Labor Pains

Three years ago tonight Logan, Brennen, and myself were in Topeka, Kansas trying to get some last minute Christmas shopping in before our little man would enter into this world. I was 40 weeks 2 days pregnant and OH SO ready to have him. Anyway, we were doing some walking around and stopped at the massage place, 30 minutes for $10!!! I couldn't pass that up so of course my big butt was in that chair before you could say "domo arigato" and I was being relieved of tension all over. About 5 minutes into this, I start getting these cramping pains and tightening in my abdomen...YES, they were contractions starting and I just knew this was it! After my massage was finished I told Logan of my contractions and he was in such disbelief that he said,"well, I'm hungry so let's get some chow before we make any major moves" HAHA are you kidding me?!?! Geesh! Off to the Mongolian Grill we went, they ate while I sat there as the pains grew stronger, and I just couldn't handle it anymore. Let's go! Let's GO!!!! (mind you we had an hour drive back to Fort Riley where I was due to give birth) Needless to say the drive home was quick! We arrive at Irwin Army and I litterally run (between contractions) up to L&D, the nurse checks me and I am a whopping 5-6 centimeters!!! For real??? Yes, and the doctor on call told me to GO HOME and walk some more. My response were these exact words,

"Umm, do you realize it is DECEMBER which means it's 14 degrees outside and you want me to go for a flippin' walk?!?!" "Are you out of your mind?!?!"

Yeah, I was a little snippy but could you blame me? What doc sends home a woman in active labor that is dilated 5-6 centimeters??? Doctor Ochoa, that's who!! (jackass) I decided to go ahead and leave because we had been walking all day and I wanted to take a shower and freshen up ;) It hadn't been but 30 minutes and I was right back at Irwin Army checking into my room. First things first, I made sure the Anesthesiologist was the man I could see right away for my epi. I'm not ashamed to say that I had absolutely no need to prove my strength by trying to give birth naturally, I mean a almost 7 pound baby going through a VERY small opening already, isn't that proof of strength and bravery in itself? Dr. Epidural man came and did his magic and I was relieved of all the labor pains and thought I had some time to rest...ha ha ha, yeah right! After 3 pushes, Connor Ray Bixler was born weighing in at 6 lbs. 6 oz. 19 1/2 inches long at 12:26 a.m. on December 18th, 2006 with a FULL head of hair.

When I had found out I was pregnant with this little guy I felt guilty because I didn't think I could love another child as much as I loved Brennen. A dear friend of mine told me this, "Shelbie, love doesn't divide it can only multiply". Boy was she right.