Backing up a few days…May 21st Randy came to into town for a week, hoping for Baby Sonneman to arrive. We had a great weekend, shopping for last minute items, meals with my family and a lot of walking. Sunday we were picked out some flowers to put in my planters and ran a few other errands. The day was normal, but I felt different. I can’t explain how I felt, or how it was different, it just was. We all (Kyle, Randy, Mom, Kel Dan and I) had dinner at my mom’s house and I said after dinner, I think we’ll have a baby in the next 24 hours.
Monday morning, my mom, Kel, Randy and I had brunch plans at 9:30. I woke up around 5:00 realizing that I had slept through the night and hadn’t gotten up to use the bathroom. That was NOT normal and hadn’t happened in months. I went back to sleep and woke up to contractions. Some were strong, others were short and weak. They were in clusters, meaning I’d have 3-5 in a row and then nothing for 10 minutes. Kyle got ready for work and I didn’t know what to do, go to brunch or stay home and labor. We called the Dr and I left a message. Meanwhile, we decided to go to brunch so I got ready for the day…(remember this small detail!). Randy drove, as I didn’t feel I could handle a contraction and be behind the wheel. We had a fabulous breakfast at Snooze, a MUST in Denver. The contractions got stronger throughout breakfast and we left around 11:00am. We had picked Kel up, so as we were on our way to drop her off, the Dr. called. They wanted me to come into the office for a check. We dropped Kel off at home, I called Kyle and he met me at the Dr.’s office.
We arrived at 11:38 at the Dr.’s office to find out I was still only 3cm! She told us we could labor at home or we could go, across the street, to the hospital and labor there and see if I progress. We opted for the hospital, checked in and by 12:45 we were walking the halls of the labor and delivery floor. After an hour of walking and contracting, it was time for another check. I was having MUCH stronger and more frequent contractions, turns out, I was 4cm. We walked for about another 45 minutes until the contractions were so strong I couldn’t stand up. Another check and we were officially staying to have a baby.
Kyle made his two phone calls, his mom and mine, and then the phone/text tree began. By 4:00 both of our families were there, including my brother. SIDE STORY…he called me Sunday night to check in and I told him I thought we’d have a baby in the next 24 hours. Monday when we were at breakfast, he called again and I told him I was having contractions and he immediately said, “I’m going to find some to cover my shift and I’m coming down” (he lives 1:30 north of Denver). I told him that I’d call at noon if anything had changed…little did any of us know. He didn’t listen and he drove down immediately when we got off the phone.
As soon as we were staying to have a baby, they wanted to get an IV going. I had a few more contractions and my water broke. I don’t know how to describe the feeling other than an uncontrollable flowing river. I was so afraid it was going to happen in public, thankfully it didn’t! Just as I was having a particularly intense contraction, the anesthesiologist walked in inquiring if I wanted to have an epidural. I told him I wasn’t sure, a little nervous about it. Just as I was having an intense contraction and at level 9 in pain…I said yes, I’ll have one of those with the understanding that I wanted the smallest amount of medicine as possible. I really wanted to feel the contractions and when to push, just enough to take the edge off. I got what I wanted! Once I had the epidural, our families came in for a few minutes. It wasn’t long before our doctor came in for a check and he said it was time to push.
It’s not like the movies, where there are nurses all around. It was just Kyle and one nurse. The doctor came and went checking to see how baby was doing. It didn’t take long, about 35 minutes of pushing and our beautiful daughter Josie Buen Sonneman was born. Kyle cut the cord and little Josie laid on my belly. It’s like no other experience we’ve ever had…simply amazing. All together, it was about 6 hours of labor and delivery and I loved every minute! People talk about how they didn’t know they could love someone so much, and I completely understand what that feels like. It is amazing!
Here are a few pictures of our first days as a family
A few minutes old
A baby makes three
stretching on the bed
On our way home!
