Christmas Photo Shoot

A little late but these are some of my favorites when Whitney was trying to get some pictures for our 2016 Christmas cards.

Baby Nixon's Birth

Friday the 13th, Nixon boy decided to arrive.  It was an early, rainy January morning. At 1am I began to have some bleeding.  I was concerned with this finding only to be told by the triage nurse over the phone that it is normal, it's called "bloody show."  I was nervous because I had never experienced this.  Around 4:30 am I began to have more bleeding and became concerned, then all of a sudden fluid began to come out.  I then started to have contractions.  I was so excited for this baby to come. 16 hours prior to this happening I had acupuncture in hopes to initiate labor.  I was told by the acupuncturist that things might move along in about 16 hours and if not he would like to see me in 2 days.  I was so happy when right at the 16 hour mark it appeared that I was in LABOR!  I then woke Dan up and told him it was time to head to the hospital.  While I was showering Dan called my mom who then told my dad to head over to watch the boys until my sister Michal could arrive to our house. It was still dark outside and drizzling.  The contractions were pretty intense, coming every 3 to 4 minutes.  It seemed like this boy was going to come hard and fast just like the other 2.  Right when we pulled into the Kaiser parking lot I heard a weird sound.  We then parked and when I got out I saw that the rear passenger tire had completely gone flat, it had popped somehow.  I was so happy that we made it to the hospital and wasn't stuck on the side of the road somewhere in the dark and rain.  Once we arrived to labor and delivery I was a little annoyed with how slow the staff was moving, didn't they know they needed to move a little faster- I was in A LOT of pain!!!  They then had me go into a triage room since there were no labor rooms available.  By this time it was about 5:30.  I think I waited about 45 minutes to be seen by the midwife to determine if I could be admitted for delivery. By the time she came in my contractions were so strong, 2 minutes apart.  When she checked me I had never felt the pain she induced, it felt like her hand was up in my chest!!!  She said I was only dilated to a 1 and that my water hadn't broke.  We later found out that my water did indeed brake since there was absolutely no fluid when Nixon was born.  The midwife said she would admit me since my contractions were so strong and close together along with my history of quick deliveries. She ordered 10 of morphine, an IV, and abx.  The nurse stuck me twice before she was able to get an 18 gauge in my arm after fishing for awhile.  The nurse for some reason never gave me the morphine, only the antibiotic.  The pain from the abx infusing was about as worse as the pain from the contractions.  My entire right arm felt like it was on fire and spasming, the nurse then slowed it down which helped but then sped it up again causing the pain to return, ugh.  I remember my mom telling the nurse that I was in a lot of pain and needed a room.  I couldn't get an epidural until I was in an actual labor room.  After 2 hours a room was finally ready and cleaned for me, the nurse actually asked me if I wanted to walk to the room.  When I stood up I had a contraction, I couldn't help but cry from the pain.  The nurse then got me a wheelchair and brought me to my room allowing me to use the restroom before I got into bed.  Once I got into bed it was change of shift and I got to meet my L&D nurse, Liz.  Liz was amazing, you could tell she knew what she was doing and did so awesome making sure I was comfortable.  Luckily for me the anesthesiologist came right away and it was smooth sailing after that!  The doctor gave me a spinal which worked right away and I remember when he started it he said "you might feel something weird" and right when he said "weird" it felt like a bolt of electricity went down my right leg.  The anesthesiologist said that it's rare that someone actually feels something "weird", I guess I am the lucky select few!!!  He was so funny, my mom told him I was a nurse so he was excited he didn't have to "dummy" his lingo.  For some reason most of the medication went to my right side, my right leg was completely dead. I had to keep changing sides to try to evenly distribute the medication  because I did feel some pain at times on the left side.  In the picture with my foot there is a big red ball between my legs which the nurse says helps to keep things "open".  After I got the epidural and was finally comfortable the nurse actually checked me and said I was dilated at a 5.  Since I was once again GBS positive I had to wait 4 hours after getting the antibiotic to deliver.  At 10:30 a bunch of the staff came into my room not saying anything but checking the monitor and me.  I later found out that Nixon's heart had dropped and once I changed position he was ok.  I hadn't been checked since I first came to the room and the midwife said I was dilated at a 10 (who knows how long I had been at a 10) and could push if I wanted but would have to stay in the hospital for 48 hours since it hadn't been 4 hours since I received the antibiotic.   Since Nixon was ok I could wait 30 minutes and then would only have to stay for 24 hours.  Well duh that is a no brainer, I don't want to stay in the hospital any longer than I have to.  So at 11am they started to set up for delivery.  They then had me start pushing which is always fun, I totally forget how to do it- always afraid I am going to poop everywhere (which I shouldn't have worried about since about a hour prior I thought I was draining more liquid only to find out it was but it was also some poop per Whitney!).  After about 10 minutes I got to meet my beautiful boy Nixon, he was born at 1125!  He came out so clean, he seriously had no blood or vernix on him.  They laid his warm wet body on my chest and we got to do skin to skin for an entire hour.  He was absolutely beautiful, full lips, cute eyes, and big chubby cheeks.  The staff all thought he would be 10 lbs but he was 8 pounds 12 ounces, my biggest boy yet.  I am so grateful that my mom was there for this beautiful experience and for Whitney capturing it with pictures.  Also so very grateful for Dan helping through out the entire process, lifting my big dead leg when moving side to side, rubbing my neck and playing with my hair, and holding my hand during the pushing.  I am so thankful for this beautiful healthy boy.  Dan and I had a hard time agreeing on a name.  Dan wanted Ryker, Parker, Austin, or Nixon.  I wanted Cole, Gray, Weston, or my all time favorite Cameron.  Once we finally met this baby boy we both knew right away he was a Nixon Michael Brashear.  He is a strong, healthy boy.  So glad God has entrusted us with another one of his beautiful children.  So very thankful that I get to be a mother to another great boy.  I hope that I can teach them well, to all be great men.