April 1, 2011 (Plus Pictures)

This post is being published late. It was written on April 6, 2011

I want to remember every detail of this very sweet week, the week of May 25- April 1, 2011.

Well, a couple weeks ago, we found out at my 37 week appointment that I had the Group B Strep, which is a very dangerous, even fatal, disease that certain women carry without knowing. It doesn't hurt women, only the babies. I tested positive, meaning if I went into labor without the proper antibiotics and  delivered, the baby could become very, very ill. Because of this, my OB, Kathy, decided we needed to schedule an induction.

I couldn't have been more thrilled! I called my mom first thing. Perhaps by knowing the very day I'd deliver, she could make arrangements to actually be there! It was too good to be true. A girl always needs her mommy in times like these.

I held my breath, waiting to hear what she was going to do... she said she was going to find a way to be there! Yay! I can't even tell how happy that news alone made me.

So long story short, arrangements were made for her to come out the morning of March 31st (my mom's boss gave her the entire day/weekend off because she ended up helping them out on a night that was nothing less than insane for them! I can't believe the things nurses have to do), the scheduled day of induction (39 weeks to the day). How excited all of my Utah sisters and I were! Not only were we all going to be together for this special occasion, it was going to be happening on Angela's birthday! Too good to be true.

Darin and I were so excited for her to come, we had a small shopping spree at Ross and prettied up the spare room so she could feel a little more comfortable. I truly love that room now that the empty wall has a mirror, clock and small shelf filling it, and the splotchy carpet is covered by a tan, shag rug. Simple, yet SO improved.

After that, I went through the six boxes of 0-6 month boy clothes Sarah has sporadically been bringing over. Holy COW! SO many clothes! It was impossible zeroing down the ones that eventually became the chosen first-day apparel. They ended up being newborn size, pajama-style.


The next morning, the anticipated morning of the 31st, I cleaned and cleaned and cleaned! The house felt awesome. Poor Jakob ended up watching a few movies so I could get it done! Watching him play while thinking of the new one to come filled me with that thrill that kinda makes you breathe deep and sigh without realizing it. I was so happy! Around noon, Darin had come home, bringing my mom, from the airport, with him! I have such a beautiful mom and there was no face I'd rather have seen a few hours before going in to another life changing night! She had all kinds of gifts for little Jake, she can't help but spoil her grand-babies! Angela soon followed so we all went to lunch to celebrate her birthday. Then Sarah came over so we could give presents. Angela's been having the same problem my mom usually has, SPOILING mine and Sarah's kids, so Sarah and I got her something a little special this year. A sewing machine!

After that, Darin and I took a small nap while mom watched all the kids. Then 7:30 pm rolled around and suddenly it was time to go! With our bags packed, we headed for the hospital.

We were supposed to be admitted at 8, but the said they were slammed so come back at 9. So Darin and I had a quiet hour to roam the hospital, pray, and talk about our blessings and discuss names (we were teetering between Seth Jay and Michael Darin). P.S. Darin's full name is Darin Jay Fausett.

Finally, 9 o'clock came and they took us to the room where our sweet, sweet little baby would be born. How, uh, surprised/apprehensive we were when we discovered that the room they took us to was the same room we'd had a false alarm in when Jakob was born! That false alarm was horrible! We did our best to not let superstition take over.

The hospital was slammed that night, so they didn't actually get the antibiotics that needed 4 hours to take effect in the system into my IV until 10:20 pm. This meant that I was going to be having an April Fool's Baby! They, therefore, wouldn't be starting the pitosin until around 1:00 am to make sure the antibiotic had time to run it's course. And so the waiting began. We watched Psych. Hilarious! Still, the time seemed to be creeping by. When 1:00 rolled around, the nurse began the pitosin.  Not long after, this same nurse came in to deliver me some bad news.  The anesthesiologist had refused to administer the epidural. What!?! Oh, man. Here we go again. So, the drama began. The nurse spent the next little while trying to get a hold of Kathy, then the anesthesiologist, then Kathy, back and forth, trying to figure out what needed to be done to get me that heaven sent epidural. In the meantime, the nurse took it upon herself to shut down the pitosin.  Not cool.  I was progressing so nicely! The contractions were coming close together and quite intensely. We'd have to start again from square one. Later.  Finally, around 3:30 or so, the nurse gave me my options.  I could either go natural or go home. The anesthesiologist would not do it, nor would any other anesthesiologist thereafter without a consult with a hematologist; despite the fact that I'd had an epidural before with my blood disorder, no problem. The blessing I'd had from Hal Wilcox earlier in the week was my anchor in this moment.  I knew everything was going to be okay.  So with a leap of faith, I decided we'd go natural.

Kathy came at 4:30 and broke my water. Active labor began.  This is the labor that begins making a person question who they are and what in the devil they were thinking! Painful. But, thankfully this time I was ready for it and kept my mind busy through the contractions by doing some math. I hate math; doesn't come natural for me, so it was the way to go.

Shift change! New nurses, new staff... new anesthesiologists... no, no. I wasn't going to let my mind go there! It's too much teasing to even consider that kind of hope.  The new nurse, Melissa, and her intern buddy, we'll call her Lily, came and introduced themselves. I loved them instantly! They were so sweet and made me feel really good. I told them about the situation with the anesthesiologist and made it clear that I was not interested in hearing about an epidural unless they had someone who was going to do it, without question. NO teasing.

Around 6:45 am, I'd endured a couple hours of some seriously intense pain, when bursting through the door came my angelic nurse to deliver me nothing less than a gift from heaven! Dr. Patel. An Indian anesthesiologist who looked at my case and said without hesitation that he would do it! He'd seen a million von Willebrand's patients, and did not worry one bit.

Words can't describe my elation! I wanted to cry with joy! By this time, Sarah had come and was there to witness the epidural. She said watching it made her, an experienced nurse, sick. A nasty old needle prick, and two contractions in the bowed-over catlike position later, and the epidural had been administered. I wanted to kiss this cute man!! I was so happy! Suddenly, the day was too perfect. Too good to be true. They checked me and I was at a 7, this was around 7:15 am.

At 7:45 am, they checked me again, and I was at a 9 1/2. Because the epidural was well mixed, I could still feel contractions, even a little pain and I knew this baby was ready to go! At 8: 15 they checked me again and I was at a 10. Still no Kathy though, so we waited.

The nurses got everything ready and soon enough Kathy was there. I pushed a round total of three times. One ten second push and two five second pushes and my sweet, darling, adorable little Michael Jay was born! They plopped him on my tummy the minute he came out and he was hollerin' like there was no tomorrow. It was the most adorable, pathetic, sweet sounding cry I've ever heard in my life. He was still goopy though, so I immediately had them clean him up before cuddling and cooing with my sweet new baby.

I can't describe the feelings I had.  I have never been so happy, having my little family grow. Second babies are so much easier since I don't feel nervous I'm going to kill it somehow! I was able to enjoy those moments instead of worry about them.

Michael Jay Fausett. Born on April 1, 2011, weighing 7.2 lbs, and 19 inches long. The things I remember loving most about Michael when he was immediately born are so many I don't know how to list them all. I just stared at him. He was tiny to me! His eyes, large and slanted, and nose, rounded and slightly upturned, resembled his mommies, and that's always fun. His cry... it was sweet and soft! He lost his voice after the nurses took him away, but he was easily calmed by being held and nursed.

This time around, they had me supplement feeding. The technique was such that he was able to still nurse while doing so! Quite genius if you ask me. The benefit, he was a good, contented sleeper from day one. I don't remember this luxury with Jake, poor thing. I know I was stressed out, worrying I would somehow hurt my new little man, so I don't think I produced well for Jakob for at least a week or maybe even two! As a result, he fussed between meals, and I had no idea supplementing was an option. I thought it would destroy my supply. The blessing of the second baby, right?

We went home a day and a half after being admitted, and I felt awesome! Honestly, April 1 brought me the greatest happiness I've ever known. I can't stop thinking of my merciful Lord making all these things possible in my life. It's a miracle, the blessing of children being born to my sweet little family, and I thank Him every day of my life for it.

Just after giving birth.

A bit fresher!

Car ride home

First week

Looks so much like Jakob!

I never want to forget how tiny he was.

Look how big my hand is compared to my baby!

His intent gaze.

Calm as ever.

(Picture below): My three men, Jakob, Darin, and Michael.