The Adventures of Cory and Chris: October 2009

Finally! He's here. After months of waiting and extended due dates, Taylen James Priebe finally decided to join us!

Taylen James Priebe
October 5th, 2009
10:10pm
8 pounds, 1 ounce

My due date was Monday, September 21st, but when he didn't come, the doctor said "come in on Thursday". So we thought Thursday would be the day. But then Thursday wasn't the day. Then the doctor said "well, it looks like his due date is later...how about Christmas?" There was always a discrepancy with my dates. Some method of figuring out the date suggested September 21st, the other method suggested Oct 1st. So when he didn't come for Sept 21st, the due date was moved to October 1st which was inline with my ultrasounds. When Oct 1st rolled around and he still didn't come, the doctor then said that if he didn't come by Oct 8th, he would put me in the hospital and help him come. And boy was I ready to have him come...although I would prefer not to be induced.

But then the day God told little Taylen to come was Monday, October 5th. It was the most perfect day for his birth:
-my mom has been staying with us, helping out with the extra things needed around the house and herding the other little one, Mikaya since I was so big and uncomfortable. She will need to go back to Abbotsford soon, so it would be nice if he would come before she has to go back.
-my dad was still in Abbotsford, but came out just for a quick visit on Sunday and would need to return to Abbotsford on Tuesday.
-my mother-in-law had a doctor's appointment on the Monday during the day and my sister-in-law had a doctor's appointment on Tuesday morning. We all have the same doctor. Taylen was born right in between the two appointment on Monday evening.
-My parents took Mikaya with them to visit my brother and his family on the West side on the Monday evening. So Chris and I had a few hours or quiet to ourselves before everything started.
-I had the wonderful support of my friends from church as I attended Bible Study minutes before going to the hospital and was the recipient of prayer with the coming birth in mind.

Monday, October 5th:
-something felt weird and different starting at 5:30.
-I got Mikaya ready for a visit with her cousins and kissed her goodbye in grandpa and grandma's car.
-Chris and I had dinner
-I asked Chris to drive me to the church because my stomach was hurting every few minutes (was it something I ate?).
-Throughout the 7 o'clock hour my stomach pains continued every few minutes and were getting worse. Maybe it wasn't something I ate.
-I called Chris to come and pick me up thinking we should just go to the hospital.
-We called the hospital saying that the contractions were 3-5 minutes apart, my water had not broken yet, and this was my second baby. They said, "you can stay at home longer if you like." Naw, I wanted to go to the hospital now just to be on the safe side. "Will you call my doctor?" I asked. "No, we'll wait until you get here".
-We got there and the emergency entrance door was locked. The only other entrance? All the way on the other side of the hospital! Just getting out of the van was hard; I did not want to have to get back into it and drive over speed bumps and all to the other side of the building. Thankfully, a man was leaving the building by that door and we were able to sneak in that way.
-Between 8:15 and 8:27 (the time it took to get to the hospital), I had had 4 contracts -- can we say 3 minutes apart...and by the time I got to the prenatal part of the hospital, another 3 or so contractions.
-Then they said, "just wait over there please".
-The waiting seemed like forever because the pains kept coming and were getting stronger.
-Finally, they put me in a pre-birthing room for assessment.
-"Have you called my doctor yet?" "No, we will assess you first".
-"Can I have something for the pain" (IT HURT). "Just wait, please".
-"How about now?" "Oh...let's move you to the birthing room; this baby will come soon after your water breaks. You are 9 centimeters dilated".
-In the next minute, my water broke! (into the toilet thankfully)
-(I was only in the assessment room for maybe 15 minutes. This baby was coming quickly.)
-"Can I have an epidural?" "Let's start you with the laughing gas".
-"How about now?" "No, you are too far along. It's time to push."
-He was born 1 hour later. Entire time from arriving at the hospital to when he was born = 1 hour, 40 minutes. Drugs used: laughing gas. Drugs desired: epidural. Next time I guess. Didn't I say that last time?

So the ultrasound we had done back in April was confirmed as accurate -- he was/is a boy. Can't you tell?

(Out of respect for the young child, certain parts have been edited)

Good thing we prepared in accord with blue walls and boy clothes. He's right at home in the house and in our hearts.

Mikaya is adjusting to having a baby around. Still a little unsure of him, but keenly interested too. She came to visit twice on Tuesday and both times was great for about 5 minutes before her short attention span was done. Since there is nothing to do at the hospital for a little 19 month old child, she would take her shoes and socks off many times, run around the room, and eat mommy's left over breakfast fruit. It's nice to be home where she can play with her toys and take care of her own little baby (dolly) - courtesy of Ridgeview Church (our home church) which graciously allowed Mikaya to take the dolly home from the nursery for her to practice being a big sister.