Gavin was due on July 5, 2008. I had a feeling that I was going to have a "big" baby. Gabriel was 10 pounds and I was 8 pounds. I had mentioned this to my doctor a few times, but she always told me that it didn't matter how big Gabriel or I was. She only did two sonograms in her office during my entire pregnancy so she really didn't have any idea how big Gavin was getting. All I can say is that I was "huge!" I don't have many pics of me pregnant but here are a few from Gavin's baby shower. My four best friends threw me an amazing celebration.
Here is a picture taken two weeks before Gavin was born. It was father's day and I was as big as a house. Please note that I was wearing the exact same shirt the day I checked into the hospital to have Gavin.
I had my doctor's appointments scheduled for Thursdays since my mom was off on those days and she went to almost every appointment with me. The sunday before my due date I started to develop a rash on my belly. I thought it was from the chlorine in the swimming pool since I went "wading" every chance I got. On Monday the rash seemed to get worse. I called the doctor and they told me I could use calamine lotion to help with the itching. By Wednesday I was absolutely miserable. I called the doctor and they had me come in that afternoon at 3:15. My cousin Marissa took me since my mom was still working and Gabe was finishing his last job of the day. At this time I honestly thought she was going to just send me home with some lotion since she said she wouldn't induce until after my due date. It was only July 2. Apparently my blood pressure was really high so she sent me straight to labor and delivery. I was only 2 cm dilated. They hooked me up to the fetal monitor and I had my third sonogram in the hospital. My doctor finally wanted to see how big our little guy was. I still thought I was going to be sent home so I told Gabe to go ahead and finish his job. At that time he was still working for a company, so I wanted him to work as much as he could before the baby came. My mom arrived shortly after I got settled in my room. She was so excited she could hardly contain herself. The sonogram showed that Gavin weighed 9 pounds 12 ounces. I nearly rolled off the bed when they told me. My doctor came in around 6:00 and told me that she didn't think I would be able to push out a baby who weighed almost 10 pounds. At this point I was so miserable from the rash, which was diagnosed as PUPP,that all I wanted to do was have a baby. She recommeded a c-section. At this point I couldn't get a hold of Gabe. Apparently his last job was bigger than expected and he was in the attic where his phone didn't have a signal. I was so worried about him because he wasn't answering that my blood pressure started to rise again. My doctor was going to perform a c-section at 8:30 like it or not. She was worried about preclampsia. We were finally able to get a hold of Gabriel and he was at the hospital literally minutes before they rolled me into the operating room. My whole family, with the exception of my dad were in the waiting room. My dad really wanted me to hold out until Thursday since that was when he was coming back into town. Everything went really fast after this point. I remember getting the spinal and laying down. Gabe was there before I knew it and Gavin was out. I don't remember him crying, but they brought him over so I could kiss him. Gavin was born at 9:03 pm on Wednesday, July 2, 2008.
I was taken to recovery where I couldn't see Gavin for four hours. They finally brought him to me at 1:30 am. I had lots of visitors and I wish I remembered more from those first few days, but I had a severe allergic reaction to the spinal so all I really remember is being in a lot of pain with a lot of itching.
Once I got home I felt so much better. Gavin was mine and we savored every minute of him. I can't believe it was over two years ago that I had him. He has made my life complete and I could not ask for more.
"I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him." 1 Samuel 1:27
