Grayson Robert Whited

We checked into the hospital around 6 am on Tuesday morning for induction. The nurse got me hooked up to all the monitors and noticed that I was already having contractions. These are my favorite kind of contractions - the kind that you cannot feel! The Potocin was started at about 7:30 and my doctor came in a little after 8 and broke my water. At that time I was 3 cm and 50% effaced. Things started picking up after a couple of hours and I was starting to get uncomfortable. This was my pose for more difficult contractions but I still had a smile on my face. I remember telling myself after Jillian was born to ask for the epidural before I really needed it on the next kiddo but I forgot my own advice. They checked me again around 11:30 and I was only a 4 but 90% effaced. I decided to wait a little longer but by 12:30 I was really uncomfortable and asked for the drugs.
Well I waited and waited and this is where the time line becomes a little fuzzy! I know that the epidural took a lot longer than it should because he was having difficulty getting it in. Mom remembers him telling her to step out and give us 15 minutes. She said she gave him 40 and she hadn't heard anything so she just came back in. He had just finished the epidural at that time and we think that was around 1:15. At that point the put oxygen mask on me b/c I found out later that Grayson's heart rate had dropped some during the long epidural process. Things were good then and I got in a 30 minute nap and then chatted with mom about soaps b/c of course that is what I had on TV. About 2:00 I told the nurse that I was starting to feel some pressure so she checked me and told me we were ready to start pushing! She decided to get me in position and try a few pushes before deciding whether or not to call my doctor. Well, I got in position and then the nurse made a funny comment and I started to laugh. She then told me NOT to push b/c Grayson was already coming. She quickly called my doctor and the doctor on site just in case my doctor didn't make it in time. Dr. Hart walked in the door at 2:30 and Grayson came at 2:33!

We had a different experience this time and since I wasn't as exhausted as I was with Jillian I was much more emotional. Grayson was able to come see Mommy right away and James was able to cut the cord this time!
Our beautiful boy was here weighing 7 pounds, 15 ounces and he was 21 inches long!
Daddy was very proud!


Mommy was relieved and overjoyed!


Aunt Christie, Granny & Grandpa were waiting with us for Grayson's arrival


Granny & Grandpa left to bring Jillian to see her little brother. At first she wasn't too sure about him but she quickly warmed up. She was excited that Grayson had brought her a gift and she even had a gift for Grayson - a little puppy that is the same as her's but blue
She eventually gave kisses
and wanted to hold her brother
and even cooperated for a family picture!
We had lots of visitors

Aunt Cathy

Aunt Karin & Uncle Donnie

Kelly & Kenzie
Uncle Chris
Grandma and Papa made it in early from their vacation
Aunt Hannah
Jillian and Granny came to visit again the next day and Jillian was even better with Grayson this time around

Sergio
Aunt Jeanette, Isabella, Joshua, and Graci
Uncle Brian
Snoozing with Daddy
Getting ready to go home

You forget how little they are in that carseat
Jillian was super excited to have her brother home


Grayson has been doing well. We went back to the doctor on Friday morning and he had already lost a pound! We had to go back Saturday morning and he had not gained any weight after supplementing with syringe feedings as well as nursing. He has been sleeping a lot during the day and it is very difficult to wake him up to get him to eat. He has done much better today and was actually awake a big part of the day and has been eating well. Hopefully we will get one more good feeding in before Mommy turns in for the night. We go back to the doctor tomorrow to see if he is making progress so we will keep our fingers crossed!

Sprinkle

Pre-delivery picture - the black is deceiving but I was smaller this go around than I was with Jillian
Last Sunday my friends threw a baby "Sprinkle" for me just in time for Grayson's arrival. Here I am with all of my wonderful friends and hostesses (Yvette, Renee, Karin, Hannah, and Cathy)
Jillian was a perfect angel during the sprinkle and even posed for a good picture with Granny
Karin and I comparing baby bumps! Again the black is deceiving and I promise Karin is pregnant even though you can't tell it
Me and Mom
So my friends took the whole "bed rest" thing literally and they have yelled at me several times. They made me sit in a rolling chair and pushed me around the restaurant to go get me food. It made things very interesting
All the guests enjoying the food


Opening presents. We received many wonderful presents but I had to include a few highlights. Granny made us several blankets including a police car one that James really likes.
Aunt Renee also made this beautiful blanket for Grayson
I was very grateful for all of the love and support! I cannot ask for better friends!

Jillian's1st haircut

Well we were reluctant to do it but we finally did! Jillian's hair was just getting too long and stringy to do anything with. Of course we were worried about the curls - well they are gone but she still has a wave to her hair. She is still as beautiful as ever. She did very well while getting her haircut but wouldn't see in the chair by herself. Thank goodness for Dora on the TV b/c it kept her still and cooperative.