The Kitchen Family

Harvey Grant Kitchen
Friday, November 14, 2014
@ 9:16 pm
6 lbs 14 oz 20 in
3 weeks early

  This little angel was quite the surprise, making his debut 3 weeks early. 
This is how his birth story starts:

It was just a normal Friday morning, Cohen was at school and I dropped Brendon off at a friends house while I went to my 37 week check up with Dr, Garda. Baby's heart beat was checked and was great, my vitals looked good, then Dr. Garda said she was going to check my cervix for the first time since I was now 37 weeks, just as most doctors do at this check up. She checked me and her eyes went WIDE and she looked at me and said, "Uh, you are dialated to 5 cm and 75% effaced". WHAT?! I sat there for a second then just started laughing! And almost fell off the bed.

I could not believe it, I had NO IDEA I was in labor, felt completely normal my body didn't feel different in any way, of course no pain, not even cramping or anything. The day before I felt a little crampy but honestly thought it was gas pains. Boy was I wrong. (here's where my high pain tolerance bit me in the butt once again) So... I got dressed. Dr. Garda made a phone call to the hospital saying I would be right over to get checked it.

Meanwhile, Brock was still in San Antonio finishing his last week of an audition rotation. YIKES! I couldn't get ahold of him either. He had just gotten off a 30 hour shift and his phone had died. I finally got ahold of the wife of the ortho resident that Brock stayed with during his rotation, and I told her what was going on and she was going to try and get ahold of her husband and hoping he was somewhere near Brock. Kevin, the ortho resident, found out that Brock had gather his things and was heading home, so he went out in the freezing cold and waited at Brock's car until he got there to tell him the news. Brock was in shock! He hurried and stopped at Kevin's house to grab a bag, jumped back in his car and started his 4 hour long drive back to Fort Worth. I got checked in the hospital and hooked up to monitors and all that good stuff at about 11:00 am. All my nurses knew what was going on and that we were trying to do all that we could to slow this labor in hopes that Brock would make it.

I watched the clock thinking "there's no way he will". But, to all our surprise, he arrived at about 3:45 pm in scrubs and all! YAY! So glad he made it. The four house waiting for him I still did not feel anything! I would never had guessed I was in labor. Thank HEAVENS I had my dr appt that morning or I would not have been there. Since I was trying to avoid a second c-section this time around, the Dr said it was best to let me body just do it's own thing, when it happens it happens. So, the dr. broke my water around 5:00 and then a few small contractions started. I got a small dose of epidural at about 6:00 pm (soooo much better then mine with Cohen when I couldn't even feel if I was pushing or not) And at about 7:30 pm I was dialated to a 9. Still the dr wanted to wait as long as possible to help my body do the proper thing while trying a vbac. Finally at 9:00 pm he let me try pushing, and sweet Harvey boy was born at 9:16 pm. So fast! I only pushed 2-3 times. My nurses were incredible and the on call Dr. (who we had never met) Dr. Stephens was perfect. 

Highly recommend.

 Having him right on my chest was incredible, something I hadn't experienced with my other boys. Giving birth is truly amazing, what our bodies can do and what they can create.

 First thing the next morning the big brothers came to meet him! They were beaming!! So proud, couldn't hold him fast enough. They were calm and quiet the whole time they were with him.

 They even picked out a toy lion for him with Dad.

 The first thing Brend said "Oh his mouth is so tiny and cute!"

FIRST BATH right next to my bed in our recovery room.

 Ben, Sutton, Pepper & Matix Fox came to meet Harvey boy.

Also, Sutt saved me the day I delivered. She drove to the hospital to get my house key, back to my house to get my hospital bag and camera and things, then drove back to the hospital. She stayed and visited for a bit until Brock got to the hospital. Such amazing friends we have.

 And there ya have it...

a family of 5.