The Sheahan's Dash: Myles Jordan Sheahan

How do I begin to explain to you the, most amazing thing that has ever happened to us Myles? Well just so you know it is you! On Saturday, April 12, 2014 I was definitely in nesting mode. I didn't notice, but Daddy says he did. We spent the morning at the soccer field watching some of my students playing soccer. After that I decided we needed to hit the store, to stock up a little. I loaded up on groceries, clue number one according to Daddy. We came home and enjoyed a delicious lunch that Daddy grilled for us as we sat on the deck sunning ourselves for a little while. Eventually finishing our grad school work for the next week, clue number two. Then we got ready to go for a walk. It was a hot day, 80 degrees and that made me a little cranky. However, once we got going I didn't want to stop. We walked about 3 miles, Daddy says this is clue number 3. When we got home my hands were so swollen I could hardly bend my fingers. We ended our evening with a delicious dinner and putting our feet up to watch the move, 12 Years a Slave. Around 11 we headed up to bed.

It was at 11:46 that you woke me up with a powerful pain and tightness in my tummy. I was pretty sure it was a contraction, but was still in denial so after I went to the bathroom I crawled quietly back into bed with a racing mind. I began checking off lists of things I had done and hadn't done before you were set to arrive. I managed to drift off to sleep after about an hour, assuming that the contraction was nothing. Then a short time later, I woke up again to a painfully tight tummy this time a little after 1:00. After going to the bathroom again, I decided I should tell Daddy what was happening. I gently shook him awake and whispered the news, "I just want you to know, I have had two contractions, but they are really far apart, so I don't think its a big deal." Daddy was wide awake at that news! He started asking all sorts of questions, "How strong are they? How far apart are they? What time is it?" I answered his questions and just then another one hit! Now things were starting to get real. We grabbed Mommy's trusty Pampered Chef timer and laid in bed timing them out. I was having contractions every 10-12 minutes. then from 2:00-2:30 we didn't have any action, just as we wondered if you had decided not to come, you hit me with about 4 or 5 strong ones in a row 7 or 8 minutes apart. Daddy decided at about 3:00 that we should start thinking about getting ready to head to the hospital (which, funny enough, a gentleman at church predicted we would go into labor around 3. He is also a neighbor and said to give him three honks when we drove by and he would know he was right). Daddy wanted to shower quick to wake up, as he was jumping in the shower we joked about what Jim had said at church and agreed we would drive by and honk. While Daddy showered, I decided to fold some clean laundry that I had neglected to fold that evening. I bustled around tidying up a few things and double checking I had everything I needed in my bag.

As Daddy was getting out of the shower, we realized I hadn't had a contraction for about 20 minutes. I was defeated and decided to head back to bed. While Daddy crawled in next to me, he laughed and said, "He definitely has his mother's indecisiveness." Just as he said that you hit me again with another contraction. This continued on through the night contraction ranging from 6-10 minutes apart with a couple 15 minute lulls. around 6 a.m. Mommy had, had enough of this silly business. She told Daddy we needed to call first nurse to see if we could do something to help them stay more regular. Unfortunately they were not very helpful, telling us to wait until they were 5 minutes apart. I decided we should call MiMi and at least tell her and Papi what was going on so they could come get Teddy. Daddy said, "I think we should just take Teddy and head to Story City, so we are that much closer." I agreed so Daddy called MiMi and Papi and Grandma and Grandpa to update them all. Then he loaded the car and we all jumped in. Daddy and Ted up front, and me in the back. We had to swing by Rock Run so Daddy could drop off his teachers manuals.

We arrived and MiMi and Papi's around 8:00. It was a dark gloomy morning and I just snuggled up in a recliner while everyone else sipped coffee and ate breakfast. Around 9 I agreed to go for a walk with Daddy. We headed outside to find that it had gotten even colder and windier and it was misting. Despite the crummy weather we walked for about 30 minutes. Not once during our walk did I have a contraction. So we came in and I laid on the couch with some blankets trying to warm up and get a nap in. Then oh boy, did they hit. from 10-10:30 I was having contraction about every 6 minutes. The last couple hit really hard and really fast so I told Daddy we needed to go. As MiMi helped me put my tennis shoes back on it all became real Mommy let a few tears fall (not sure if they were tears of excitement, joy, anxiety, tiredness, or all of the above) but we gave a quick hug and out the door into a cold rainstorm day we headed. They eased up a little in the car.

Mommy instructed Daddy to pull up at the Valet parking, because in her words, "I am not walking outside in this crap!" As mommy whispered yet another prayer and climbed out of the car Daddy grabbed our bags and in we went. We passed off our keys to the girl at the front desk (who failed to tell us they don't valet park on Sunday's, so Daddy later had to go move the car later on). We headed up to the OB floor and they ushered into the very same observation room we were in when we had the flu. By now Mommy was really feeling the pain. They hooked us up to monitor both of us. A short time later when the nurse checked on us she informed us, "Boy you are just cranking out contractions about every 2-4 minutes." Mommy was well aware of this. The nurse then told us that we would have the choice to take a corner room with a great view, but no couch or wait for a room with a couch. Mommy said we should wait for a room with a couch (thinking of visitors and Daddy). The nurse said they were currently cleaning out a room and they would get me in it as soon as they could. She also informed me I had to wait to get the epidural until we were in our room. At this point I was thinking I can do this and it can't take that long. WRONG!!!! Mommy didn't get into her room until about 3:30. So after about 4 hours relief came. Dr. Leeds broke my water as soon as I was feeling good. Then it was only a little discomfort for some long hours trying to nap and Daddy watching the Masters.

Around 9 o'clock just as Mommy began to feel a little sick we were told we were fully dilated and ready for action! The nurse came in and told us we were going to start pushing soon. By 9:15 we were pushing and shortly there after Daddy could see your noggin. He was excited and told Mommy how much dark hair you had on your little head (or not so little). Our nurse Tera was awesome and helped Mommy do her best with pushing. Eventually Mommy got sick and she had a fever. By this time your heart rate was up too! They called in the pediatrician along with the Dr. around 10:00. You still didn't want to come despite all of our best efforts, so the Dr. decided to use the vacuum. Mommy was getting tired and they had turned the epidural down so it wasn't feeling so good either. Just when Mommy thought she couldn't push anymore your head finally escaped and with another push so did your shoulders.

You cried the second you came out and then they put you on Mommy's chest and she can't even explain to you how wonderful your warm wet little head felt when she leaned in to give you a kiss. You stopped crying almost as soon as I kissed you and when Mommy finally pried her eyes off you and she stared at Daddy's teary eyes through her own tears and gave him a kiss too. We were so in love from the first second! Finally, Mama looked at Daddy and told him to tell everyone your name, Myles Jordan. They wrote your name up on the board and your time of birth 10:19. Then they stole you away to weigh you and measure you. You weighed 8 lbs. 9 oz and were 21 inches long and perfect. The rest of the night was a whirlwind of perfection. Daddy went with you to get some labs drawn and check you over. When you came back Mommy got to nurse you and snuggle. Then Papi, MiMi and Uncle Nic came and stole some snuggles too. They didn't stay long, because the weather was not good, it was a snowy rainy night the night you were born baby boy.

After everyone left we snuggled a little and got to give you your first bath! Even when you screamed you were so adorable! Daddy loves the way you look with your hair all wet (he is a good stylist). Then while you were fresh and clean and warming up under the heater Daddy read to you, On The Night You Were Born. Mommy thought in that moment everything really was so perfect and she was sure to say an extra prayer of thanks for the amazing day we had together!