Raspberry Tea + Nostalgia

7 years ago I was contracting regularly and it was 3 days before my due date. They started early in the morning when I woke up. Gentle little achey waves. Brett had a paper to turn in for a final at BYU and there was no way I was letting him too far out of my sight. I got dressed not even thinking to pack a bag just in case it was game time. Never did I think this could actually be it. 

We drove to campus and I waited in the car and labored while he turned in his final paper of college! Graduating and having a baby all within 2 weeks. When he returned to the car I told him things were picking up and this might be prelabor. We drove to his mom's where I sat on a yoga ball hoping the contractions would keep coming and get stronger. I drank a nice hot cup of raspberry tea and then continued to breath through each crampy ache. They began to intensify. For about 5 hours I labored with contractions about 5 minutes apart. I decided to eat some ramen. Haha, if you know me you know I love a good bowl of chicken ramen noodles. Especially when I want something comforting. Good ol Ramen does the trick for me and all I want to do is sit in a hot bath. My cheeks would flush with each contraction and Brett's mom suggests I go to the hospital. She knew if I got in the bath it would be difficult to get out and to the hospital. She delivered 6 children, 5 of which unmedicated so I trusted her opinion. 

We hopped in the car, two excited parents to be with big grins on our faces. Could this really be it? After all the heart ache and wondering if we'd ever be parents, could this be the day? After all the painful shots, blood draws, traveling to California, IVF, emotional ups and downs, would we meet our perfect little boy?

We arrived at Orem Community Hospital at 5:30 where I was hooked up to all the monitors and got to listen to that strong adorable heartbeat. I was dilated to a 3 and 100% effaced. 45 min later I was a 5 and was admitted. We walked to our room with all the surreal feelings on the planet. Would it be April 3rd? Or the 4th? It was my first go around at this so I assumed it would take a while. 

After I was made comfortable all of our family came to visit. It was actually the night of my Dad's 50th birthday party so my Mom and Dad were giving everyone the play by play as the texts came in. They both came over as soon as all their guests left. 

Brett and my Dad layed their hands on my head and gave me a priesthood blessing. I specifically remember feeling this overwhelming feeling of love for the men in my life. I had my Heavenly Father near, my earthly Father, my most amazing Husband and for the last little bit of time my sweet boy tucked away inside me. All of them encircling me. Such a tender moment. One I will never forget. 

It was about 1 am and I had reached 10 centimeters. With first deliveries they like to do something called rest and descend. It allows the baby to naturally come down into the birth canal and is supposed to cut down on pushing time. We turned out the lights and I tried to get some rest. 

After two hours it was time to bring our perfect little creation into the world. I pushed for about 35 minutes and we met our sweet Steele James Brady. 8 lbs 5 oz and 22 inches born at 2:41am. 

Our lives were changed forever. 

And here I am again, drinking raspberry tea hoping to prepare for labor but this time I never could have imagined doing what I'm about to do. Putting a baby in a very special family's arms. Here's to the next week! Maybe I need a bowl of Ramen.