Okay. Here it is. the long awaited story. I didn't know that life with two would be so time consuming or
complicated. I also didn't know that you could love two children equally with all your heart. I am sorry to be away from the boards but life is a big
adjustment right now. Going from 1 to 2 is like going from 0 to 10. I am so thankful that my #2 boy is such an awesome baby. 
Contractions started around 3pm on January 16th. I was sweeping my floor. My mucus plug and amniotic sac were still in tact. No previous signs of labour. My
MIL called and commented on how out of breathe I was....I told her I was sweeping the floor and ran to get the phone. 
Really, I was having a contraction
but didn't want anyone to know just yet. I got William ready and headed down to the arena to watch Dale play hockey. I couldn't sit, stand, or find a
comfortable spot. I wasn't in pain but I was anxious, like I needed to move, sway, and daydream. I couldn't focus for the life of me. I had NO patience
for William. Poor little guy. I was a mean Mommy for an hour or two. After hockey I went to my Mom's and fed William hotdogs and cheesies. A supper of
champions. His dad was supposed to meet me at my Mom's for 7pm and then called to say he would be 3 hours late. I had to bite my tongue hard not to
scream bloody murder. Perfect timing. He always has perfect timing. But I got through and I told no-one that I knew things were moving right along (well accept
you guys 
). My Mom got home and helped me with William...and by 7 pm I told my Mom that we were going to have a baby this weekend. She was shocked but happy,
as the weekend makes perfect sense for labouring since no-one had to work . I called dale and told him to be on stand by and not to go to far with the
guys. He did not think I was serious at all. I put William to bed at my Mom's and Blair showed up at 10 pm. I told him that I was in labour and thankful
that he was here for William. He was really supportive and genuine. We have come a long way in one year. I am so thankful for that.
So I call Dale and tell him that Mom and I are going back to my house to get in our jammies and wait this out. He showed up about 2 hours later. He had had a
little too much fun with the guys. When I got into bed he came in and said he would sleep on the couch so I could sprawl out in bed. He also said that no
matter what happens that he wanted me to know that he loves me and that's what's important. It was so reassuring, even from a guy under the influence.
I slept on and off all night, timing the contractions which had become uncomfortable but not painful. they remained at 5-7 minutes apart all night. I got up at
8am the next morning. Dale came in and wondered why there was no baby yet. Then he took my donut order. I remember from my labour with William I was mad
because I forgot to eat on the way to the hospital and I was starving by days end...so i was sure to get my breakie this time around.
I had a shower, shaved, and got ready. I called the hospital and Telehealth hotline and they told me that contractions all night means real labour and that I
should go to be checked out. So at noon my Mom and cousin and I headed to the hospital fully expecting to be released to labour at home. Dale decided to stay
home until it really was "time" because he knew I had a very supportive cast and crew with me. I was checked out at 1:30pm and to my surprise I was
already 3-4 centimetres dialated. I was a keeper. My cousin called Dale and told him to bring the bags in. the nurses kept laughing at me because my stomache
was so huge. It was a big ball in front of me. The monitors would stay in place. My belly would flop to the side when I was on my back.
The nurse commented that this baby was going to be big and asked if I knew how big. I guessed at 9 pounds...and she said more like 10. I said "If this
baby is 10 pounds you will find me in post-op recovery because it is not going to come out of there" . Famous last words....
So I walked the halls and laboured for hours. I ran into the doctor on call, Dr. Chanda, a couple of times in the hallway and she said that I didn't look
like I was really in labour...oh but I was and the pain was real. Then one time she said she was glad she was looking at me from the front because from the
side I looked really scary (because my belly was so huge). Imagine that coming from your doctor! But i forgave her because I really liked her and was happy
that she was on call to deliver me that day. (The next day there was a man doctor who wore rubber boots! )
At about 6pm they transfered me to a labour suite. then my freinds and family started arriving. I was at 5 cm dialated. My waters were still in tact. I was
having some pretty painful contractions but I rocked and swayed my way through them. Thank goodness for beds that move up and down. That was the only
comfortable position, standing and leaning over the bed and bending my knees with every contraction. I managed to facebook and text my way throughout my
labour, putting my phone down for the very intense constractions. the doctor was measuring my pain by how quickly I was or was not able to text and when I had
to put my phone down. My nurse Heather was awesome too. She laughed with my guests and answered all my questions.
So at 730 I decided to get my epidural since I was in a lot of pain, knew that the baby was going to be big and because I was still only at 5 centimetres even
after standing that whole time. Maybe my body needed to be able to relax. I also wanted them to break my water, which I woudln't let them do until I had an
epidural and was comfortable. They broke my water at 745 and it was like a tsunami. A todal wave of water gushed out of me and the doctor jucmped off the bed
pretty quick. It was down to my ankles and all over the floor. I am SOOO gald that didn't break in Wal-Mart or something. I would have died of
embarrasment. Poor Dale is probably scarred for life seeing that. But, I have to say that was so much relief. All of that water coming out released so much
pressure from my very heavy belly.
We talked and joked and played the rotissere chicken game turning me over every 30 minutes until the nurse checked me again at 9:30pm. I was 7 centimetres and
so happy to hear that. I could still feel most of my contractions, not in full force but I still had to breathe through them. I asked her to empty my bladder
because I felt "full". That was a relief when she did. I thought they put catheders in with epidurals. Must have been part of the cutbacks.
At 11 pm I felt the intense pain in my lower back and tailbone. I asked the nurse to check me. I was fully dialated and baby was ready to go. BUT, the doctor
was out doind a c-section and wouldn't be back until 12am. I was miffed. I wanted and needed to get this show on the road. They told me not to push. Then
I started with the teeth chattering and the shakes and the throwing up in the little kidney-shaped bed pan. Like just let the lady push! So my Mom pressed on
the spot that hurt in my back and I pushed back. Then the doctor showed up at 11:30 and said that we are ready to get this show on the road. Music to my ears.
I started pushing at 11:34pm. My Mom and my cousin were holding my legs. Dale was at my head. Everytime I pushed they pushed with me. Except they were pushing
my legs together in the process and I had to ask them not to close them but to open them...and where were they 9 months ago ...sorry..if you can't
laugh at yourself than who can?
by 12:45 I was so tired and sore and miserable. i turned into one of those ladies on tha baby story who whine and cry and say they can't do this. .
Everything I did NOT want to do. I had a moment. I puked in the kidney-bean again, saw some stars floating around my head from lack of oxygen and looked at
Dale. I asked the doctor if she honestly thought that this baby was going to come out of there. She said she wasn't ready to make that call yet. I asked if
there was anything she could do to help me. She said I was on my own. I am SOOOO thankful for her approach to labour. I really didn't want any intervention
other than an epidural. No pitocin, no other drugs, no vacuum. Just me and my baby getting through this together. Then I looked at the clock. 1am. I told
myself that this baby was going to be born the way that I wanted and that I needed to get it together. I remember the doctor saying that the baby was face up
looking to the right and that I was going to have to push harder because the baby wasn't doing his/her part because he/she was in the wrong position. then
I remember Dale very clearly saying "You can do this. Push. That was a good one Brandi." Then I felt the baby's head moving down. With every push
I could feel the baby moving more and more. I pushed and pushed with barely any breathe left in me because I was so close. Then I felt it. I felt him turning
inside of me. He turned 180 degrees to the right position and I heard my doctor holler with delight. "There you go Brandi, the baby turned all by
himself." Minutes later....he came out without complication at 1:07 am on January 18th 2009.
The entire room waited was squealing with delight and waited for dale to say "It's a Boy!" But the pause to too unbearable so I looked down and
saw all the good parts of him. Dale was in utter shock. He really thought it was a girl. Then all I heard was "Look how big he is. I can't believe how
big he is!". Dale cut his cord and set him free. They put him on my chest and I looked at him and saw nothing but William. I could not believe the
resemblance. I told him I loved him and asked him to cry. Then they took him over to the warmer and got him all wiped up. I can't even begin to explain the
relief that you feel when your child comes out of you. Relief of pressure. Relief of pain. Relief of anxiety and fear. Relief that your body has just performed
one of the natural and most common miracles in the world. Relief.
The doctor told me that I might need a few stitches. I said that I figured that and we laughed.
Elijah Dante Clayton Hill weighed 10 pounds 3.1 ounces. All I heard was an echo of "10 pounds. Oh my god, he weighs 10 pounds. I can't believe it. 10
pounds!" The biggest baby in my family in 4 generations was 9 pounds 8 ounces and that was my Uncle Joe, my grandmother's last child. Today he is 46.
I now hold the family record for birthing the largest baby. Yay me.
When they measured him he was longer than the paper measuring tape that they used. The nurse said that they will say 23 inches because that's as long as it
goes and he has a cone head so it will all even out in the end.
Elijah's apgar scores were 7 and 7. He was a bit pale and quiet. No really big screaming cry after birtth to pink him up. But now that i know him I realize
that is his personality. he's mellow and quiet and not too often do we hear a screaming cry.
Elijah is a name that Dale and I loved equally. He mentioned it, I agreed. We agreed that Elijah Harper was an influential man in First Nations history so that
would seem to be a solid name for a boy. Dante was my choice. Dale and I fought like cats and dogs over a 10 pound "sugar baby" back when we dated in
high school and took a parenting class together. He wanted Tyler back then and I fought for Dante. we were 15 and 18 years old . Fast forward 15 years and
we just gave birth to our own little sugar baby (which the nurses were calling him because of his size) so i thought it was appropriate and would create a
story for his life. Clayton is Dale's Dad's name.
Elijah had to have his blood sugar tested every 3 hours for the first 18 hours because he was so big. they threatened formula if he failed a testing. I told
them that i would keep him attached to me breast if it meant avoiding formula. With one exception, he past all of his testing. He also passed his hearing test.
Elijah and I are bonding so nicely. It was hard for me to bond with him as a person in utero because I didn't know who he was. I mean i loved him and
wanted him but I wanted to know who he was and who I would be a mother to. Now that i now he is a boy, a big healthy boy, I am delighted. There isn't the
least bit of me that feels slighted that he isn't a girl. I cannot imagine life without my boys.
Well if you made it this far. Thank you. I wrote this all out so that I could keep it for me too. we tend to forget what it was like when we birthed our
children and I want my boys to know just how pleased I was with each experience.
Today, Elijah weighed 10lbs 8 ozs at 16 days old. He was 9 lbs 9 ozs when he was discharged on the 19th of January. He has gained a pound in two weeks!
Thankfully the nursing is sooo much easier this time around. I love that time with him. He poops at every diaper change and only cries when he is hungry or
needs a burp. He is quite the little sleeper. William and Sadie just adore him. William tells him he loves him 100 times a day. He has to tell everyone about
his baby Elijah and how he eats from Mommy's booby.
Here are a few pictures for you to enjoy. Thanks so much for sharing this journey with me...
