I have been working on this post for what seems like forever. It seems to get constantly interrupted by a crying baby. Or fighting kids. (That is happening a LOT these days!) Or guilt for not spending more time with the kids or the hubby. Or chores. It has taken forever! But, I wanted to include lots of details that were special for me. After all, it was a pretty big deal! Having a baby is one of the most special things that has happened to me and I have been lucky enough to now have FOUR! I feel so blessed!
Every woman loves a good birth story, right? That is why every time we go to a Relief Society or get together for a girls' night, somehow labor and delivery and breastfeeding and baby stuff always comes up and we ALL need to share our own experiences. Maybe that is because we all feel we have the worst story and are looking for some sympathy. But I think it is because it is such a special experience. Bringing a new baby into this world is something that is unlike anything else. Even when I have done it FOUR times now, each experience is so special and even sacred to me. I have a greater love and appreciation for my Heavenly Father every time I go through this experience. For his amazing love for his children. I feel so much love for my own children and I love them from the second they place them in my arms. I know that is just a small bit of what Heavenly Father feels for each of us. That amazing, unconditional love. And I think how much he loves me to entrust me with these special spirits and the partnership with Him that raising them requires. There is nothing in the world like holding that brand new, minutes old baby. I just love it! And, with that being said... Here is the story about our little Bronson and how he came into the world....
Here is the last picture of us as a family of 5 on Thursday, April 26th. Bronson's birthday! Bronson was born by C-Section, as were all of my babies. I hate it! The surgery makes me so nervous and the recovery is not fun. But, it is worth it to get these babies here and I don't really have an option. Logan was born 6 weeks premature by emergency C-Section and because of the complications associated with his birth and some other factors, my Dr told me a vaginal birth would be too dangerous after having had a c section with such a small baby. So we have had all the rest by repeat C-Sections. There is a good part to having a C-Section. It is all scheduled for me so we knew exactly when to be ready. So, Grandma Pat came and stayed the night before and we got up and got ready and headed to the hospital. The original time was supposed to be 7:30 am (which meant going to the hospital at 5:30 am!!!) but we got bumped to 12:30 pm so we got to sleep in a little. Although, I didn't do a great job of getting much sleep. Having surgery and going to the hospital makes me a little stressed. Or maybe a lot! I got up the next morning and took a long shower and tried to stay busy since I couldn't eat and I didn't want to think about that too much. I was starving by the time we left for the hospital! I remember when I got out of the shower, my cute Rylee came in and rubbed my tummy over and over. I think they are all in for some major changes! I hope they can handle it! My kids stayed home from school this week because of a whooping cough outbreak in the schools, so they were all home to see us off for the hospital. We were supposed to be there at 10:30 am. But, having had C Sections before I know they make you be there SO early and then you have to do a lot of sitting around, so we might have been a little late on purpose.... Oops! It was a little hard to leave these cuties for a few days, but I was so excited for them to meet their little brother later that afternoon!
Some last kisses for Mommy's tummy! They have loved being able to feel the baby move in my tummy, but I think they will love seeing him in person even more! It was much easier to leave the kids knowing that I could see them later that day. Last time, they couldn't come to the hospital and it was SO hard! They were so excited to meet the baby and to wear their new Big Brother and Big Sister shirts to the hospital.
One last picture of me with the pregnant tummy! I gained more weight than I ever have with this pregnancy and felt very ready to be done! But, I will miss feeling the baby move inside me. I know it is much better to hold him and snuggle him now, but there is just something special about having that little baby inside you and that bond. This also could be the last picture of me pregnant... We will just have to see.... No final decision yet! Before we left the house, I had Darren give me a blessing. I am so grateful that he can do that and was so thankful for the peace it gave me! I was glad the kids were able to be there and witness that and feel the spirit. Some things I remember from the blessing were that I would be at ease and have confidence in the Dr and his abilities. Also that I would be able to heal and that I would be a good mom and have patience I would need to fulfill that role.
We left our house at 10:30 (the time we should have been checking in...) and then had to run by the bank and post office, so we got to the hospital at about 10:50. The good thing about that is that they had everyone in there getting me ready much quicker and there was much less sitting and thinking time, which is good for me since hospitals stress me out! Here I am all hooked up and getting ready for them to say its go time! While I was hooked up to the monitors, I had a few contractions so I guess this baby was getting ready to come one way or another!
There was a little issue with my iv. I don't know what happened. They were trying to put the IV in so that they could also get my blood out from the same place without having to poke me again. But, it wasn't working and the nurse broke the needle off inside the line or something. I was a little worried when I kept hearing them say things like "oh no!" and "Shoot!" and having 3 or 4 people come in to try and fix it. And they left the tie on my arm during the whole thing, so my arm started throbbing and I thought something was really wrong. Luckily, it all got fixed and it was fine. I did have the BIGGEST bruise where my IV was though. Every nurse that came in asked where my bruise came from.
This was on the wall of the labor and delivery room where they prepped me for my C Section. I love the rooms at the hospital here - So much nicer than Las Vegas!!!
Me and Daddy all ready to get going.
Daddy in his scrubs ready to move to the OR. He loves watching the C Section. He always asks me if I want to know what they are doing. Or at least he did during the first couple. Now he knows that I don't want to know. He told me once about how they had my uterus out and I almost died! I had no idea what happens during the surgery and to be honest.... I don't want to know! It freaks me out way too much!
Anyway, my Dr came in and told me that he was ready a little early. We had to wait for my 3 bags of IV fluids to finish and then when I was almost done with the 3rd bag, they had me get up and walk down to the OR. The anesthesiologist came in right before they had me move and introduced himself and explained a few things about what was going to happen. He was great and I really liked him. He let me know what was going on and made sure I was comfortable during the whole surgery. Once we got down there, it was time for the epidural. I get so nervous and scared for this part. I was shaking like crazy! I also remember that I was FREEZING but that I was also dripping sweat - gross... I know! I was so happy to have that part over with! I was especially nervous because I got a spinal headache after my last C Section with Avery and it lasted for weeks and was SO awful! Luckily, things went better this time. After they gave me the epidural, there were people all over the room counting instruments and such and getting everything ready. The anesthesiologist kept poking me to see if I was all the way numb and they put in my catheter and all of that. I remember I could see most of the reflection in the light above my head. Not so pretty, but all dignity goes out the window when you have a baby I guess! My Dr was somewhat missing in action. They couldn't seem to find him, so there was some waiting, but just before 12:30, they got the surgery started. I was feeling pretty nauseous, but they gave me something that helped control it and I made it through the surgery without throwing up, which I guess is pretty common.
When the Dr came in, the other Dr assisting asked if we wanted some music playing. I said that was fine. The first song that came on was "Hey Soul Sister". I will forever think of the operating room and Bronson's birth whenever I hear that song. It is funny how music can do that. It can take you to an exact moment so quickly. When Bronson was born "Hey there Delilah" was playing.
While my Dr was opening me up, he told me that my uterus was looking pretty thin. He said I could have another one...maybe...but he would say that it might be a good idea to be done. He said if we did have another one, that would be it for sure. I still can't say for sure that we are done. It is so hard for me to think that we might never have another little tiny baby to snuggle. But I also can't say that I can have more. Right now I feel stretched to my limit. I guess we will see what Heavenly Father has in store and how things go....
Bronson's very first picture. The anesthesiologist was so nice to tell Darren that he needed to start taking pictures as soon as he was close. I don't remember them being OK with that before. It seems like they made him wait until the baby was all the way out. It is a little gross.... Darren has never gotten a picture of them as they were taking them out before. It was kind of interesting for me to see this. The first thing Darren said was that he had a TON of hair just like our other babies. I wondered how he could know this so soon because they hadn't even said it was a boy and he hadn't cried, but when I saw this picture I realized that hair was the first thing anyone saw! He had a TON!
It's a BOY! No big surprises. Thank goodness! I don't think Logan could have handled that.
Bronson starting to cry. That is always such a welcome sound to me and lets me know things are going OK. It took him a minute. He was a such a squawker! He had such a funny and distinctive little cry. I was so glad he was finally here! He seemed to be all arms and legs everywhere and was flailing around a lot.
This is when they brought him over by my head so I could get a quick glimpse of him before they cleaned him up. I thought he looked a lot different than my other babies at first, but pretty soon I realized he was defiantly another Webber baby! SO much hair and the LONGEST eyelashes and such pretty skin. I was in LOVE....again!
Bronson's official time of birth - 12:49 pm!
Bronson getting washed up. He was a squawker! When he was born, the Dr said, "Gosh - you are a chicken little dude, aren't you?" and
also commented that he didn't really seem to like being ripped out of
his warm place inside Mommy. He was a little screamer for the first
little while.
They said it was good for him to scream. The nurse said, "We like them spunky!" and another one said, "He sure is a lively one!" I am glad that it didn't continue! Maybe all this screaming is why he was SO tired for the rest of the day! They kept joking that I should probably leave him in the nursery as much as possible while I could if he kept that up. He is so calm now you would never know he started out this way! He has a really cute little cry though. It is a little bit higher pitched and sounds different than my other babies. I think it is so cute!
Bronson's official weight - 7 lbs and 13 oz. Our biggest baby yet! We forgot to do our traditional pool for the weight, but right before they started surgery, Darren texted the kids and we each put in our guess. The kids guessed 5 lbs, 6 lbs and 7 lbs. I guessed 7 lbs 10 oz. Darren got it right on! Bronson was also 20 inches long.
He finally calmed down a little bit! He was pretty much perfect - His apgar scores were an 8 and 9.
With some goop on his eyes
Wearing the hospital hat
The anesthesiologist was so nice and took these picture for us during the surgery. I've never had a picture done in the OR like that of all of us and I was so glad he did it for us! It is one of my favorite pictures that we have from his birth!
Falling in love again... It seems like you can't possibly have any more room to love but it happens for me as soon as they place them in my arms. So sweet and so tiny and perfect! It makes those LONG 9 months SO worth it! I loved that they let me hold him for a little while during the surgery. That is one of the things I hated so much with my first C-Sections. I always had this picture of what the birth of my babies would be like and it never included surgery. And with Logan and Rylee it seemed like FOREVER before I could hold them. So I was so happy when they let me hold Bronson and bond with him a little before they took him to the nursery.
Daddy went with Bronson to the nursery. That is the hardest part of the whole thing for me. Being alone in the OR while they finish with no hubby and no baby! This surgery went well though and didn't last as long or feel as painful. At least during. I can still remember the sound of the stapler when they finished up - It was kind of gross! I was so happy to be done with surgery. Darren was great to take tons of pictures of our little boy so I wouldn't be totally missing out. I love him for that!
Love these pictures of him in the nursery - He was a little uncomfortable, but Daddy's hands made it all better!
Tiny fingers.... His poor little hands and feet were purple all day! It took awhile for them to get their color. He has some BIG hands and long fingers and really long, skinny feet!
Tiny toes....
I LOVE these pictures of our little man's sweet face and those LASHES!!! He was pretty well known around the mother-baby unit for these. Every nurse that helped with Bronson during our hospital stay commented on all his dark hair, but were even more amazed by those lashes! They kept telling me that most babies don't have those. I guess I don't know because all my babies have.
He looks so big in this picture, but I promise he wasn't that big!
Seeing Mommy! I loved when he opened his big eyes. He just stared up into my face so sweet.
This is not a great picture of me.... When I came out of surgery, I was in a LOT of pain! I don't remember being in so much pain right after with my other ones. When they brought the baby in, I couldn't hold him just yet. I was feeling really sick to my stomach and light headed and was in so much pain! I wanted to just stare at him all day though.
A proud daddy - One of my favorite things about having a baby is watching their daddy! He is so excited and so proud and when he comes from the nursery or whatever he loves to tell me how perfect they are. He is the best daddy and husband. I am the luckiest girl and my kids are SO blessed!
Our perfect, sweet little Bronson! We are in LOVE with him and are so glad that he is a part of our family. He looks so peaceful here. He had no idea what he was in for when his siblings came to meet him. That will have to be another post....
By the time we moved to the room, we also were sure about the name. Bronson Chad Webber. We were pretty sure before we went to hospital but we had a couple back-up names just in case, but we decided to stick with it. The funny thing is I don't really know how the name Bronson ended up. We talked about SO many names! Our 2 favorites were Grayson and Brock. But neither one seemed to be IT! So when I was looking at some baby names, I saw Bronson. It was kind of a compromise of the other names. I said it to Darren, but I didn't really think he would like it. But he did. And he was pretty sure of it right away. I took a little longer. I think just because it wasn't a name that he had ever even thought of before. Anyway, it grew on me and we decided that was it. I wanted the middle name to be after someone. Darren had a few people who he considered, but we ended up deciding on Chad. That is Darren's oldest brother, Brian's middle name. Darren has always had a really special relationship with Brian even though they are 10 years apart and has always looked up to him a lot. Brian was even the one who baptized him. So, that is how we came up with Bronson Chad.
There is nothing in the world like having a brand new baby to hold and snuggle! I loved my quiet time at the the hospital to bond with this sweet little guy and just cuddle him. I feel so blessed that Heavenly Father sent us this special little spirit. He is SO sweet and so pure! I hope I can live up to the trust that Heavenly Father has placed in me and give him what he needs. Sometimes I am completely overwhelmed at the responsibility of all these little ones. Especially now that there are FOUR! I do love being a mom though. It is my greatest blessing! I don't always feel like I do the best job. I want to do better. I love them so much and don't want to mess up the most important job I will ever have! I am so thankful for the help Heavenly Father gives me and for an amazing partner and husband in this responsibility. I need to trust Heavenly Father and ask for his help more often so that I can be the best mom I can be!
