MEET THE LOVE OF OUR LIVES

KLAYTON KASH ANDERSEN

I had written this once already today and then my computer freaked out and it got lost. So last time we talked I was catching you up on our lives as I have let months go by since updating our blog. But I could not let the Birth of our sweet baby boy be missed. So here it is and I am leaving nothing out. Take it or leave it. Kevin and I had just gotten to California and before this I had begged and begged of someone from my family to come and be with me at this very crazy time in my life. Kevin had started his new job and was not home a lot. The people in our complex were new, the people in our ward were new, my doctor was new. EVERYTHING was new and I just was not comfortable being by myself of asking of someone's help that I barely knew. I was 36 weeks the day we moved into our apartment in Tustin. Lucky for me my sister Jillian drove all the way from Provo, Utah to come and help me out. She brought her kids Jace and Addison and we had so much fun! She had come a week or so sooner than my due date in case I came early. That was the least of our worries I guess you could say. We shopped and shopped and walked and walked. Nothing this kid was not coming. Then on February 7th the day hit, it was my due date and nothing. I went to the doctor and I was dialated to 2cm and 70% effaced. He asked if I wanted to be induced and I didn't and he agreed he said he would if I wanted it though. I just wanted my body to do it's own thing so we decided to wait. He said he guessed it wouldn't be longer than 3 to 5 days. We set another appointment just in case. Good thing because that boy still wasn't here. My mom had come by now and Jillian was getting antsy as she had been here 2 weeks by now. I packed my hospital bags before going to the Dr when I was a week overdue because he said he would not let me go over that because it became harmful to the baby. So I am thinking he is going to tell me to head on over to the hospital today after the appointment on the next day. So I go and I am STILL 2 stinkin cm dialated but more effaced. My Dr turns out was leaving that weekend for a trip so he scheduled my induction for that coming Tuesday. It was Thursday and I was so bummed/frustrated and mad he was now going to have me wait. He had me go over to the hospital to do a stress test for our baby to make sure he was fine. I got there and spent about 4 hours doing tests and moinitoring. At the end the nurse said I looked good and she just needed to call the Dr. Well my Dr I guess had already left on his trip so they called the on call Dr and he came in to look. He said our baby was teasing and at points his heart rate would drop a little. He asked if I wanted to be induced and although I didn't have a problem with that, everything was just so new that I really kinda wanted my doctor at least I was some what familiar with him. So the on call Dr said okay but gave me no option, I would have to come in again the next morning and do another test. That night Kevin got home from work and I gave him his valentines day present because I told him I had a feeling they were going to induce me in the morning rather I wanted to or not. He took the day off and came with me. The monitoring went well and the tests looked good so at the end the nurse once again said okay let me call the Dr and we will get you out of here. I was getting ready to call my mom to tell her we wanted to meet up for lunch when the Nurse came back in and said I know you are chomping at the bit to get out of here but you aren't leaving. I KNEW IT. She said my amniotic fluid dropped quite a bit. It was nothing dangerous but they didn't want to take any chances and were going to induce me. I was in shock I guess you could say. They took me and Kevin to the room where I would deliver had me strip down to my gown and the water works EXPLODED. I WAS FREAKIN TERRIFIED YOU GUYS!! I had no idea of what was going to happen, I hadn't been able to take classes with working going to school and moving and when I got here there of course were no openings and it was too late. After that I calmed down and just accepted it. They induced me at 2 in the afternoon on Friday the 14th and things weren't bad. They started me at a dose 3 and went from there with the pitocin increasing it by 3 every time. They got all the way to 21 and turned it back down. It was about 9:30 and my contractions were starting to have some kick so they came in to give me an epidural! Hallelujah to all you who went without is all I can say. The only problem here is that I started shaking all over out of control. Seriously I am sure it was the hormones but I also think it was because I was so anxious/nervous. Jillian and Kevin had to leave the room while they did it and let me tell you I was scared out of my mind for this too. I seriously have a high pain tolerance and am usually pretty brave about things but this just was making me into a liar. I have always been cautious when I think about epidurals because I am always thinking about how they might mess up and make me paralized forever, so needless to say I didn't think about it much. Dr. Chou a short asian lady was the one to give me my epidural and let me tell you I am sure she hated me. I could not stop shaking and I didn't curve my back as well as she had hoped. She asked me when she poked my back if it was on the left or right side of my spine which made me freak out even more!! I didn't know I was so scared I couldn't think straight. Then she told me I had to stop shaking to do it and I was trying my hardest. They gave me a pillow to hug and the nurse was holding on to me and I was holding her trying to stop myself from shaking. I know Dr, Chou was just trying to get it right and I was difficult but I swear it took a good 20 to 30 minutes to get it all done. Then after she asked me a ton of questions like can you taste a metal taste in your mouth? Noooo Can you feel it in your toes or legs are they tingling yet? NOOo so here i am thinking great after all this, it didn't work she couldn't put it in right because of me. Then it kicked in and it was great. Then later on that night Kevin and I were both trying to get some sleep. My blood pressure cuff checked my blood pressure every 15-30 minutes and my blood pressure was always low and when that happened the machine beeped until a nurse came to turn it off! It got really annoying really fast. Then at around 4 my water broke and i was dialated to an 8 and it all progressed really fast from there. I asked for them to top off my epidural as I was feeling a lot of my contractions and then they had me do a couple practice pushes. ANNNNNDDDDDDDD I had ANOTHER melt down. I just didn't i think I could do it. Kevin called my mom to let her know she should come now and the nurse was so nurse had a nice little stern talk with me. She said whats the matter sweetie and I just bawled and mumbled I don't know. She said listen this baby is coming whether you like it or not and this is the way he is coming so you just got to do it. SO I calmed down and started pushing with all my might. My epidural had worn off, maybe not all the way but I could feel Everything they were doing down there. I pushed for about 30 minutes and then I asked them how much longer I would have to push. They said about another 30 minutes. Man I wanted to give up. My mom told me is you push hard, I did mine in 3 pushes, so naturally I thought I could do that. Turns out I am a baby and pushed for about 45 minutes. My mom came in and was a HUGE help. She helped push on my back which helped more than anyone will know. Then my baby boy came into the world. They laid him on me and I just cried and cried. Kevin and I are so happy and feel so blessed to have a happy, healthy little boy. We are so happy to have our little family together. I love this boy SO INCREDIBLY MUCH. I don't know how we ever lived without him. He is 3 weeks tomorrow and we couldn't love him more. Here are some glimpses into our little family. Klayton Kash Andersen 8lbs 20 in long Born at 5:15 AM Klayton likes -wrinkling his forhear -long naps -smiling at mom and dad -sitting in his big boy bouncer -wearing handsome outfits -crossing his legs -Mom & Dad -Facetiming family

XOXO THE ANDERSEN CLAN