Welcome Braxton

Braxton's Birth

by Taylin Galloway

 

     "Taylin, Kennedy, wake up! Your mom and dad are at the hospital." said someone standing by my bunk.  I sat up, rubbed my eyes, saw that it was Sister Hooper, and asked, "Why?"  Sister Hooper explained that Mom was having pains and that she and Dad had asked her to watch my siblings and I when they were at the hospital.  At this time, Mom was pregnant with a boy and was due on January 14th, and that was only twelve days away!  I immediately knew that this might be the day my mom has her fifth child.  I got out of bed and exclaimed, "This is so exciting!"

 

     We went to Sister Hooper's house and devoured breakfast.  We drove to school and I thought, "Will I have a new brother or not?"  I came home and Mom had come home because it had been  "false alarm." She was having serious pains this time, so she and Dad went to the hospital again and Cohen, Kennedy, Teague and I walked across the street to Sister Miller's house and the stayed the night.  I was both scared and excited about the next day.  When I woke up, my dad was at our house and said that my brother had been born at 10:45PM.  The next day, dad took us to visit Mom and my new brother, Braxton, at the hospital.  Braxton was adorable and I cried when I held him.  It was extremely exciting and the hospital room was filled with joy. 

 

Braxton James Galloway was born January 2, 2013

9 pounds 1 ounce

21 inches long

 

It was a great day!  We thought we wouldn't make it to Christmas.  Then we thought he wouldn't make it to the new year.  He waited patiently until David went back to work and the kids went back to school.  They come when they are ready.  Braxton still seemed hesitant.  Contractions and a sharp pain in my lower left of my back and abdomen persisted starting at 12:00am January 2nd.  I tried to ignore them all night.  I didn't want to wake anyone to go to the hospital.  I drank water, took a bath, walked around the house.  It settled enough for me to go back to bed.  Around 5am, same symptoms occurred.  My contractions are never consistent, thus me barely making it to the hospital.  They still weren't consistent, but they didn't stop and the pain, ouch...worse pain ever, had returned.  So we went in.  I got there and was nauseous (all new to me as well).  To my displeasure, no change in my dilation and cervix.  I had been a 3 since before Christmas.  I don't remember effacement.  I was given more water to drink and sent home. 

 

 We left still with the discomfort.  David went to work and I tried to take a nap before my 1pm appointment.  I think I slept a half hour to 45 minutes and the pain was unbearable.  I had to call David to not meet me at the appointment, but drive me there.  The nausea came on again strong.  Went to my appointment, still no change.  I was rotating doctors within the office, since this was my first time with them.  This happened to be the day I was with a particular doctor that had poor bedside manner.  She kept telling me she couldn't send me in until I was 39 weeks, they had to wait until it started on it's own.  Then she continued to tell me how some ladies are in great pain and discomfort but are only at a One and don't deliver for some time.  Some have no pain and barely make it to the hospital.  I almost wanted to sit there and tell her my delivery histories (fast and little idea the baby was really coming).  I just wanted to know why I was experiencing this pain and what to do about it.  If I wasn't going to have a baby for another few days or a week, fine, how long will I be enduring this pain?  What can I take or do?

 

Went home.  I tried to rest some more.  David picked a smoothie and some Tylenol up for me.  I would be in and out of sleep with excruciating pains still coming.  David was concerned, because he knew how tough I was and I don't complain much about pain.  We went back to the hospital a little after 4pm.  I was a little nervous they would send me home.  When we went in, I was with the doctor that had the best bedside manner.  We emphasized we just wanted to figure out this pain even if there were no changes.  Well, what do you know.  I was a 4.  Which was still a little depressing.  I am usually a 6 and ready to go.  We wanted to make sure he wasn't just being nice, because I had had such a long day.  He said I had progressed dilation, stations and effacement and it was early labor, but labor none the less.  I was admitted and continued with my longest labor.  The pain had gone down.  They got me on fluids and I walked around the hospital trying to pick things up.  I had progressed to a 5/6 around 8pm.  He waited until 9pm to break my water.  I warned him that once my water breaks, I am 30-45 minutes away.  Well this baby wanted to be different in every way.  He came and checked around 10pm.  He said he wasn't sure I would make it on the 2nd of January, I was progressing that slow.  David continued napping, cracked me up.  Soon after, the intensity began.  I told them they needed to check, but they didn't believe I would change all of a sudden.  I know when I am getting close to the pushing stages.  I was right.  They had to hurry and get everything set up and hurry the doctor in.  Phew!  I can't say I did this one as gracefully.  It was more painful than I remember, ha ha.  At 10:45pm, he was out.  I was exhausted.  Then they weighed him...answered many questions to the pain I had been experiencing and the harder labor/pushing. 

  Dr. FlemmingFantastic Nurse

Sorry for too many details.  My 5th delivery and I am not afraid to share at this point.  We had three names picked out, but couldn't decide until we saw him.  People say you will know when you see him.  One of our names was Max.  I laughed when they told us his size and said, "Maximus!"  But I looked at him and he was Braxton.  Just that easy.  David had been set on that name, but I wasn't.  We were instantly in love and so glad to have him as part of our family.

 

The next day when the kids got to visit him in the hospital truly was the sweetest moment ever.  Everyone was in complete adoration.  The kids were so sweet.  Taylin, my sentimental gal, got emotional as she soaked in her moment to hold him and just gaze at him, this little miracle and addition to our family.

 

Going home

 

I will post more current pictures soon.  Fast forward to today.  He has cleared his tear ducts.  We haven't been able to see his eyes without wiping goop out when he wakes.  He is awake more.  He grabs things.  He giggles.  He rolls from stomach to back as well as back to stomach.  With all this fun and cuteness...we don't sleep so well, he and I.  Thus the delayed post.  I am hoping soon.  He was getting better two weeks ago, then he had a cold.  Back to square one. 

I get asked, "Is five hard?"  My response: I don't think five is any different than what we already had.  Plus my older kids are old enough to hold their own when needed and help too.  Five isn't my challenge.  Challenges are that I have had are a lot of firsts.  First winter baby...true winter baby with it being cold pretty consistently and flu season is rampant.  First time I have had a baby/newborn and had kids in school.  Loading him in and out of the car (in the winter) two to three times a day to take kids and making sure I time his feedings right.  That has been tricky.  Teague was four months when Taylin started Kindergarten and she went all day.  I have a half day kinder kiddo, so we go back and forth an additional time.  First baby that is border line colic.  First baby that doesn't like to sleep anyway but on his tummy.  The busiest schedule in David's training career.  Two sleep deprived parents equals super tired and no time for recovery.  We knew it would be hard.  We are learning how to make it work.  Light is around the bend.  July starts his second year and this little guy will be farther from being a newborn.  I have enjoyed little moments with him and had to lower expectations of a few things.  I am loving spring and getting out!

 

We love him.  Did I think the fifth delivery would be easier? Yes.  Did I think I would have this newborn thing down? yes.  Did I? no.  We are still in love with him.  The kids are so helpful and loving.  There have been such sweet moments of the kids adoring him and holding him and helping calm him when I can't get to him right away.  They sing to him and hold him (they can't hold him for very long, because he is such a big boy).  They too are loving the smiling and giggling responses they get from him. 

 

 

 

Tons of cuddles!