Monday, January 7, 2008

HE'S WITH US!

Joshua Matthew Sams made his debut at 6:25pm on Monday night (about 12:25am Monday morning EST). He is 6lbs 8 oz, 17.3 in long. He was born without pain medication (woohoo!), induced by syntosin (like pitocin, DARN IT!), and breech - in three or four pushes, and one tiny rip that doesn't need stitches.
Because I know you want to know:
They checked his position at 10:00am, only to realized he had gone head-down again. As I'd said before, they really didn't want to try a vaginal birth with him head down for fear he'd be stillborn because of the trauma. So I agreed to another external version - with a shot of pethadine and a muscle relaxer (but believe me, that pethadine wore off before the contractions even got interesting). So he turned quickly, easily, and stayed put the rest of labor.
They almost immediately broke my waters. That was difficult because I was only 25% effaced and about 1 cm dilated. AT 41 WEEKS? ARE YOU KIDDING ME!? Then the Dr put me straight onto a syntosin drip (pitocin, artificial oxytocin) because they didn't want to give him time to flip back around. They kept upping the ml/hr and by about 2:30 or 3:00 I was feeling pretty miserable.
They took the drip off, hoping that I was far enough into labor to continue on my own. But after I started falling asleep and the contractions petered down to 15-20 seconds long and only ::decent::, back on the drip I went. That was 4:30pm, and at that point I was 80% effaced and 4cm dilated. I was getting the "WOW, that's a lot of dilating and effacing since your contractions weren't "good" until 1:30pm!" Haha.
Our extended family decided to go get something to eat, since we'd been told we were most likely looking at a 9pm delivery, and Matt and my midwife Pat stayed with me. I got in the shower because I was starting to have trouble through the contractions. While I was in the shower I started feeling a lot of pressure. Dinner arrived around 5:30 or 6:00 and I decided to get out and eat something while I was still "feeling ok". Wow, one smell of food was all I could take.
As I went to get back on the bed, I looked down at my legs which were now covered in meconium. I told my midwife and she sort of went, "Oh...". She decided to check my dilation because she said that was a sign he was decending a bit. So she checked me and I had dilated 6cm in 1.5 hours! I was at 10cm, with a slight anterior lip. WHOA! So Pat turned around and said, "Matt, text your family to get back here now!". My poor family were sitting down to eat dinner and get this text that says, COME BACK NOW. Haha. They took off running, and when they got back to the hospital (10 mins drive) I was in the delivery unit starting to push.
The doctor and midwife had said that I should be prepared to push for a long time because he was breech. But after 3 or 4 contractions and pushing through them, he was just.... there! He tried to cry, but he was a bit congested, so they cleared him out. He turned pink right away and had a good, strong heartbeat.

I was feeling pretty good, but not wanting to stay at the hospital, so 4 hours later we jumped in the car (ok, waddled slowly to the car) and came home to sleep in our own beds.

The whole family got a chance to hold him in the delivery room - man my 16 yr old brother is a trooper, I think he's seen more than he EVER wanted to see of me! We took endless pictures and a lot of video.
We prayed over him and dedicated his days to the Lord and to His purposed before we all went to sleep. He doesn't cry much, just a few little peeps - so I have to set an alarm to get up and feed him. But that was the biggest miracle of all! He's eating! When we were still in the delivery room, he started making mouths at me and I gave him my finger - he went to town! So we decided to try breastfeeding, and he's a CHAMP! Wow!
He seems to have some amount of sight because he is easily startled by camera lights. We're not sure about his hearing, but he's very aware of movements and can get startled/frightened easily by sudden touching or bumping.
Oceana is doing great, and likes to talk about him - "Baby!" but doesn't seem to like holding him. That's fine, she's 21 months and that's just nervewracking!
That's my brother Josiah, my dad Mike, my mum Jeannie , Matt's mum Pam, and our family of FOUR!

Please pray that Joshua stays with us, as long as it is best for him. We don't want him to be in pain. Thank you for all your prayers yesterday while we were in labor.
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29 comments:

  1. OH, I am so happy for you guys! What a blessing that everything went so well like you had hoped for. I was thinking of you and saying many prayers.

    And wow, good for you for leaving so soon after he was born :)

    God bless you and your wonderful family of four.

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  2. congratulations! Been thinking of you guys every minute.

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  3. Susie

    I haven't commented but have been reading for a couple of weeks and have been praying for you

    I am so thrilled to read this update, that your precious Joshua was born alive. Praying for the days ahead.

    I don't know if you get the kids Christian artist Colin Buchanan in NZ but he has a kids album called "Jesus Rocks the World" Track number 6 (I think) is called "be strong and courageous" it is a beautiful gentle kids melody and I think of it often when thinking of you and Joshua "be strong and courageous, the lord of the ages, holds all his little ones to him. do not fear the darkness, do not fear the sadness, jesus has conquered them all, be strong and courageous..." If you can get a hold of the CD I highly recommend it.

    Love to all your family

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  4. I'm not sure how I found your blog, but I have been reading and praying for about a week now.

    CONGRATULATIONS! What an amazing blessing to hold and love your precious Joshua, for as long as God gives. I pray you savor and enjoy every moment; every cry (or peep), every feeding, every diaper change.

    I will also pray that God allows you and your family to rest up these next few hours and days, so you are 100% (or at least as "100%" as you can be after having a baby...) to care for Joshua.

    Please continue to update us on how we can pray for you.

    Congrats again- he is just adorable. :)

    Love, Melody in Houston, TX

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  5. Hi Susie,
    This is Kim (Mary Grace's Mom). I just read about you and Joshua after you posted to my blog page. Coming hear I see he is here! I am not sure of his prognosis but I have heard some pretty amazing miracles and am praying for one with Joshua. Don't give up and push the Doctors!! My cousin had a little person and they told her at 36 weeks preg. that his rib cage would be so small that when he was born and his lungs expanded that he would die of suffocation. Best case they could put him on a breathing machine while they said their goodbyes. He was born, kicking and screaming and didn't need help breathing for one second!! He is precious and is 6 years old now with no medical issues! Will be praying for you and Joshua. Congradulations on your precious boy!
    Kim

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  6. What a beautiful baby boy! Praise the Lord. We will continue to pray for you and Joshua, please continue to update us! But for now get some much needed rest.

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  7. congragulations, Susie!
    He is just precious and you look amazing!
    We are praying for you and your family and thank you so much for sharing your story on this blog.
    I've been praying for you for a few weeks now...can't remember how exactly I came across your blog!

    ~Antonia

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  8. Wow he is so handsome! I prayed for you and your family all last night and this morning. I prayed that God would give him the time to show his miracilous power through Joshua. I feel like this is Gods way of say not your way{meaning the doctors} but Mine be done through Joshua! I will be fervently praying for you guys! Marisa

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  9. Hooray for you! Congratulations. He's beautiful...

    Our God is awesome...

    Enjoy every minute you have with your sweet baby boy.

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  10. Congrats!! I will be praying for you all...may your recovery be easy and may the time you have with your sweet boy be filled with happy moments. Blessings!
    Katie in MI

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  11. absolutly lovley photos of all of you! he's beautiful!
    prayers in Canada

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  12. Congratulations! What a blessing to your family. You all have been in my prayers constantly for the last couple days.

    -Genevieve

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  13. Congratulations! I am so happy for you. He is beautiful and looks a lot like his Momma!

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  14. A big kiss to your brave son!
    He has a chance to be in your hands and to feel your love, that is all that is now important!

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  15. Hi,
    I found your blog a couple of days ago and I couldn't resist checking back - and back - and back, well you know the tune...
    CONGRATULATIONS! Joshua is so handsome and cute! And you seem to have had a pretty good delivery, too!
    I will lift you and your family up in prayer tonight, I hope Joshua can stay with you for a while...
    Sorry about my English, I am a midwife from Germany and so by no means a native speaker, but I hope you get the general idea of what I am trying to say...
    Love
    Dagmar

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  16. Praise the Lord you have you sweet boy home! He's beautiful Susie! Enjoy every moment. I'm so glad that he is nursing and making noises for you what a strong boy. Hooray for Joshua! We love you and are praying.

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  17. Congratulations,he is just beautiful! Praising God that Joshua is home with you! We've been praying for you all and will continue to do so.

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  18. He's a beautiful looking baby Sus. My prayers continue to go out for you, Matt, Joshua and the rest of your family. As his name fits, Joshua truly is a trooper who fights.
    All my love,
    Dahvede

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  19. Congrats Susie! I'm so happy you're able to have him at home!! Sounds like you were quite the superwoman in the delivery room! Was Josie there for it?? I pray you enjoy every moment you have with your strong little boy. Love you and miss you so much...

    Havie

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  20. Susie - he is so beautiful! Congratulations! Austin is happy to know that he has a buddy so close (even though you're half a world away)! We're so glad to hear that he is home with you and eating! Prayin, Anna

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  21. I was so excited to get on today and find how things had gone. I've been out of town today and was wondering. Praise the Lord! I'm so happy for the wonderful gift of your son! May God continue to work wonders in your lives in the days ahead!

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  22. Many congratulations, and love and peace for the coming days.

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  23. Congratulations on your beautiful little angel! I will continue to pray for your family.

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  24. My heart was in my throat when I clicked on your blog... but Praises!! I am thrilled for you ALL! Welcome Joshua!

    I am glad it went so well and you have your little boy in your arms. Shower him with kisses from me.

    The prayers will continue on.

    -Andrea

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  25. praise the Lord!!! I am so hapy he is home with his family where he belongs... As i read the comments before mine, i am blown away how Joshua has touched the world already... he has truly been a servant of the most high, sacraficing so much, to touch the hearts of so many. One day, you will see the fruits that were grown from your sons planted seeds... we love you all, and are so thrilled he has entered our lives...

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  26. Hi! Congratulations!
    We had tried to reach you some weeks back when we found you blog because we had a daughter with a similar birth defect. At the time no one in else in the world had this problem. We would love to help in anyway!
    Brian and Elizabeth, Florida

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  27. Susie,
    I am Sarah Funks' mother and have been keeping up to date with your story. You are an incredible woman !!! God Bless you all......
    Please kiss that little guy for us.

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  28. wow. i had a baby in january & i don't know what i would have done if i lost him to anything.

    You are SO strong.

    (you don't know me =])

    sarah (myspace.com/sarahdeedee)

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