Declan James Jackson

So it all started Thursday morning at 7:30 am with James and I going to the hospital to get induced. We started with a pill that would kick start it because I was only 20% and maybe at a 2. So while we were waiting for things to get moving, my belly broke out into a nasty rash. I couldn't stop scratching. It was terrible. It was weird to be so uncomfortable and in pain from a rash when I was there supposed to be having pain from labor! We requested some medicine or cream to help it but didn't get anything approved by my doctor for 2 hours! It was terrible. I know this sounds dumb, but it was bad.

So back to the labor ... after waiting for the pills to kick me into labor, nothing was happening. Still at a 2. Still at 20%. So needless to say, we had a ways to go. After about 8 hours of waiting and not much movement they started me on the gels. Talk about a not very fun thing to go through becuase it makes you have to pee but you have to wait 45 minutes ... which was not fun. So after waiting a forever long wait, I finally got to pee :) and started the walking. I walked for an hour and got back to the room and .... lost the plug at 11pm. So from then on no more walking.

They started me on the pitocin drips which really got everything going. I had to wear an oxygen mask becuase Declan's heart rate went up, and let me tell you when you are having a really bad contraction and they have a nasty mask on you and you have to focus on breathing and everything it is NO FUN. During really bad contractions I ripped my mask off because I couldn't take it anymore! at 11 PM my water finally broke. Early the next morning they gave me some other pain killer that would take a little bit of the pain off and help me sleep.

The pain really started to kicking and around 6am with all the steady contractions. Contraction after contraction and despite all the pain, there still was not much progress "down there." Around 6:30 AM I got my epidural which made things so much better. Its nice knowing that I was contracting, because my monitor says so, and not having to feel it. I had to switch laying from side to side with this yellow peanut ball between my knees, kinda like a lop-sided exercise ball. Nurses started to come in every 2 hours throughout the day to see how things were going.

Note that this is now 24+ hours since we started my original induction one morning earlier.

Throughout the day, not much progress was happening, but at least the epidural kept the pain away. The drugs worked ... I would fall asleep during mid-conversation and then wake up and finish it. I guess you could say that I was so out of it.

We watched a lot of news becuase the day we arrived to the hospital was the day that Japan had the big earthquake and tsunami so we tried to keep up to date on that. So, things were going slow and steady all day long up until 8pm when we found out I was not progressing past an 8 1/2 and actually started to go backwards. I began to swell, so I was given the news that after 36 hours of labor I would be having a c-section.

I was really sad becuase I had worked so hard and to just have them go in and take him out in a matter of 15 mins. Yes I did get a little emotional but it was nice to have James, my mom and sister there for me. I knew that it was the best thing to do becuase it would keep Declan safe.

James dressed down in the paper scrubs they gave him and we went to surgery. The epidural was making me so numb the nurses had to lift me onto the surgical table. James waited outside until after I was prepped and ready to go. They brought James in and he sat up by me and held me hand. They started the surgery and when they were ready to bring Declan out they told James he could watch. He actually recorded them pulling Declan out!

My doctor couldn't stop talking about how BIG Declan was the moment that he arrived. She, my doctor, said "No wonder we couldn't get him to come earlier! He wouldn't fit through!" Declan actually had a small ring on his head where he was trying, but wouldn't fit.

Declan arrived into the world at 8:38 PM on March 11, 2011. He was 9 and 1/2 pounds and was 21" long.

We love him so much and can't wait to see him grow into a strong boy. We want to say thank you to all of our friends and family who have supported us during this journey. You have helped us more than words can express.



The board in the room.

A quick stop on the walk outside to breathe through a contraction.

We were so tried and little nutty after not sleeping that we thought it would be fun to dress the peanut up.

Right after Declan made his debut to the world.

Where have I been....

So much has gone in the past few months to say the least. I am a year older and maybe not wiser but tons have changed. We now have a wonderful baby boy and a new house. Things have been so crazy with having a baby, James starting a new job and buying a house all in one month. As you can tell I cut my hair off for locks of love and you know what I didn't think I would miss it but I do. I loved my long hair and when I see pictures of it I wish it was back. So needless to say I am growing it out. I know that is no reason for my long absence but what can I say i was a little busy growing a cute little guy and working all the time. Lets just say that I am so glad that I get to spend my time with the cutest little guy in the world and James gets to come everyday at 2pm to hang out with us after he gets off work.

I will post a few pictures and write my story on having Declan in a different post.

It's been awhile...

So yes I know that we have been MIA for a long while but lets just say lots have been going on. We are.....expecting our very first baby boy. We couldn't be more excited for our little man to join our family. He is due March 3rd and we have picked the name Declan James Jackson. I love him so much already and when he moves I cant help but smile. I get so excited to know that he is there growing and getting bigger everyday. I cant wait for him to get here. I am also very scared for him to get here becuase for the past almost 3 years it has just been James and I and we pretty much do whatever we want and now that will change. But even with the big change I am so excited for Declan to come and join us. I know that every soon to be parent thing of what will their baby be like and what will he/she act like. I know we can't worry about that because who knows what the future will hold but all I can say I am so excited. I love my little man so much. I will have to post belly pictures and pictures of him on the ultrasound soon. I will make no promises becuase I am not doing very good on the whole posting thing.

James has graduated from BYU-Idaho and we have moved to Arizona near family. It is crazy to not be in Rexburg. We do miss the life we had up there and I knew i would say it but never this quick. haha. I think we miss the things of Rexburg that you cant get anywhere but there. We miss Reed's Chocolate Milk, Horkley's, Apple Beer, Bajio's, New York Burrito and Craigo's. I know we will be back up to visit family because James has family up there and our friends are still up there for the next long while. haha. We do miss them a ton. We hope they come and visit. With that said we do love being near family and all the silliness that it brings.

James is working from home doing writing which he loves. I am working at University of Phoenix and I could be more excited for baby to come and join us. haha. We have started the hunt to look for a new home becuase we want to buy. I know crazy how fast life is going with the new baby and house hunting I am just not sure when it will slow down. We would love to have a new home before he gets here but we shall see what happens.

Here are a few pictures to hold everyone over till I can post some of what has been going on.

Vegas here we come

So we went to Vegas to look at a job for James and George but James decide it was not the place for him so we made sure to live it up and play lots. While we were there we went to Coke World and tried the many different kinds from all over the world but I am a fan of diet coke. James and I also stopped and had one of the best ice creams that i have ever had it was so wonderful.

The big 2 year mark

So 2 years goes by really fast... well for us it did. I can't believe we are already at 2 years but I can say that I have loved every minutes of it. I am so lucky to have James and to have someone put up with me. haha.

We went to this really yummy place called the Cellar. James took me here for my birthday and I loved it so much I surprised him when he got home from work to trip out to this wonderful place. When I called to make reservation they asked if we wanted to sit in the cellar and I said sure why not well little did I know that we would be alone and have our own table with no one to bug us. It was so much fun and it was wonderful to say the least.

Snowboarding.....

We had so much. I haven't been in years but I can honestly say I did alright. We stayed in a hotel room with the Wyatts and we had fun playing games and going down to the pool and hot tub. I guess we can thank Laura for getting married becuase the reason we went down was for her open house.

It has been awhile....

So I have no really reason for not blogging forever expect that I just haven't felt like it. Not to much is going on here but school and work but I do have some pictures from a few trip we have been on. They may or may not be in order but that is ok becuase I am not to worried about it.

James is almost done with school we are now in our last semester and he is pretty excited to be done and looking for jobs. James is going into Advertising so if you know of any jobs let us know. We plan on moving to Az to be near family and I am pretty excited to get down there. I am getting more and more excited to get down there. I want to start packing now but I have to keep reminding myself that I have like 3 months. My work gets done on the July 2nd. Well school gets out on May 27th but I am doing summer school to make more money.

I wish I had more to share but I have just cant think of anything so I will just get to posting the pictures and telling you about our trips.