Thursday, December 9, 2010
Christmas Card Photo
Jamin Michal
Thumb sucker
Cousins
We were so lucky to have Jami and the kids spend the day with us. We had so much fun! The hardest part of the day was having to say goodbye. I sure miss living near my sisters!! Jamin also loves to have his cousins come. Thank you so much Jami for ALL that you did for us. You are such a wonderful friend and sister. I couldn't love you more!
Monday, December 6, 2010
Tayton Joseph Gilbert
Many people have asked us about Tayton's name. I just thought of it one day! I liked the name Tate, but I didn't like it enough to name my baby just Tate. I liked Tayton better. We use the name Tayt as a nickname though- not Tay.
Joseph was picked by Kevin. It comes from his Grandpa Jo (Joseph), but he also liked it because of Joseph Smith and all of the book of Mormon and Bible Joseph's.
I hope that answer's your questions.
My Birth Story
I got up early on the morning of November 28, 2010 not feeling well. By 6:00am I realized that I was actually in labor. I got Kevin up and told him the good news. He later told me that he didn't believe that I was in actual labor, but he started calling my family for me anyway. Kevin was on the phone for what seemed like forever. He called our midwife at 7:00, but he told her not to hurry over, but to come when she was ready.
Jamin woke-up and Kevin went to take care of him. Kevin didn't get him ready and over to Connie's until about 8:30. It was about this time that our midwife Vicki arrived. Ken Gilbert came over and was able to help Kevin give me a blessing. I felt such peace that everything would be ok.
I had practiced Hypnobirthing and was able to breathe and relax through all of my surges (contractions) up until this point. It all started to change as I began feeling the urge to push. Vicki had me get on the bed (I was using a birthing ball up until this point) so that she could check to see how I was progressing. She didn't have to tell me, I knew that the baby had started descending. She said that she could feel the head. My water broke when I got on the bed, but after pushing for a while Vicki said that she thought the bag of waters was blocking the baby from descending down further. She had me stand up and she used gravity to help break the water again. It was at this point that I finally started to feel the baby's head moving.
They wanted me on the bed again. At this point I thought that I couldn't survive any more pain. I wanted to give up, but my body wouldn't let me. I was just ready to have the baby here.
It was at this point that my midwife had Kevin get into "position". Kevin had chosen to deliver the baby. I wanted him to hold my hand, but I was also excited about having him receive our new baby.
The head came out fine, but the shoulder's were stuck. This caused me to tear badly, but my baby was here! I watched Kevin just holding our baby. He announced that he was a little boy- YEAH! I knew it! Tayton was here!
They put Tayton on my belly and had me start nursing him while they helped to deliver the placenta. That was so painful, but the joy of looking into Tayton's eyes as he nursed helped me through it.
After the cord stopped pulsing they were able to cut it. I had to give my baby up at this point so that Kevin and Vicki could make sure he was healthy.
Every thing was great! Tayton was born at 10:25 am. He weighed 7lbs 6 oz and was 21 inches long. He was "fat" and had lots of hair compared to our little Jamin.
I can't say that having a drug-free home birth is for everyone, but it was perfect for me and my little family. I felt that angels were watching over us and helping me through my labor. I am so glad that the Lord blessed our family with our little angel.
My birth story
On Sunday morning around 4:00am I got up just not feeling well. I had been having lots of "practice contractions" for over a week, so I didn't think much of how I was feeling. At 5:30 am I couldn't lay in bed anymore, so I got up. I realized that I was having contractions that were not only getting stronger, but they were getting closer. At 6:00am I decided that I should wake Kevin up. I
know Kevin didn't believe that I was in labor (he told me that later), but he seemed excited. He had me start timing my contractions and he started calling my family. My Dad was going to the airport, so I called Mom to see if she just wanted to keep on driving and meet the new baby. They had a snow storm to drive through, but she still wanted to come. I knew that Dad wouldn't make it- I was really sad about that! It seemed as though Kevin was on the phone all morning. I wanted the attention, so it was frustrating for me. Kevin called our midwife around 7:00am and told her to get up, eat and come when she was ready- jerk! Didn't he know I needed help! I had practiced my hypnobirthing for months. I guess I was doing it well because Kevin hardly noticed me. He didn't think that I was really having powerful contractions. As soon as Kevin was off of the phone Jamin woke-up. Kevin left me alone to get Jamin up, feed him breakfast and get him ready for 9:00 church. It wasn't until Kevin brought me breakfast that I got frustrated and told him that I needed help. He said that he would send Jamin over to his mom's (accross the street). Jamin left around 8:30am. At that time our midwife arrived. Kevin's Dad also came over. I was kneeling on the floor and leaning on my yoga ball at this time. They wanted to give me a blessing, but I was not about to move. I had them kneel down and give me the blessing. I can honestly say that I don't really remember anything from the blessing, but I felt a lot of peace. I never doubted that everything with the birth would be ok. I later learned how many people were worried about us having the baby at home. I just told them that I would have never done it if I didn't feel so much peace about it. As soon as Ken left our midwife Vicki started to get the room ready for the birth. Kevin stayed by me and tried to rub my back and stuff. I knew that I was into the pushing stage at this point. I had done such a great job at staying relaxed and breathing through my contractions up until this point. It was when I felt that pushing pressure that I really felt "pain". I started to lose my concentration. Kevin didn't know how to help. I started clenching my fists. Vicki came and helped by putting lots of pressure on my back. That felt good, but once they started that I didn't want them to stop. I wasn't feeling any relief time because my contractions were so close together. Vicki said that she wanted to check me to see where I was. I didn't need to hear it, I knew that I was fully dilated and that the head was coming down. She confirmed that. While I was laying there my water broke. At this time I just wanted to give up. I think if I was in the hospital I would have asked for drugs. I later described what I was feeling as being as close to death I could have been and still live. It was not fun! I had to stand up for Vicki because my bag of waters had created a bubble that was stopping the baby from coming down. That was miserable, but once Vicki broke that bubble I started to feel the baby move. They wanted me to lay back on the bed. With each push I felt as though my body was being torn in two, but I had to keep going. I wish I could tell this story with words like "pain-free" and "holy", but I would be lying. I can say that the atmosphere was not "earthly" feeling. I felt like angels were watching over me. I knew that this baby needed to come, so I tried to focus. Kevin chose to deliver our baby. This was amazing, but I also wanted him up by me holding my hand. I saw the head crowning, but it was all I could do to look at that. Next thing I know Kevin said that the head was out, but Vicki said that the shoulder's were stuck. She told Kevin to help pull the baby out. He looked at her with such a blank look, so Vicki helped with the shoulder's. This caused me to tear badly, but out came our little baby right into Kevin's arms. I remember Kevin looking at the baby and then saying that it was a BOY! I knew it! Our little Tayton was here!
Kevin put Tayton on my belly. I immediatly began to nurse him. I was still in a lot of pain as the contractions kept going so that I could deliver the placenta. Tayton was so alert and just looked at me through all of this. That was so amazing to me! He got me through that last bit of pain.
When the umbilical cord stopped pulsating Kevin was able to cut it. It was then that I had to give my baby over to Kevin and Vicki to make sure everything was fine with him.
He was a very healthy baby boy. We were so blessed! I was amazed at how much "fat" and hair he had compared to Jamin. His hair was super curly also. I am not sure it will stick, but I love curls!
I was able to sit back and enjoy holding my baby's hand while all of his tests were done. I immediatly felt such a strong bond with him. I was so glad that I was able to make it through the birth without the use of drugs. I only had 2 hours of "pain" during my labor. It was worth every minute that Tayton and I were both so alert and strong after labor.
I know that drug-free, home-births are not for everyone, but it was an amazing experience for me and for my family.
Kevin's job
New Baby
These are some of Tayton's first pictures. He weighed 7lbs 6 oz. He was 21 inches long. He was born on Novemeber 28, 2010 at 10:25 am. Kevin was supposed to speak in the spanish ward that day, and get set apart in his new calling. I was sad that he had to miss it, but I am not sure that he was!
First Family Picture
Jamin meets Tayton
Family Visitors
Huggable
Sleeping boys
Visitor's
We have enjoyed having our family and friends come and visit. Because I had the baby at home, I feel like I have been "locked" in for a few days. It has been so good to have the friendship of good friends and family in our home.
Brother's
I love having Jamin as Tayton's big brother. Jamin is such a good helper! He loves to give Tayton kisses. He loves to help out with all things baby. I am so lucky that he loves Tayton!
Sweet boy
Tayton is such a different baby then Jamin was. He is his own person. He is physically much bigger then Jamin. He is also a lot more relaxed and mellow. I keep expecting Tayton to start crying and to never stop (like Jamin did). We are blessed that he is such an angel!
Our family of 4
Jami, Kevin and I had a lot of fun taking some pictures of our little family. The pics are not professional, but we made some good memories. Enjoy!
Friday, November 26, 2010
Full-term
Well, here I am at almost 40 weeks pregnant. Wow! I didn't know that my belly could stretch this far! Everyday has been a waiting game as we keep expecting this baby to come. I never had to wait with Jamin, so this is torture! The hardest thing for me is that Jami and Brandone will be leaving out of town on Saturday, and my Dad will leave out of town very early Sunday morning. I want nothing more then to have my family with me for the birth of my baby. My Dad was not around for Jamin's birth (due to him being in the hospital 90 minutes away from us). I will be sad if he has to miss the birth of both of my babies! I guess it will all work out in the end, but I sure hope this baby comes in time for my family to all be there (I do have to admit that the odds are not in my favor). Wish us luck!
Happy Thanksgiving!
We have sure been blessed this Thanksgiving. I had no idea that my pregnancy would go this long, but it allowed me to enjoy the holiday with the Gilbert family. I would have sure liked to have been holding my new baby, but feeling good enough to enjoy the holiday with my family was also wonderful. I just wish I knew when this baby would come! How greatful we are to have our family during this wonderful Holiday. Thank you all for your phone calls, love and endless support. We couldn't do it without you! We love you all!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
