A very overdue introduction

Two weeks ago today, this sweet little boy entered the world.

Colson Luke Chappelear

Born Sept. 22, 2011 at 11:15 a.m.

8 lbs. and 5 oz.

 21 inches long

And he is absolutely, totally, completely, and 100% perfect.

You may wonder why I have taken two weeks to update my blog.  It is not because this baby boy has been overly fussy, or because I have not had the time, or because I have felt bad from the delivery, or anything like that.  It is just because I have been enjoying every single second of being a mother of two that I just have not wanted to divert my attention from either of my two baby boys to take the time to upload pictures and post them!  My apologies, but, I am betting you understand.

Let me begin with the night before Colson was born.  I spent the day running in a million directions trying to finish up at work, do six weeks worth of lesson plans for three grades (that is 90 lessons in case you are wondering), get Cooper and Davidson packed and ready for their stays at NanPa's and Aunt Katie's, and get us packed and ready for our trip to the hospital.  We dropped off Cooper at his NanPa's around 7 that night, and the two of us headed to Chattanooga for dinner.  

We went to Chop House since they have great specials during the week.  The food was delicious, but I must admit I did not enjoy it very much.  First, I could hardly fit between the table and the back of the booth, which was quite uncomfortable. Second, I missed and was worrying about Cooper.  Third, I was anxious and nervous and scared about the delivery.  Fourth, I had awful heartburn.  Fifth and finally, I was having some contractions.  Some pretty strong contractions.  

After dinner we headed for after dinner treats (for Josh that was a Dairy Queen blizzard and for me that was a decaf dark Starbucks coffee), and then went to Barnes and Noble.  Josh looked at car magazines and I furiously typed away on my laptop finishing another set of lessons.  But they closed at 10, so we had nowhere left to go but to the hospital.  

We checked into Parkridge East at 11 p.m. on Wednesday night, and when we arrived to in the labor and delivery room, we were pleasantly surprised that our room had been decorated for us already.  It was a Happy Birthday theme with monkeys and gifts for the baby and for big brother Coop.  All compliments of my sweet sister-in-law, Tracey, who works at the hospital.  

We were supposed to check in at 11:00.  For once in my life, I was right on time.  

The sign says "Welcome Baby Colson!  Love, Aunt Tracey."  I apparently just snapped a few pics but was too nervous to even notice the flash was not working to my benefit.  

Josh settled in on the bed/couch, and I settled in to the hospital gown and bed so they could start my medicine.  I was already having contractions and they registered clearly on the monitor.  Once they started the Cervidil my contractions kicked in harder, so I spent the next 6 hours squirming and cringing while Josh slept.  At 7:30 they began the Pitocin, and at 8:30 I was 3 cm so they broke my water.  And that was when the craziness began!!

To keep this blogpost from becoming a novel, I will give the short summary of what happened after 8:30.  The pain got much worse, I asked for the pain medicine that I had been holding off for (at this point had just been dealing with the pain) and they gave me a drug called Nubain.  BAD CHOICE for me.  Apparently, it is supposed to help relieve the pain, but it didn't.  It just made me feel like I had been taking some kind of illegal, mind blowing drugs and turned me from an alert mom in labor to a drugged, narcoleptic, mean, crazy lady!  I was in so much pain that I could not be still, had Josh in a body clamp, and was holding on to him for dear life and pleading, begging, shouting, etc. for the pain to stop.  The next three hours were a complete blur, and I went from 3 cm to 10 quickly, and sometime in there got an epidureal, but it only worked on my left side, and I was still out of my mind from the meds and the pain. I kept trying to apologize to everyone for the way I was acting, but I could not open my eyes or finish my sentences.  Pitocin is merciless.  So when they finally got the epidural working, I was pushing before I knew it.  I would push and then fall asleep between pushes.  I remember shaking my head, slapping my face, and doing everything I could to shake that horrible high feeling I had.  But it would not go away.  Before I knew it, Colson was in my arms, and I had not even been able to communicate to my family or my friends that he was on his way.  So no one even knew, including ME, that he was being born.  It was just a complete blur.  A blur that ended beautifully:

I am so thankful everything turned out OK, and I attribute that to having a gracious God who remained in control of the entire situation, an awesome doctor and nursing staff, AND a husband who was my ROCK through it all.  Because I was totally helpless and dazed and confused and out of my mind through it and never really had a grasp on what was happening.  You can tell by my eyes in the pictures that I was not feeling quite like myself! 

So, a few minutes after Colson was born, I was holding him in my arms and gazing at him in disbelief, and I realized I needed to call mom and tell her the news.  So I grabbed my phone and as I was telling her that Colson was here, my Dad walked into the room.  He had just decided to swing by and check in on us, and was entirely unaware of what he was walking into!  He stopped, stared at me as I was the only adult in the room and was in the bed, holding a newborn, shivering from head to toe (guess it was the meds).  Dad says... "Is that yours?"  And I just nodded my head yes.  He was just as shocked as I was, and I had mom on the phone stunned as well and eager to leave work, get Cooper from school, and dash to the hospital. It was quite emotional to say the least for all of us! 

That was most definitely not the way I imagined things would go.  I thought my family and close friends would get the call that I was ready to start pushing, travel to the hospital, and be there in time to meet Colson together.  I thought I would be alert and happy and ready to enjoy my first few hours as a mom of two.  But, nope, that just didn't happen.  But that's OK.  Sometimes we don't get the picture perfect story, but as long as everything turns out fine, then I am thankful.  And I also know that I will never, ever take that pain medicine again!  

I was so happy to see Cooper walk in the door.  He arrived right before they moved me to the recovery room, and he hopped into my wheelchair and rode all the way with me. It felt good to have him in my arms.  Once we arrived in the room, he received his "big brother presents."  He was pretty excited.

These were a collection of things that I had picked up as well as items that had been given to me at showers for Cooper.  I just bagged them all up and gave them to him at one time.  

Then Josh walked Cooper down to the nursery so he could get a good look at his new brother.

We spent some time in the hospital room together that afternoon.  Here is our first picture as a family of 4.  Shocked daddy, sleepy mama, fussy little brother, and excited big brother.

Colson had a few little battle scars on the top of his head from the delivery, which have all healed and disappeared by now.  Here we are checking out his spot on his head.

Finally, mom was able to get her hands on Colson.  She has not been able to hold him much since he has been born.  Since her birthday is this weekend, I think that might make a nice birthday gift for her...some time with her new grandson.

We had so many friends come by to visit us.  

Several dancers came by that night to see him.  

Of course, my best gal pals were there.  They just never cease to bless me, spoil me, and love me.

Man...I sure do look tired in these pics!

Both Grandpas came during the day to get some time in with Colson.  Pappaw caught him early one morning while he was awake and alert.  

Dad came that afternoon to bring Cooper and managed to get some time with Colson as well.

Josh's brother Mark and his family also stopped by to see us.  Tracey was the one responsible for all the decorations and she also lined up my nurses and staff to make sure we were well taken care.  We most definitely were.  Josh enjoyed the nurses so much that he went to Krispy Kreme and bought 4 dozen doughnuts and passed them out to thank them.

I enjoyed my time in the hospital because I was able to just focus all of my energy and attention to my family.  I loved it.  

So there you have the story of Colson's first birthday.  I am absolutely loving being a mom of two.  I am proud of both of my sons, and so appreciative for my friends and family that have done so much for us during this time.

In the two weeks that have passed, I have taken more pictures, and will post some more soon.  But for now, I am going to just go get my hands back on him, because I have fallen head over heels for this sweet little boy and just don't want to put him down!