The birthing story

By Christa

Several people have asked me to share the story of Zion's birth, so here goes!

Zion was born one day before his delivery due date. I am sure that every woman who has been pregnant before can relate to this, but it was one of those mind-exhausting Monday's where you are looking forward to an awesome nights sleep. In fact, I believe that I thought to myself, "I HOPE that Zion doesn't come tonight because I am super tired."

So, we were wrapping up the day, Greg was on the phone with his cousin and I had just finished printing off Zion's birth favors. I laid the papers down on top of my computer and then my water broke, at least I thought it did, but I wasn't sure because it was nothing like the way it happens in the movies. I turned to Greg who was hanging up the phone, my eyes as big as saucers and I said, "I think it happened! I think my water broke!"

Greg jumped off the bed and said, "What do you mean you think? Don't you know?"

I sat down on a chair, tears brimming my eyes and said, "I don't know! I don't know! I've never done this before!" We checked the time on the kitchen clock. It was 9:30PM and we dialed the number to our Doctor. The on-call doctor instructed us to come into the hospital. I hung up the phone and told Greg, "This is it. We need to go to the hospital." Then, like a thousand thoughts assaulted me at once. Everything from, "I'm not ready to give birth." to thinking about the next 40+ years of being a parent and how do you raise a son to become a man? Tears just started to roll down my cheeks and fear and panic gripped like a vice around my heart. I started shaking like a leaf. Greg gently placed his hands on both of my shoulders and said, "Listen to me. Are you in pain?"

"No." I said, "Just scared... and I just washed my makeup off."

We both laughed.

"Then calm down. Breathe." We stopped for a moment as he put his arms around me. "Okay. Now let's be here. In this moment. Not in the future, but right here. If you aren't in pain right now then don't be in pain. There is no need to be scared about the future, just live in the moment." Then Greg held me as I cried softly and he began to pray.

Next, we went into super planning mode. We had already packed our bags, but we had a few items around the house that we needed to grab. In true Greg and Christa fashion we had perviously made lists on our iphones of everything we would need to pack. Like a whirl wind we whisked around the house getting everything ready. Phone calls and texts were sent out and our dearest friends all came to the hospital. Becca David, Lauren Morris, Lauren Tohline, Gabby Vonigas, Dodge Pangburn, Katie O'tool and Greg's mom and Dad. We felt so special and blessed that they all wanted to be there. Before we left the house, we shot this video for Zion. As will see the emotional meter started running a little high towards the end.

Next we were off to the hospital. The adrenaline in that car was running high and the conversation was laced with comments like, "In less than 24 hours we will be parents... parents! Can you believe it? Hi Mom and Dad. You are going to be a dad to Zion like your dad was to you. Crazy! Parents! Ahhhhhhh!" Needless to say, we were both excited and anticipating what was next.

We delivered at Saint Johns hospital, which I have to say have an absolutely stellar staff. They are quite amazing at taking care of you and making you feel calm and at ease. As we pulled into the parking lot of the hospital Greg jumped out to make sure we were on the right floor. I sat in the car, collecting my thoughts and I felt in my heart that God whispered these words to me, "I am going to make this really, really easy for you."

He was right. Up until this point I had had absolutely no pain. I was having strong contractions, but I had been having them since before we went to Italy, so they weren't difficult for me at all. We checked into the hospital, and then got all "hooked up" with hospital equipment and IV's. The IV was the one rough patch in the process. I guess I have thin curvy veins and they had to call in a specialist after several painful tries. The specialist got it the first try without even a pinch. People with that type of talent amaze me.

Upon my arrival I was dilated to a 3 almost 4, I was not having any contractions that I could feel. Our friends took turns visiting us, making us smile and laugh. Around 1:00 I got an epidural. I still had not felt any pain, but that was my birthing plan, to wait till I was a four and get the epidural. I was so glad that I did, because I felt no pain for virtually the entire delivery. In fact, they gave me pitocin to speed things up, which usually makes labor very intense, however I just rolled over and went to sleep!

Around 7AM they woke me and told me that I was dilated to a ten and 100% effaced, but because I had carried Zion so low they didn't want me to push until the Doctor came because they thought it would take less then ten minutes for me to give birth. My Doctor, Jay Williamson was in surgery at the moment. We did start pushing before his arrival, and I am glad we did because no one knew how big Zion was and it actually took me one hour and forty-five minutes of straight pushing before we decided to use suction to get Zion out. The Doctor warned that the epidural was running out, which I could tell since I was starting to "feel" again, and he didn't want me to have an emergency C-section. Minutes later Zion was born, 8LBS and 13OZ, a very tall 22" long. They placed him on my stomach and this fierce emotion overtook Greg and I as we looked at our child for the first time. It was official. We were mom and Dad.

The nurses whisked him away to a warmer where they took his vitals and little Z tested out his new lung capacity for the first time. As he wailed away, Greg walked over to him and leaned his face towards Zion. "Hey buddy. It's your daddy." Silence filled the room as Zion listened to his dad's voice outside of the womb for the first time.

The doctor stitched me up. My first winces of pain came here but I was too busy careening my neck to see my new little man to focus on it. A few minutes later the nurses had cleaned Zion up and we got to get a really good look at our son. He was perfect. He was wonderful. He was ours.