So this happened…{hello Jackson Ryan}

Jackson “Jax” Ryan Stuckenschneider made his entrance 12 days early on Friday, January 2. He was 20″ long and 8 lbs 1 oz. I think I’m the most surprised of all, even though I wanted him to come ASAP most of all. We couldn’t be more in love with him.

So the birth story (mainly so I have a record of it somewhere, before I forget it!): I had been super uncomfortable in the last week, in general and because of contractions that started to hurt a little vs. just be uncomfortable. It made me wonder if the real deal was going to happen soon, but given Henry was 11 days late after inducing, I didn’t really think he would be coming, at least that soon. I didn’t even have my hospital bag packed. The morning of January 2nd I was woken up at 5:45am from what felt like being kicked in the stomach (like, hard, not like a usual baby kick). I got up and went to the bathroom and tried to go back to bed, but I was having contractions that hurt, often. I started timing them and they were four to six minutes apart, which surprised me, since I thought usually they would start further apart? After a good half hour or so without them letting up and becoming quite a bit painful I got up and took a shower, since I thought “holy sh*t, these feel how they did with Henry. This could actually be it.” and apparently I felt I needed to shower before the big show. As I tried to get dressed the contractions were even more painful, causing me to stop whatever I was doing, and convincing me that this was it. So I finally woke Ryan up about 6:30 or 6:45am and then I tried to get ahold of my parents so they could come over to be with Henry. We also tried texting a couple neighbor friends (it was 7am which isn’t super early but early enough we didn’t want to disturb anyone if we didn’t have to), but no answers all around. Luckily my sister heard me call her while she was asleep and she was able to wake my parents up, who came over to relieve a friend who was actually up and able to come over to be at the house with a still sleeping Henry (Thanks, John!). As I was throwing things into my hospital bag (I had no idea what I was doing or putting in there) and trying to get dressed (I seriously couldn’t figure out what to wear to the hospital while in labor), my water broke in the bathroom, shortly after 7am. <insert two changes of underwear>. On the three minute drive to the hospital even more water gushed out – yes indeed, I really was in labor. For real. As if I couldn’t tell before.

At the hospital I had to have a wheelchair to get to the labor and delivery ward and was swearing a lot, because geez, those contractions hurt! And were every few minutes so there wasn’t much relief. They quickly checked me in, as I told them that I was ready for my epidural, ASAP. The longest hour later I finally (though was informed it was quick) got the epidural, and thank goodness for drugs, friends. My completely asleep right leg, my extremely dry mouth and hunger were more of an annoyance than the contractions for the rest of the time. God bless a fantastic nurse (if you go to Delnor you will want Becky) who snuck me water and said I could take some sips. About 3:20 pm it was time to push (my nurse, Ryan and the doctor were really encouraging and helped this along!) and at 4:02 pm my perfect little Jackson was born. He definitely had lungs on him, and came out with some rolls! I was super excited to see those rolls 🙂 I’m hoping they stay/grow. When Henry came to meet him that night with my family, it was the best thing ever. He was so excited, kept asking to see “baby Jax”, proudly showed me his visitor sticker, tried to give Jax his new toy and kept wanting to hold him.

(maybe my new favorite picture of all)

Everything was a bit surreal to me. I felt so unprepared for everything that happened! I was not supposed to give birth almost two weeks early – I was in the middle of projects, didn’t finish the nursery yet, hadn’t finished all the baby laundry (thank goodness we had at least gotten out and washed all the gear) and hadn’t packed. But everything happened as it should have, and really couldn’t have gone any better. I’m very happy he was an impatient guy and was so glad I was able to have a successful VBAC, with my chosen doctor who was miraculously working that day, for the experience and the recovery. My recovery is much easier this time around (though let’s be clear there is recovery and it’s still going on) and I was able to go home the next day – which may be crazy, but I was anxious to get home with Henry.

So we’re home and healthy and happy — and tired, but my mom was here for several days doing all the things, which was amazing. I’ve had my food cooked, laundry done, house cleaned, flowers and food delivered – a girl could get used to this 🙂 I guess it’s not every day you have a baby, so I’ll soak it in…along with baby snuggles and the joy of watching Henry with Jax. Seeing Henry with him is one of the most special things ever, my heart could burst every time he gives him a kiss or a face hug or tells him “it’s OK baby Jax”. He is also no longer a “big boy” but is instead a “big brother”. So so so so so awesome. I can’t believe he’s a week old already today and I seriously can’t believe he’s here – have I said that already? My heart is so full, what a perfect start to 2015!

(one week old!)

{Justine}

(I have 2 weeks left of my maternity book to post, which I’ll still do since it needs to get done anyway. Though if it will be anything like Henry’s, it still won’t be printed a couple years later…)