How to Cook the Perfect Turkey

While I have been known to post a recipe or two, this isn't a fowl recipe at all.  In fact, this is the story of how Mr. Carter T. came to be.  For those who want to hear his birth story (I promise I won't give any gory details) read on dear reader, read on.

Warning: as a first time parent, I have a ton of pictures--so I'm just going to sprinkle them throughout the post in no particular order.  They may not fit with the paragraph of text they're next to, but I just have to show them off!!

All along I'd been planning/wrapping my head around the idea of going over due, so I wouldn't be disappointed if it happened.  In fact, at my last appointment my Dr. ever-so-kindly mentioned that only 25% of women go early, and since this was my first not to get my hopes up.  Showed him!  But really, deep down, I was secretly hoping that he'd come on black Friday so that Claudy could be home for the long weekend and not worry about missing school or work.  My wish came true in several ways!  It was just another testament to me that the Lord truly hears our hopes and wishes and is aware of our needs. Let's hope that this also means Carter will be a very obedient child :)

I worked my last day at the office and came home to get started on my Thanksgiving deliverables.  I felt silly telling everyone goodbye, so I just said "See you on Monday" since I planned on going back into work if he hadn't come.  Guess I should have said see you in 12 weeks.  I felt great all day.  When I got home I felt just a little off.  Nothing major or in pain, just off.  As you saw in my last post--I pushed through and made my pies and sweet potatoes.  I didn't feel well, so I thought I'd get up early and do the dishes before we went to my parents for the holiday.  Little did I know the dishes would have to wait.

We went to bed and all seemed normal.  I woke up at 3 a.m. to go to the bathroom.  Nothing new there.  But wait, I was totally wet--and I had a full bladder.  My mind started spinning.  However, there was no gush, no puddle like everyone describes.  I just sat there and worried and worried. I finally woke Claudy up.  He was all--"Let's go. Let's go to the hospital," and jumped up.  But, I wasn't so sure.  I was so worried that it hadn't really broke and I'd be turned away.  I told Claudy we should give it more time and to go back to bed.  I tried to lay down, but just laid there and cried.  I started thinking of all of the scary things about labor and just couldn't calm down.  I finally went and googled "water breaking" and it did say sometimes it can just come a little at a time.

I called the hospital and they said to come in to make sure.  I looked horrible, so I curled my hair and ate breakfast--just in case I was admitted so I wouldn't be so hungry or nasty looking for photos (which we really didn't take much of me anyways--oh, well!).  We finally went in around 5 a.m.  They did a test to see if there was amniotic fluid and couldn't find any.  I was ticked. It took from 5 a.m.-8 a.m. to figure that out.  Because it was a holiday they were slow and short staffed.  I was SURE I hadn't peed my pants and was sure it was amniotic fluid.  Looking back I think it had leaked a little, but because I waited so long to go in it had dried.  Upset and tired we drove back home.  Anti-climatic! I asked my mom if we could push Thanksgiving dinner back from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. since I would need to go home and sleep (ha--we never even made it!).  I was so embarrassed.  Exactly what I HADN'T wanted to happen.

Claudy decided to go play basketball and I went right back to bed.  I had a feeling he should come home and sleep, but he said he was already awake and wanted to play (he sure wished he had slept later that day!).  I was out!  I slept well until Claudy got home around 10:30 a.m.  My alarm was set for 11 to put the rolls out to rise and just like on the dot, my alarm went off and all of the sudden my water broke just a minute later.  There was NO DENYING that.  Holy cow!  I yelled for Claudy and told him I didn't know how to get up--afraid I'd get it all over. Poor guy--he had just laid down!  I am SO GRATEFUL that he was home though.  One of my fears was that he would be at work--which is a 45 minute commute.  I would have hated to drive myself or be alone at this time.  I waddled to the bathroom and I called the hospital back.  They said get in right away, since you only have 24 hours past your water breaking to have the baby because of the risk of infection.  I yelled for Claudy to make me a pb&j (wanted a little something on my stomach before they enforced the ice chips only rule).  Thankfully we were still all packed from a few hours ago.  We got in the car and drove off.  It was a lot less dramatic the second time around and felt very surreal.  I wasn't having any contractions and felt odd to just mozy into the hospital.  I had always pictured me doubled over in pain and huffing and puffing.

They checked me and sure enough--it had broke (told them!).  They got the IV started (not fun) and they put me on pictocin because I was only at a 3 and wasn't contracting and they wanted to get him started.  I felt so great.  I still can't believe it.  I had always said I would get the epidural ASAP.  They even offered it to me when they started the pictocin, but since I wasn't having contractions I said I'd wait.  I waited about an hour and a half just because I wanted to experience it.  Once they got bad I had had enough.  The anesthesiologist was at home due to the holiday so I had to wait for him to drive in.  Getting the epidural was no joke!  It really burned when he put it in, but the relief was great.  Claudy said it was all he could do to not make a noise or show in his face how grossed out he was during the epidural.  He said the tools he was using and how big the instruments were was freaking him out.  But I had warned him not to, because if he showed it was scary it would set me off. 

While the relief was nice, I did however get really bad shakes due to the epidural.  That was pretty annoying--especially when I was trying to text people! :)  It also made me really, really nauseous.  I felt like I was going to loose my ice chips at any second.  I also get really nauseous if I don't eat--so it was a double wammy.  I kept asking if I could have just one cracker or something to ease the hunger but they would not let up :( I also felt really restless.  It was the oddest feeling--I wanted to move around, but couldn't.  It kinda drove me batty.  I kept asking Claudy if he could bend my legs because it felt like they needed to be, and he would say they already were.  I didn't like feeling like a big lump that couldn't move myself--but I'm sure it was better than the contractions because shortly after I got it, the contractions were off the chart and were very frequent.

After an hour of watching Cake Boss and relaxing I started feeling the contractions again.  I had heard that for some women it doesn't work fully, so I thought that was just my luck.  But then, it started getting worse and worse.  I finally called for the nurse, who got the anesthesiologist.  They realized my pump wasn't working.  Thanks a lot!  Once the medicine was able to continue I felt great. It reminded me that I was glad I had decided to get the epidural!

I could tell the nurse wanted to take it easy due to the holiday (I was the only one in labor in the hospital) and because I was a first timer that there was no need to check me often.  She said she'd be back in two hours and I just kept feeling a lot of pressure. But, of course, you could tell she didn't believe me.

When she came into check me I was afraid I'd only be at a 4 or a 5.  She was clearly shocked when she said I was 100% effaced and at a 9.  She said she'd hurry and call the Dr. (since he was at his Thanksgiving dinner).

She said she usually starts pushing with people while the Dr. comes, but told me not to push because he was so low that she was afraid he would come before the Dr. could get there.  The pressure was really strong, but I tried to just hang tight.  Plus, I was terrified to push, so I was kinda relieved to put it off for as long as possible.

Once the Dr. was there and I was in the stirrups he said he could already see him.  He said my body did almost all of the work and that this would be easy.  I prayed he was right and not just saying that to motivate me.  I kept wanting to shut my legs and be like--I'm not ready!  I was scared of pushing and scared that as soon as this baby came out I'd be a MOM!!  But Claudy held my hand and I figured, well--let's do this!  It was funny because I guess Claudy was holding his breath with me.  The Dr. looked up and was all "Only one of you needs to hold your breath."  I didn't even look at Claudy--I feel bad but I was just so focused.  It was funny to hear everyone cheering me on and be like "just a little bit more--you can do this!"


It's so crazy--like everyone is just so focused, and because the Dr. could see him he kept telling me--"he's almost here!"  It only took fifteen minutes and about five contractions of pushing that he came.  I dont' know how women push longer than that.  It is some serious work!  I couldn't believe how fast it was over with and how painless the whole thing was.  I was honestly planning on like 48 hours of miserable birthing.  Instead I checked in at noon, feeling great and had him by 7:32 p.m.  Couldn't believe my luck.  I can definitely do that again.  I had it built up to be soo much worse in my head.  Granted, I realize some women do not have it that easy and it is really hard work.  I am so grateful my experience was the way it was.

I was terrified because I pictured he'd cry right away.  So when the Dr. said he was out and it was quiet I was like "Why isn't he crying??" worried that he couldn't breathe.  Of course, just a second later he started exercising those large lungs of his!  They set him on my chest and I just starred.  I just couldn't believe I was finally meeting him.  I couldn't speak;  I just sat there and cried.  It was so surreal.  Then they took him a few feet away to clean him up.  I let the nurse hand him to Claudy first and it was just crazy to see Claudy in that instant become a father.  Claudy holding OUR baby.  No words.


Then came a flurry of pictures, calling family members (I feel bad--I had told my parents not to come yet, thinking I'd be pushing for a long time) and just starring at this little guy.  He was so pale, more pale than I had planned on and had the most beautiful head of dark, straight hair.  He wanted his hands up by his face from the moment he came out.  He kept just moving his fingers, feeling his face, or feeling whoever was holding him.  He seemed so alert and just drank in all of his surroundings.

While I missed out on the traditional Thanksgiving meal, this little turkey was totally worth it.  He had no problems, no jaundice and is perfect in every way.  I guess I cooked a good turkey!  So glad I got to meet him five days early.  When it was his due date, I kept thinking--how could I have not have had him by now?  I am so grateful for my beautiful little boy and the joy and great experience this has been so far.  I could just stare at him all day.  I find myself laughing at all of the little faces and cute things he does.  I was so worried I would not like motherhood or be depressed, but I have been blessed to be so content and happy.  I find I could care less what is going on outside the walls of my little apartment because I'm so content with my two boys.  I love my C & C.  Carter and Claudy are my world and I am so blessed.  Truly, this Thanksgiving gave me something to be very grateful for.

And PS--I did not get a piece of my chocolate pecan pie before going into labor.  Did I have Claudy run home to get it for me once Carter was out?  Yes I did.  Did I eat the entire thing?  Yes I did.  Was it good motivation to push hard and get labor over with?  Yes, but only second to seeing my handsome little devil.