Graedin Ryker MacDonald

Well, it seemed like it took forever, but he is finally here. Cute and cuddly, soft and pink, Graedin entered our world on September 23rd, 2008 at 5:33pm. Weighing in at 9lbs 4oz, we were shocked that he came out in only 3 or 4 pushes!
Taryn is loving her new little brother, and is always concerned with him when he cries or fusses. She puts his soother in when we are driving in the truck, which is a huge help- I was always the one that had to do it previously....:)

Grandma and Grandpa were here visiting before Graedy was born. Since the due date was Sept 9, they came for that day, and after we reached the 20th and still no baby, earnest prayers were sent up that he would come soon!
They had to return to Mexico after a month and a bit of being away for family time.

As for the birth, I never imagined it could be as bad as it was. I was simply not prepared. As someone who had an epidural with each of the other births, I thought that this one would go as smoothly as Levi (8 hours, start to finish!)

We arrived at the hospital 8am to have my water broken. After 2 hours of nothing happening afterwards, they started me on an iv drip. The iv was wonderful- took 2 tries to get it in, not to mention the technician on the other side taking blood- took her 3 tries....so 5 pokes in all when it should have been 2!

Once the drip was started though, it did not take long for the contractions to start. After 4 hours, I asked for an epidural. I was given something else- can't remember the name now....- anyways, it was powerful, and soon I was dozing off and on between 5 min contractions. After 40 mins, I asked for an epidural again, because the drugs were wearing off. She gave me more drugs. :(

After only 30 mins, that one was gone, and the next one did nothing at all....by that time (around 2pm) I was begging for an epidural, but they said they needed to contact the doctor. I asked them to do that...from 2pm to 5pm, I was screaming in pain with every contraction. It most likely did not help that they turned up the drip more in the meantime so that the contractions would get stronger....!

I was told at 4pm that it was too late to give me anything! DUH! I am glad that we are done having kids. If I knew Kamloops was going to be such a hick town setup, I would have driven back to Edmonton to have Graedy.....

Oh, and being told by the nurse to "get it together" and "calm down" does not make me want to do either of those. It made me want to beat the crap out of her....good thing I had the laughing gas thing to beat on the side of the bed.... ;)