After much demand and curiosity here are the details of Ryland’s Birth.

Ryland was due on August 16th, but I knew that our wonderful Dr. was wrong.  According to my confident calculations, Ryland was due on August 4th. As most pregnant women are at the end of pregnancy, I was ready to hold my child in my arms. Sooooo, Ryan and I spent some time back tracking, and presented Dr. Thornton with some dates that proved to him that my calculations were more than likely correct.  Having convinced him, he scheduled an inducement date for July 30/31st. He did this because of the one scare we had with Ryland’s heart rate dropping during my almost constant Braxton Hicks Contractions.  We were on twice a week fetal heart rate monitoring to make sure this wasn’t continuing to happen, and it didn’t happen again.

Ryan and I prepared our family to come to the hospital for Ryland’s birth on Monday July 31st for Ryland’s Birthday, but God had other plans…

On Tuesday evening (7/18) I think my water started to leak. Wednesday I began to question myself on that, but we had a Doctors Appointment the next morning so I thought I would just have the Dr. test for amniotic fluid then. Well when we did the test (7/20) it was positive for amniotic fluid.  Dr. Thornton told us we had one hour (12:00 pm) to be checked in to Labor and Delivery.

We rushed home to grab Ryan’s phone charger (everything else had been packed in the Endeavor for 3 months—Yes, were organizational freaks), ate lunch, called family, and checked in to L&D @ 1:15. They began giving me Pitocin to start my Labor immediately. At about 6:00 they checked me, and I was still at the “2″ I had started at.  They checked me again about 10:00 pm and found the same thing, but they stopped the Pitocin because I was having increasing contractions on my own.  I got my Epidural at about 11:00 pm (I loved the drugs!).

Ryan and I were left on our own (as much as you can be with nurses coming in every hour for this and that) to get some rest and just be us for a little while. — My husband was absolutely amazing through this whole process, and continues to be.  I am extremely blessed!—  The nurses came back in to start me back on the Pitocin at 5:00 am (7/21), because I was still at a “2″ despite the increasing contractions. When the Pit Drip started Ryland’s heart rate immediately dropped so they put me on oxygen and took me of the drip.  It took about three minutes to get Ryland’s heart rate back to normal, but it felt like forever.  The nurses consulted with Dr. Thornton and he decided that for the safety of Ryland we needed to do a C-Section.  I was placed behind another woman who had a scheduled C-Section, but they immediately began prepping Ryan and I for the delivery.  The next hour was very exciting and nerve racking.  I had always thought that I would end up having my children C-Section, because my mother had the same issues. I really didn’t mind the thought of having Ryland C-Section.  They took me into the OR and prepped me and opened me up while Ryan got dressed.  Ryan came in, and in a matter of moments we heard the incredible sounds of our son’s first cries.  It was the most beautiful music I have ever heard.  Ryland went with his Daddy to get checked out.  Ryan gave me a few updates, but in his amazement was barely able to speak (something that had never happened to my husband before). I really only think he told me that he was pink.  I also remember him saying “Hey buddy, I love you.” in the most sweet Daddy voice ever. At this point I still had not seen my son because of the screen they had put up.  Finally, Ryan brought him over to me. He was so handsome! When Ryan placed him in my arms I said “Ryland, I love you” and as soon as I said that his left eye popped open and my heart melted.  He knew me. He was mine, and I determined, at that moment, that he would always know that he is loved, safe, and free to become the man God desires him to be.

And the Adventure Began!
Ryland was born Friday, July 21, 2006, at 10:05 am.

He was 6 pounds 12 ounces and 19 inches long.