Connor Ryan Murphy

Connor Ryan Murphy

Due: October 5, 2013

Born: September 25, 2013

7 lbs 3 oz

20 1/2 inches 

Perfect in every way. 

Birth Story

This is a long and most likely boring story to anybody besides Ryan and I but I wanted to write it down for my own record and so I can remember this perfect day. It was the most incredible experience I have ever had. The best day of my life.

On Tuesday September 24th around 7 pm I started having contractions. The entire day before I was having contractions but they stopped when I went to bed so I decided I would make dinner and rest because I figured it was just braxton hicks and they would eventually go away. I kept contracting that night and went to bed around midnight thinking they would stop. I woke up at 2am with regular contractions so I got up and started timing them in the living room. They were getting closer together and more intense. I kept telling myself it was false labor and they would stop.  But they didn't. I was putting off waking Ryan up because my biggest fear in that moment was going to the hospital and being sent home for not being in labor. I called the hospital before waking Ryan up to see if they wanted me to come in. I finally woke Ryan up at 4:30 and told him we needed to go to the hospital. It was then that I burst into tears because I was scared they would just send us home. Ryan reassured me that it would be fine if they did and we should just get checked out. We took our time getting out the door because I didn't want to go. I made Ryan shower while I finished packing my bags. We finally left and checked into the hospital around 5:30am. 

I got checked in and kept telling the nurses that I was sorry if I wasn't in labor. They had me change and hooked me up to all the monitors. Sure enough I was having contractions but they didn't know if I was in labor yet. When they finally checked my cervix my heart sank. I was at a 3 and 90% effaced (exactly what I was at my doctors appointment the day before). They said because my contractions were so regular they would keep me for awhile and see what happens. They checked me an hour later and I was at a 4 and 100% effaced! It was labor and I was there to stay. 

The contractions were getting more intense so they gave me IV drugs which were great and I was able to sleep for awhile. By 10 doctor Klingler came in and broke my water to get things moving because I was still at a 4. That very next contraction after he broke my water was the REAL deal! They were so bad that I was crying and borderline screaming through each one. They got an epidural in me soon after. Best feeling ever! I was able to sleep again for a couple hours. Around noon the doctor came in to check me and shocked all of us when he said I was completely dilated and could start pushing. So in 2 hours time I went for a 4 to a 10. There was no way I could have done this without an epidural because watching the monitors my contractions were right on top of each other without giving my body any breaks. 

My two nurses, Megan and Lori, were amazing! I loved them and was so happy that they were my nurses for our entire hospital stay. Anyway they taught me how to push and we pushed for about an hour. Connor was still so high up that they decided to let me rest and have the contractions do all the work. After about an hour and a half of laboring down we started pushing again for almost another hour. The nurses asked if i wanted a mirror and I agreed. It would the most amazing thing to actually watch everything happen.

The doctor finally came in to prepare for delivery. I pushed a couple times with the doctor and he was finally out! I didn't think I would cry but it was so overwhelming especially when they put him in my arms. He was perfect. Even with his extreme cone head and giant bruise on the back of his head. Ryan cut the cord and they whisked him away to clean him up and check him out. He is a beautiful and healthy little boy and we are beyond blessed to have him.

Giving birth was the most incredible experience I have ever had. It really is amazing how the body works and automatically knows exactly what to do. We love our little boy more than anything and can't believe we are actually parents. He is such a good baby and hardly cries. We are so lucky to have him. We love you Connor. 

Maternity Photo Shoot

A couple weeks ago we had the opportunity to spend the weekend in Cody with Ryan's family. I asked Ryan's mother if she would do some maternity photos for us while we were there. Here are a few of my favorites. Sonya did an amazing job and we had so much fun being able to spend time with her while we did this photo shoot. Thanks again Sonya for doing these for me. They turned out great! 

I am 35 weeks pregnant in these pictures. 

The Button

I just need to point out that at 28 weeks I thought my belly button was going to pop out any day. I was wrong. Its still holding out strong! Doesn't want to pop and I don't think it will by the time baby is born. It still looks super weird and not normal but at least it doesn't look like I have a nipple coming out the middle of my belly. Hang in there button.. You can do this. 

Almost Done

Today I am 36 weeks and 3 days! I just got back from my doctors appointment and I am almost 3 cm dilated and 75% thinned out! The doctor said there's is a good chance I won't make it to my due date. Let's hope! 

The Truth About Pregnancy

Pregnancy was great! Until I hit my third trimester. I felt great and loved being pregnant but its not all fun and games anymore. Growing a human is hard. Here is a list of the ugly truths about being pregnant. 

Warning: no holding back in this post. The truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. And a little TMI.. 

• Sleeping is no longer enjoyable. I wake up about 5 times every night either needing to use the bathroom or waking up from heartburn. I am overwhelmingly uncomfortable and toss and turn all night. Sleep, ha I have forgotten what that is. 

• What is sex? Need I say more.. 

• Shaving = one big nightmare. 

• I can't breath. This boy is so high up in my ribs that they hurt constantly, making breathing a chore. 

• My gallbladder has been messed up because it is so squished. This also causes really terrible pain throughout the entire day and night. 

• Potty breaks every 30 minutes to an hour is not as fun as it sounds. Really, its not fun. 

• Swelling. Well at least my wedding ring actually fits now. 

• Heartburn. Like I mentioned before, I wake up every night with heartburn sometimes more than once in the night. I have downed 2 bottles of tums these last two months. Awesome. My favorite flavor is banana. 

• Cravings. A mean and awful joke. Cruel just cruel. 

• Stretch marks. No matter how much cocoa butter lotion you lather on, there is no way to prevent the ugly beasts. 

• Pressure. Why is a dinosaur stepping on my uterus from the inside? Its just not fair. 

• Pregnancy brain. Yeah... Forgot what I was going to say about that one. 

• I'm so tired. Really tired. Oh and did I mention I can't sleep? 

• Strangers. Stop talking to me! 

• Oh and my personal favorite.. Hemorrhoids. Did you know those actually happen? I didn't. Oh so fun. 

• Getting off the couch. Couch, quick sand pit.. Pretty much the same thing. 

• Mood swings. I'm a beast. 

• Getting dressed. Nothing fits. Wish I could wear sweats to work. 

I honestly was not expecting all these things to happen. I thought being pregnant would be all about the glow and that it would be easy going. Boy was I wrong! But really with all the discomfort and not so fun things about being pregnant set aside I have not forgotten how blessed I am to have my little boy with me and I truly am grateful that I get the chance to become a mom. Here are the things that make it all worth it. 

• Feeling him move. He does this thing where he sticks his butt all the way out on the left side of my belly. It makes my belly completely lopsided and makes me have to pee every time but its so funny to see. Who knew you could love someone's butt as much as I love his tiny bum. 

• Hiccups. He gets them everyday! His record his 5 different times in one day. He doesn't really kick much so I let people feel him hiccup when they ask to feel him move. He is more of a full body roller than a kicker. But since you can feel his hiccups that's what everyone gets to feel. 

• Hearing his heartbeat. My favorite part about going to my doc appointments. 

• Knowing I will get to hold him in 5 short weeks. I cant wait to meet this little one and become a mom. 

• When Ryan gets to feel him move. Ryan is the only one who has felt how crazy he gets in there. It's like he is having his own dance party in there, moving his entire body from one side of my belly to the other. He also likes to stick his feet out and I can feel his little foot from the outside. It's incredible. 

Yes, growing a human is hard but its also amazing. Every movement, every hiccup is a reminder that there is a plan for us on this earth and that this little angel has been sent to me for a very special reason. I can't wait to meet him and love him so much already. The final countdown has begun! 

Update: 26 Weeks

I don't have any pictures this time but I just wanted to share some highlights.

* I feel so much movement! This guy is the biggest kicker especially when I am trying to sleep. I love it though and I especially love seeing my belly move. Every time it makes me feel so blessed and I feel so much love for this little human growing inside of me. I can't wait to meet him.

* I am one week away from being in the third trimester! Yay! I can't believe how fast things are moving. Ryan and I were talking the other night and realized we only have 14 weeks left. How crazy is that? 

* Maybe not a highlight but something new that is happening. The child found my ribs... Seriously the most uncomfortable feeling ever but I still I love feeling him move even if it does hurt a little..

* Next week is my glucose test. The dreaded appointment that every pregnant woman warns you about. I am not too concerned about drinking it I am more concerned about the whooping cough shot they are going to give me at that appointment too. I don't mind getting my blood drawn but I hate shots.. Do what I gotta do.

* I think my belly button is going to pop out soon. I don't want that to happen! It will look like I have a nipple sticking out of my belly.. Too bad they don't make belly button bras. I would wear one! 

* Sleeping sucks. That is all. 

Well, we are just chugging along and will have a baby in no time. We are so excited and can't wait to meet out little guy.

HUGE

I just got home from the weirdest doctors appointment yet... First of all I signed a paper that stated that I HAVE to see all the doctors in the office before I see the same one again. How is it that I get the same doctor every time and it happens to be the one I dislike most!? At my appointment today the doc measured my belly at least three times. He then starts telling me how big I am. He said I was huge and big over and over. Thanks doc for the confidence boost. Apparently it can be a concern for a small person like me to measure bigger then what I'm supposed to so he gave me an ultrasound. He said something about the possibility of a cyst being on the uterus and that's why it would measure so big. Well he looked and looked and everything is normal. He says to me, "I guess we just have to accept the fact that your just big.." Really! Is it that big of a deal? I'm wondering if he even considered the fact that my due date has been swapped around every time I go in and that it is set two weeks later than it should be based on when I ovulated.. Maybe I am "huge" because I really am further along than they predicted.. Anyway I'm basically a huge prego lady.. The story doesn't end here it gets better. After confirming that I'm a giant the doc spent 5 minutes looking in between my sons legs. He asked me if I knew what it was and I told him a boy. He said, "Umm I'm not so sure..." He kept looking and said I think its a boy.. He then said (and I quote!), "No offensive but he is really small for a boy." Are you kidding me! So the doctor first tells me how big I am then he tells me my son has a tiny penis. Well thanks doc.. He is only 23 weeks give him a break for crying out loud. Needless to say I left my appointment feeling horrible because my belly is too big and my son might not be a son. Just what I needed to hear... 

On the bright side I got to see my baby because of the ultrasound. That made my day all in itself.