were admitting me. At that point we called my dad to come get Garret. This was probably the closest that I will ever want to be to having an at home birth. Garret was bouncing every where and poor Ace was trying to bounce back and forth between a wife in labor and a toddler exploring all the buttons of a delivery room. 

I was lucky enough to have my mom and Ace at my side the entire time. My mom was overstaffed at work but they would be getting another patient at 4pm so they need someone to clock out from noon to 4 so my mom did just that, and in that time we were all able to meet Reid. My mom and Ace were a great team. My nurse Jen kept talking about how great they both were, and they really were. My mom kept me focused and Ace made me feel like super woman. He looked at me with such amazement and told me loved me over and over. It really was the best of both worlds. But all that frustration from the morning and I guess days and weeks before crept in and that last part of my labor I just kept saying, "Im so mad. Im just so angry!" And I was. I told my mom I was done and I wanted to "burn the place down." I'd say "I hate this. I can't do it anymore." Ace would respond with "Im sorry. You are doing so good. I love you so much." And my mom would respond with, "You are done with that one. So take a deep breath. Relax and get ready for the next one." With Garret my contractions were always one on top of the other and even when I had a little break there was always pain in my back that kept me alert. But with Reid there were seconds, minutes of total peace and comfort. You'd think this would be nice, but I'd doze off and have the rudest awakening of my life as I went from 0 pain to extreme pain in a split second. But all that pain led to one giant push and Reid was here. 

He had the sweetest clearest cry. I cried, kissed Ace, told my mom I loved her, thanked everyone for their help, and apologized for my anger. These moments right after delivery are the sweetest most spiritual moments of my life. Im so grateful for these experiences. 

Reid William Stryker- 7lbs and 19 3/4 inches= A little bit of perfection.

 Reid with his handsome Daddy

Reid already getting kisses from his Mama.

 Reid with Dr. Kim Priebe. She was amazing!

 Reid with Grammy and the worlds best mom.

Reid's first bath was one of mixed emotions but Ace said he had two favorite parts: sitting in the bowl of nice warm water and getting his head washed. 

 Sad to have his hair washing experience complete.

 Clean and comfy

 Reid with the worlds best big brother.

My awesome life!

 We love Reid!

 My life just got really interesting.

 Ready to head home

 Our favorite nurse, Jen

 Life at home has been great. Reid is very trusting. Garret bounces all around him and tosses toys left and right but Reid just keeps sleeping on.

 We had a hard time convincing Garret not to climb in the bassinet with Reid.

  Looks like trouble

 Both my boys were big time sleepers. Reid graces us with his presence for maybe two or three hours the entire day. He is a bit more social at night but we are trying to convince him that parties are WAY better during the morning hours.

Both Garret and Reid were a little too tan for their own good so what does the doctor order for this problem....a little sunbathing, go figure.

 Since I was Strep B positive Reid had to have his first doctors appointment less than 24 hours after being home but he is a healthy baby boy.

A few similarities between baby Garret and baby Reid:

-Both boys literally slept the day away. 

-Both boys were born with a full head of hair.

-Both babies brought in a storm. Garret brought a winter storm with him and Reid brought in a January rainstorm. It rained for 24 hrs straight.

-Both babies were a bit jaundice, hence all the sunbathing.

-Both had really easy going temperaments. There are tears if we get too hungry or at diaper changing time but other than that we usually only hear squeals and squeaks.

A few differences between baby Garret and Baby Reid:

-Garret was born with dark brown hair and Reid was born with blond hair. Reid's hair looks darker to me already than it did right after he was born.

-Baby Garret peed on us maybe 3 times in all his diaper changes and because of this we never learned how to change diapers quickly. Thus, Reid pees on us daily.

Happy 1 Week of Life Reid!