Introducing Caiden August Heidorn

*** BEWARE: there will be a lot of pictures. A ton of pictures. But what do you expect from a first time mommy that also happens to be a photographer? After things died down the day that Caiden was born I sat at the laptop in my hospital room and wrote out his birth story so that I wouldn't forget the details, so here it is!

I was scheduled to go to Mountain View Hospital at 8:00pm on the 14^th of March. We had decided to use cervidil for the initial induction. I entered the hospital dilated to a 3 and after 12 long hours after the cervidil was inserted I was a little more than discouraged with my body because I had only dilated to a 3.5. So around 10:30am the nurse ran an IV line of patocin and around 11:00 Dr. Baker came in and broke my water. The contractions got very heavy and painful. I had been planning on trying to do this naturally and laboring in the water, but for those who have had babies before you’ll understand, I dilated to a 9 in that hour, that’s how heavy and painful my contractions were, and there was only 30 seconds of relief between each contraction. I dilated 5.5cm in 1 hour! I asked Miles a few times to switch positions with me because I didn’t think I could handle it anymore. At around noon I asked for the epidural. It took him 20 minutes to get there. My IV line stopped working just as the anesthesiologist was about to administer the epidural so they had to find a new vein and run a new IV which took them another 10 minutes. He had a really hard time finding a break in my spine, it took him another few minutes; meanwhile I was still having really hard and long (about a minute and a half) contractions with 30 seconds to rest in between. I couldn’t even feel him wiggling that big ole needle around in my back because I was battling each contraction, trying to keep myself relaxed. At around 1:00 they came back in and checked me, I was dilated to a 10. I pushed twice and the nurse decided that he wasn’t ready and had me wait another hour to an hour and a half before pushing again. I was really happy to have the epidural at this point because I was looking at my contraction monitor line and it looked like the Grand Tetons, there were no moments of rest between contractions. I could still feel the urges to push with each contraction. Once Dr. Baker got there I pushed for about 35-40 minutes. Caiden August Heidorn was born at 2:02pm on March 15, 2011. He was 8lbs 1oz and 21.5in long. He’s a big boy with a full head of dark brown hair! I can’t even begin to explain how it felt to have my beautiful, perfect baby boy placed in my arms. It was the closest I have ever felt to heaven. It was surreal and so deeply spiritual. My mom and sister, Nikki, were able to join Miles and I in the delivery room. I loved being able to share that moment with them.

He was quite the acrobat in the womb. I could feel him tumbling around, but he had tied a perfect knot in the umbilical cord, which could have been fatal by cutting off his air supply. Luckily I was very active (swimming, running when I could, and towards the end walking on the track and walking stairs) and I ate pretty healthy, so the cord was very healthy! Dr. Baker kept marveling over how healthy and thick the cord was and the perfect knot.

I only had to have 2 stitches because my doctor was amazing! He would tell me when to push hard, when to push softly, and when to allow the contractions to move Caiden out and stretch me out naturally. The epidural wore off quickly and I was able to get up and move around within an hour and take a bath while Miles went to give Caiden his first bath! When they came back from the nursery I was amazed at how much Caiden already looks like Miles! Looking at my sweet baby swells my heart with so much love, and somehow he has made me love Miles even more. I didn’t think that was possible. Miles is an amazing daddy! He’s happily changed every diaper, burps him when he’s done eating, and wants to hold him close all the time. I love watching them together and seeing Miles kiss Caiden’s head when he falls asleep. He was so anxious to get Caiden from the nursery this morning. He said he couldn’t sleep any longer, that he missed Caiden too much and that it was like Christmas morning.

Sitting and typing this while he’s sleeping in the bassinet next to me I miss him. He is so perfect and beautiful. It’s amazing that I could love someone so much in a single second. From the first hello, from the first moment he was placed in my arms and looked into my eyes he had my heart.

Left: us outside the house going to the hospital. Right: us in front of the hospital doors.

 Mountain View Hospital in Idaho Falls where I delivered.

The first time they placed Caiden in my arms.

He was so alert from the moment he was born, he kept gazing up in to my eyes. It was so amazing!

 My sister Nikki and my mom holding Caiden in the hospital. I'm so happy they were both in the room to witness Caiden's birth. 

 This was Miles first time changing a diaper. He is a pro! In Caiden's 10 days of life I have literally changed maybe 5 diapers, and that's because Miles was in class. He always volunteers.

Left: Caiden is so expressive with his hands and loves to have them right up by his face! Right: this what he wore home from the hospital. He was all bundled up to face the Idaho cold! 

39 weeks and 3 days...

Today we went to our very last doctors appointment! Ahh it feels good to say that! I'm dilated to a 3 now, progress is exciting! The doctor still thinks I'll go in to labor before Sunday, in fact he told me he was surprised I even made it to our appointment today. But the most exciting news is that if baby boy doesn't come by Monday I'll be heading to the hospital at 8pm to be induced. Because my cervix is so "favorable" and I was pretty set on not using petocin, the doctor suggested we try misoprostal, also known as cytotek. It's a more natural way of inducing labor and isn't quite as painful as petocin. I'm just excited to know that the end is near! At the very longest we will have our baby boy in our arms on Tuesday!

(I'm not including my face in this picture because I'm currently retaining a lot of water and I honestly look horrible. But here's the mountain at 39.5 weeks.)

In other news, Nixon got his hairs cut and washed today in anticipation of the arrival of baby boy. He smells like a cinnamon stick and his nails are no longer eagle talons. Also, on our way home from the doctors I felt my left ear and to my dismay realized that my earring had fallen out. They're the nice diamond earrings that Miles gave me for our one year anniversary. I was devastated, and slightly confused because they're the kind that the back screws in to the front, making it nearly impossible for them to just fall out. So the whole way home from Idaho Falls I was praying that I would find the earring. We walked in the house, I went to go hang up my coat, looked down and there was my earring! Prayers are answered! It was a complete miracle. Heavenly Father loves us enough to listen to and answer all of our prayers! That's a blessing.

Family Update

I haven't had a whole lot to blog about recently because I basically sit home all day waiting for any sign that this baby boy is going to be making his way to our home. Our hospital bags are all packed, we have almost everything we need, and the car seat is already safe and secure in the back seat of the car. I can't wait to place him in it for the first time! I was watching a video on Baby Center today about what they do while the baby is in the nursery (Mountain View does it in your room if you prefer, but after watching all the pricks the baby gets, I think I'll have him go to the nursery and I'll take a shower!) and I just started weeping. It wasn't a full on cry, it was a weep, because I just wanted that to be my baby, I just want to hold him.
This weekend we celebrated our last weekend as just a couple. We got all dolled up and went to Idaho Falls for dinner Friday night. We ate at the Snakebite, which was good but the portions were not worth the price and our waiter was totally tweeking out. We probably won't be going back again. He yelled at Miles, it was awkward. Saturday Miles had a basketball game, so I went to that then we went to lunch with my friend and old roommate, Jenica. It was so nice seeing her! That night we went to Sammy's to listen to Jenica's friend's band play. Caiden was dancing like crazy! Sunday we had Stake Conference, then came home and made cookies and watched movies together all day. It was a nice and relaxing weekend to celebrate our last together as a couple. Here's a picture of us before going to dinner Friday. I wanted to document our last weekend alone. Even if Caiden doesn't come this weekend my mom comes on Friday, so it was definitely our last. It's a bittersweet feeling. Please don't mind my awfully chubby face. It's embarrassing.

Here's the latest with our family:

Miles: He's currently the CEO of his IBC company, Shukrani Beads. I did a blog post about them earlier. They now have an etsy site if you want to purchase things and don't live in Rexburg. Check it out here. His classes are keeping him pretty busy, but he really likes them. He's also playing competitive basketball on campus this semester. He has practice every Tuesday and Thursday and games every Friday or Saturday, it's been a lot of fun watching him play! He's in a little competition with one of his teammates to see who can lose the most weight during the season. They weigh in every Tuesday after practice, loser buys winner a Jamba Juice. Miles has won 2 of the 3 times! Miles has been applying like crazy for internships, and we're starting to see the fruits of his labors! He's been offered 3 or 4 internships in CT and NY, we're still waiting to hear from his top pick, Priceline, before he gives a definitive answer to any of the other companies. But we will DEFINITELY be moving to Connecticut this summer! YAY! So anyone that wants to take a trip to see the east coast come this summer! Miles is really excited to be a daddy, he talks to Caiden every night and rubs my belly, back and feet daily! He's a good husband!
Chelsey: I don't have a whole lot going on except for the ever growing belly and the anticipation of having this baby! I'm working to open my own little etsy shop of graphic prints, invitations, and photo prints. It's called The Print Boutique, I'll let you know when I have stuff posted. So far I've just been working on baby nursery stuff. I recently sewed Nixon some new toys, a blue fuzzy star and a brown gingerbread man with some leftover fabric I had. He brings the gingerbread man to bed with him every night. It's pretty cute, and it makes me feel good! My mom comes on Friday, which I am very excited about! Only 4 more days until I get to see her! Here are the things I'm most excited about living in Connecticut: only having to walk downstairs to talk to my mom, being close to my best friend Jenny Riddle, having a Panera in town, going to the beach that my dad runs during the summer, taking Caiden to his first Mets games, taking Miles to the Manhattan, Boston, and DC temples, taking Miles and Caiden to the ocean in Rhode Island, having a mall with good stores only 10 minutes away, being a part of a good family ward, going to Bunco nights with my mom and Jen, being able to see my nephews whenever I want, helping Jen and Scott move in to their new house, and having mildly humid summers (compared to Nashville, yuck!).
Nixon: Nixon is my best little bud. He hangs out with me at the house all day, protects me from the mailman, and cuddles up with us at night. He likes to sleep either at our toes under the blankets or up top in between us. He loves loves loves to eat carrots. Isn't that weird? And I don't feel bad giving some to him because it's better than meat or junk! He loves to go to the park. He shakes in anticipation when he sees us pulling up to it! His favorite toys right now are his old tattered leash, which we have dubbed "mini leash" and an octopus that's attached to some yarn and we "go fishing" for Nixon. He loves going on car rides and sticking his head out the window, no matter the temperature outside. He knows how to put the windows down on his own, which is extremely frustrating! He loves to cuddle up on the luvsac and take a nap, still wants nothing to do with his kennel. My sister, Nikki, got a puppy a few months ago and Nixon just loves her. They could seriously play all day long, and sometimes do. They're about the same size right now which I think Nixon really appreciates.

Left: what Nixon does every time we leave the house, it's his last defense to try to get us to take him along. It's so cute that it usually works. Right: Nixon testing out our new stroller. Don't mind his scary eyes, both pictures were taken with my phone and the stroller one was taken at about 10:00 at night so I had to use my flash.

He's so cute all cuddled up and sleeping! Once again, not the greatest quality because it was taken with my phone.

Pay special attention to seconds 9-11. This is Nixon and Kona at the park one evening.