Introducing Maxton Joseph Crandall!!

Maxton Joseph Crandall- 

October 13, 2013

8:29am

7lbs 14oz

 20.5 inches 

Lots of DARK hair!

So here's the story:  At the beginning of the pregnancy I had thought that I would be patient just like with Boston, and let him come in his own due time... but I was in soo much pain at the end, and couldn't sleep at night...etc, that I decided to be induced at 39 weeks. Except my midwife kept delaying it, and acting like I wasn't ready. She even had me go in for an extra Ultrasound at the U hospital to make sure I was ready. But when I got to the Ultrasound appointment they said it was to make sure that I didn't actually need a C-section!! That caught me completely off guard and made me nervous for a moment. But I knew everything would be fine, because I wasn't even close to needing an C-section with Boston. I knew my body could handle this, regardless of the pelvis sprain. And sure enough the doctor that checked me said "everything is just fine, and that the baby is READY, and super low, so no wonder you're having pelvis pain...." Ummm.. yeah I could have told anyone that. But it was good to know that everything was fine and he was ready. The doc even joked that I could go next door (labor and delivery) and just check in!! But he called Gretchen-my midwife- and then she called me and said that we could be scheduled for Sunday, 2 days later.... ugh! that was frustrating, 2 days felt like eternity, but I just tried my hardest to trust that everything was in the Lord's hands, and everything was happening for a reason, and Max needed some extra time.

When I first decided to schedule the induction I felt a little bit guilty that I wasn't letting Max come on his own. I worried that he may not be ready, and that I was being selfish. Because I know that every single day that those babies are in the womb they are developing like crazy, and that even just one day can make a big difference on their lung development etc. But I also knew that I wasn't being a very good Mom to Boston or Maxton by keeping myself in such a state of pain and physical/emotional stress. So I went forward with the plans to be induced on Sunday. And I have to say I was pretty excited about being able to have everything ready and cleaned, and have Boston where he needed to be, and cut the drama out of it. Well... Max had different plans. lol

Saturday morning the twelfth, I had a few light contractions, and didn't think much about them as I had had a few even the night before... --after double dating with Blake, going to a corn patch, picking pumpkins and walking all around-- Here are a few pics from that. (I brought my own pumpkin. ;)

I learned with Boston's labor, I can have contractions for a VERY long time, and not be in serious labor... so I went about the day, but to play it safe Andrew stayed home from work. I kept having them one or two an hour, sometimes more but the pain wasn't too bad. Then as the day went on they got closer together and more intense!! So that night we had my dad and Blake come over and join with Andrew to give me a blessing, in preps for the next morning. I was also stressing during this time because a lot of my family had colds, including Boston! And I was soo worried that Max would get something, and yet I wanted/needed them all at the labor. More specifically my Mom and Dad. I prayed so hard that they would get better, and had been praying for that for the past week! Since they still weren't completely better though, I had to exercise another kind of faith, that being that Max and I would be shielded from any germs around us and not get sick! And it worked! We were protected, and I'm so grateful that we've been healthy and strong. 

Well the evening went on, and so did the contractions. Before, I would have been glad to go into labor on my own, because my midwife kept prolonging my induction. But now, it was getting late , and we had everything planned for the next day, and I just wanted to get a good nights rest, and have things go according to planned! lol you can't get everything you want!! I took a hot bath hoping the contractions would stop, and we went to bed about 1030, with Sierra "On call" in case things picked up. Well I texted her by 1130 that she'd better head over, because they were every 5 minutes apart now, and SUPER painful!! I thought I had a pretty good support team, I would lay in bed and tell Andrew when I was getting a contraction and I would feel a gentle hand on my back...come to find out he was completely asleep, and I had to wake him up to let him know we needed to leave for the hospital!! He said okay, call Sierra, and I told him I already had awhile ago and she'd be here in a few mins!! lol He had no idea... great support team. ;)

Sierra came and stayed at our house! I was so grateful for her willingness, that way Boston could just continue sleeping! Then Andrew and I left. My parents and brothers also started on their way! I had texted my midwife an hour before letting her know we were going to head in, cause she had told me that's what I needed to do if that I had to go in early so that she could let the hospital know. Well she never texted me back to confirm that she had received my text. So on our way to the hospital (now close to 1am) I called her. I was super nervous about it, because it was so late, but I thought I was doing what she wanted me to do.... well she answered all groggy, and I apologized for it being so late, and told her we were heading in. Then she proceeded to tell me off..."Camille, do you realize that you are not my ONLY patient... you've texted me, and now you're calling me...and now I am not going to get any sleep tonight! (YOU'RE not going to get any sleep?!) Just go into the hospital and they will let me know if you're REALLY in labor. Are you even having contractions?! (I had already told her I was every 5 mins!) I could barely get a word in, and at this point I was in tears, before she hung up I said to her, "Gretchen I just want you to know, I would have never called you except you TOLD me to let you know if I went into labor so you could let the hospital know," and she interrupted me and said, "Camille. I know, I know... Good NIGHT!" I hung up, and burst into tears. Andrew was so mad that she had treated me like that. I wished soo badly that I could have just told her to not even bother showing up, and that I could do it without her... but I knew I couldn't! Ugh. It bothered me so much, I honestly am still not sure if I will go back to her for my next baby. She had been so great for me though, otherwise. It made me very sad. I had to pray away my feelings of anger towards her, so that I would be able to face her when she came for delivery. Luckily when she did show up, she acted like it never happened, and she was her normal kind self. I have learned... some people are just total beasts if you wake them in the middle of the night. 

ANYWAYS---back to Max. So we checked in at the hospital. It didn't take long for them to say, you're definitely in labor and you're definitely going to stay. Let's have this baby. Luckily my nurses were VERY kind! Couldn't have been better. Except that my nurse changed RIGHT before I had him, and the one that came on shift had a cold! (No medical personnel should be able to work if they're sick.... I'm sorry, isn't that a DUH?!? Especially in Labor and delivery?!) They got me hooked up, only one poke for my IV this time (last time it took a dozen pokes!) And then I got my epidural, which took quite awhile, but it was heaven once it kicked in!! Then I was just able to rest, and I turned on my Anne of Green Gables DVD, and we shut off the lights, and we all rested. Andrew on the couch, my parents on chairs, and my brothers asleep in the lobby. (they're such troopers!) I was able to sleep a little bit, but mostly I was just so relaxed which was nice. And my body was completely doing the labor thing on its own and Max was coming on HIS time which made me feel so relieved!! Random fact that I'm sort of proud of, the nurses couldn't believe how healthy my kidneys were! (cause my urine was so clear)  They said they rarely EVER see it like that because most people drink lots of soda, or just don't drink near enough water. Well all I ever drink is water (arrow head to be exact) and lots of it!! That was prob TMI, but I'm just glad to know my water drinking ways have paid off! lol At 730 Gretchen came and broke my water, and just after 8am I got ready to push. I only pushed for 7 minutes!!! 3 pushes, and my sweet little boy was here!!!! If only I was as good at pregnancy as I am at delivery... that would be nice. 

Very first thing I noticed about baby Max: he had some chub on him!! ha ha He was quite a bit heavier than Boston was., and he looked like he had some substance to him! Next thing was his dark black hair! And he has lots of it!! The next thing that I noticed was almost immediate... his piercing cry. Yes, I said it, piercing. Boy has some lungs. And he loves to use them. A lot. Not saying it's a bad thing, just sayin it. 

Andrew helped them immediately put Max on my chest, and I had told them that as long as he was breathing, that's where I wanted him to stay until I said otherwise. And at LDS they are SO supportive of skin to skin. I love it. They didn't even question me. I cuddled that warm little baby in all of his baby "goo" for over half an hour. They had blankets on him and did wipe him off a little so he wouldn't get cold, but I loved just holding him that way. He cuddled me so tight, with his head right on my chest, listening to the familiar sound of my heart beat. Anyone that says you can't have a "natural" experience in the hospital, is dead wrong. It is what YOU make it. If you let your nurses know what you want, I can't imagine them not respecting your wishes. 

Then I fed him, and he did well for it being his first time! About ten minutes! And let me just say, nursing the second time around is soo much easier than the first, cause you actually know what you're doing!! lol Then we finally weighed and measured him and got him bundled, and let family come in. My mom was in the room when he was born, for support and to video. And My Mother in law, and Dad were behind the curtain. And my brothers and grandparents were behind the door waiting to hear the first cry. But it was fun to see them all and show them the cute little bundle! 

After they all left, we moved into our room, put a no visitors sign on the door and went to sleep for several hours!!! After that we had several visitors excited to see the new little guy! 

I LOVE staying at LDS hospital. I highly recommend it!! The care is wonderful! The food is fabulous, and you can eat as much as you want, so I always ordered enough for both myself and Andrew. lol I ordered potato crusted Cod every day! And had at least 4 milk shakes! (it's good for getting your milk to come in! lol) It was so nice to be waited on and taken care of for 3 days!! We took full advantage rested lots, and checked the baby into the nursery just a few times. I swore I would never do that, but you know what... I know that I am going to be the care taker in charge every night for the next 18+ years... a few hours in the nursery at night is totally OK as long as you feel good about it. And OF COURSE I told them to bring him back to me the second he ever acted hungry, and to NEVER give him any formula. Big way to mess up your milk supply right away is by supplementing in the hospital. No matter how tired you are, DON'T DO IT!!! Plus you want to get that baby skin to skin with you as much as possible to get their immunities to germs built up, cause your body will put them into your milk.

I am soo grateful for the awesome care that Boston received too while we were at the hospital with Max. It was so nice to know that he was being well taken care of! First starting with Aunt Sierra. I don't know what we would have done without her! She posted this on Facebook the morning Max was born:

"Had such a great time having a sleepover with my sweet nephew, Boston, while mommy and daddy were at the hospital bringing baby Max to the world! He is such a sweet boy."

He stayed at my parents each night, and spent time at Grandma Jasmers during the day. He got lots of quality time with his uncles. I heard this was when he really got to know his Uncle Blake--since his mission. And he even helped Uncle Gabe with a school assignment, he was studying some type of child development. Dolores sent me this pic, looks like fun!

I am soo grateful that he is here, and healthy!! He's adorable, and definitely a little Andrew that's for sure!! He also reminds me a lot of Boston, but that's because Boston also reminds me of his daddy! :) Glad I will have lots of reminders to think of Andrew running around my house every day. I'm also glad that hard journeys have happy endings! At least this one... and he's a very cute happy ending too I might add! :)

My heart has tripled in size with these three boys in my life!!! I love my cute little family! 

P.S Boston does so great with Max. We got a video of them meeting for the first time! Boston gave lots of kisses.

Coming home! 

This was our first night home... it's quite the challenge sometimes getting these two to bed at night. This first night, Boston didn't want to leave us and his new brother, so we all just piled in our bed together. :)