+Micall Deveraux+

Wednesday, December 9

The day before my due date. I was ready, very ready to have this baby. Everyone tries not to expect having their baby early.. but everyone does. especially when you feel like you are 300 pounds. I kept seeing photo after photo on instagram of people who's due date was after mine but had, had their babies. even though I had not reached my due date quite yet, I wanted him here so badly. I am not the most patient person, so waiting for the unknown was hard for me. I was working up till I had the baby, so I tidied up my desk and got everything taken care of that needed to before my leave. little did I know it would be my last day in the office for awhile.

4:00 pm

Christian met me at the Dr's office, my last appointment. Christian and I kept glancing at one another nervously, while Dr. Willis (best Dr. ever) checked me to see how much I had progressed from last week. I was 90% effaced and 4cm dilated. YES! this meant that we were getting close, closer than most. All those false labor contractions were paying off. Dr Willis stripped my membranes and told me that I would have this baby sometime in the next few days.

We left excitedly, we were ready! We had everything we needed, everything was clean and tidy for baby to come home. All we needed was him.

6:00 pm

I packed for the hospital, hoping that stripping my membranes would put me into labor.

9:00 pm

Nothing, I told Christian as I crawled into bed, "i'm going to be pregnant forever." We watched a movie and fell asleep.

Thursday December 10

My due date.

12:00 am

I woke up directly out of bed, contractions. I hurried and grabbed my phone, and I began to screen shot the start of every contraction. 12:21, 12:32, 12:42, 12:53, 1:01, 1:12. The contractions were about every ten minutes, and grew more and more painful. they kept staying 10 min apart, I knew I had a long night ahead of me.

3:30 am

I had, had it! I woke Christian up for the first time, and he rubbed my back trying to make me fall back asleep.

7:15 am

Still having contractions I called into work, " i'm not coming in today, I was up all night with contractions, this might be it. Wish me luck." I tried to fall back asleep, but the pain was dull, stabbing right into my uterus. I didn't think the pain could be worse than this.. boy was I wrong.

8:00 am

Christian was leaving for school, hesitating at the door. I knew I was far away from being in active labor so I ordered him to go, and I would let him know if my contractions progressed.

10:30 am

My contractions were down to 5 min apart. My Mom telling me to go to the hospital, I started getting ready, so we could go when Christian got home from school.

11:00 am

Christian walked through the door, kneaders breakfast in hand. I smiled he had known I was craving their french toast for weeks. the contractions were down to 4 min apart now. I was in pain and not an ounce of sleep from the night before. I sat down to rest, I closed my eyes. The contractions stopped. "NOOOO" I screamed. I really wanted this to be it.

1:00 pm

They were back, and back to 10 min apart. Christian and I decided to go out and try and get things moving. I kept thinking to myself, " this could go on for a couple days, this is hell, i'm in hell."
And it was not because i was having contractions, the contractions were great it was just how far apart they were, no progressing, no getting closer together.. just the annoying dull pain every ten minutes.

2:30 pm

Christian and I decided to go the the health department. Christian had been procrastinating for weeks to get his vaccines before the baby got here, and I guess the contractions finally made him realize, 'oh, maybe I should do that now.' as I waited in the waiting room, I felt icky, not because the contractions, well that did not help, because of the gross germ infested room. I'm a little bit of a germ freak, and I still get the heebie-geebies when I think about that office. If you've been there, you know what i'm talking about. Christian came out, sobbing.. haha just kidding, crying a little.

4:00 pm

We decided to just make the rounds to visit our parents, to try and keep my mind occupied.

5:00 pm

no progression

6:30 pm

We went up to my parents and I bounced on one of those exercise balls, while we chatted with my parents, and siblings. The contractions were still the same 10 minutes apart. I had stopped timing them by now because I would know if they started getting closer together, and they were not. If i was sitting down they would go away for a while, if I started walking around they would pick back up. We had been playing this game all day long.

8:00 pm

I remember it being a really windy winter day, and Christian and I decided to just go on a long walk.
My parents have a park by their house with steep paths and steep stairs. We got to the park and realized it was a terrible idea. It was freezing! Icy cold wind in your face blowing 80 miles an hour, I don't think so. I just decided to give up, lets just go home and put on a movie, relax and try and sleep. It had been a long day, little did I know it would be an even longer night.

9:30 pm

I brushed my teeth, washed my face, and slipped into bed. The contractions were gone. I was sad, but hoping that I might actually get some sleep this night. We turned on Home Alone 2, my favorite Christmas movie, and drifted off to sleep.

11:00 pm

They were back (contractions) more painful than before. I screamed over to Christian, tears filling my eyes, " I can't take another night of this." We sat up together, as I took a screen shot of the beginning of every contraction. 11:10, 11:16, 11:20, down to four minutes apart. I jumped out of bed and put my sweats on. These contractions were brutal, forget the last 24 hours of contractions, these were it, these were actual labor contractions, they had to be. They were down to 2 minutes apart, longer and more intense. Christian looked at me and smiled, "hospital?" I nodded.

11:30 pm

We walked out to the car, car seat, and hospital bags in tow. Every few steps I would stop and have Christian hold me up through every other contraction. One small, one big.

11:45 pm

As we drove in the car to the hospital, I looked out the window at the night sky, thinking about meeting my baby boy. Each contraction getting me closer to meeting him, I looked at Christian and I smiled, the best that I could, he smiled back.

11:50 pm

We walked through the labor and delivery doors, butterflies filled my stomach. I smiled the best I could to nurse at the front desk as we checked in. The nurse walked us back to a labor and delivery room.

Friday December 11th

12:00 am

I sat on the bed in my gown, screaming in pain on the inside, as the nurse hooked me up to the monitors. I liked this nurse, she was funny, and made me feel comfortable, well as I could be. She checked my cervix, "you're at a 4." She explained what the machines did and explained that they would check me again in an hour to see if I have progressed.

12:30 am

Contractions are painful, people. They will tell you that you can do it, they are not as bad as you think and all that mumbo jumbo crap. UM NO! They are that painful and no, I can't do it! And when you are in agony they have a nurse ask you a bunch of medical information. Christian grabbed my hands and looked at me, " you can do this." I was hurting, " NO I CAN'T! just hold my hands please. " I did not think I would be one of those women who yell at their husbands in labor, I looked up at him with sorry eyes, he smiled and I knew I was forgiven. We were monitoring the contractions they lasted too long. I would have two contractions and then one huge one. We watched with every contraction, Christian would tell me when a big one was coming as he grabbed my shoulders to embrace me, and tell me to relax when it was going down.

1:00 am

The nurse came in and checked me, " you're a good five." I smiled at her, I was so relieved. "I'm going to make a call to your Dr. and see what he wants to do and I will be back."

1:20 am

She walked back in the room with IV fluids in hand, "you know what this means," she smiled. We were officially admitted. I was ready for the IV any other pain to take away this pain, I thought to myself. It was only a little pinch. She asked if I wanted ice chips, since now that is the only thing I could eat. "we have flavored ones", she said, "they are delicious!" yesssss! "peach please."

1:45 am

She returned with my ice chips, as soon as she could say anything I blurted out, " is it too soon to get my epidural?" She let out a little laugh, " no most women ask for them at 1 and 2 cm dilated, i'll get one ordered for you." thank the heavens! I was more than ready for the epidural. I needed it pronto! She checked my cervix again, "6+, yep you're ready for the epidural." she left the room.

1:55 am

Christian and I sat still holding each other through every contraction. I could hear muffled screaming from the room next to us, I told Christian, " I must be doing better than I thought." We laughed, even though the screams were making me a little nervous.

2:00 am

Our nurse came in, she had this look on her face I knew she had bad news to share, " our anesthesiologist has an emergency c-section he is needed for and it is going to be awhile till he can get you an epidural." I looked at Christian panicky. " I'm going to call our on call anesthesiologist, he just lives down the road." she said with a sorry look on her face. " alright." I replied almost choking on the word. she left the room again. Tears welled up in my eyes, for the first time I was crying, sobbing, I was scared. " I can't do this Christian, I can't do this without it." the woman still screaming next door. " I don't want to be her, I can't handle more pain than I already am in, I can't do it!"

2:10 am

Our nurse bursts through the door, "look who I found" the anesthesiologist entered the room. I wiped the tears from my cheeks, I was so relieved, " I caught him right before he went into surgery." He rushed in so fast, " I don't normally do this, i'm going to be really fast ok." never having a epidural before I had no idea what I was supposed to do, he did not explain anything. He gave me the numbing shot, did not even let it get numb before I felt a jolt down my spine, my body uncontrollably reacted. I know you are not supposed to move and blah blah blah, He was yelling at me, " what hurts? you can't move, you need to tell me what hurts." I was so upset. I didn't respond, I just cried. Both of us frustrated, he took the needle out, "here i'm going to try this one more time" he gave me another numbing shot.. finally numb I held really still, 'there we got 'er" he said. He then ran out the door. The nurse apologized for him. Honestly I was just happy I got it at this point, and tried to put my frustrations behind me.

2:30 am

As my lower body went numb, I could finally relax. We decided to make a call to my Mom to let her know I was admitted, and she should start heading to the hospital. We turned off the lights and as soon as I closed my eyes to try and rest, a heard a gush of water. " babe, my water just broke!"

3:30 am

My Mom walks in the door, with a huge smile on her face. I was still awake while Christian slept in the chair that pulled out into a bed next to me. I could not sleep, between Christian snoring, the nurse monitoring me and the butterflies in my stomach. I was so excited to meet my baby boy. My mom and I talked about everything that had happened and she sat and tickled my arm till I fell asleep.

6:00 am

Dr Willis walks in with my new labor nurse. "Yay, you're here!" We were close, I was a 8 and had been for awhile. " Today's the day," he grinned. "Today's the day," I replied. " I'll be back in, in a few hours to check on you."

7:00 am

Our little man was being stubborn, and our nurse wanted to put a monitor on him, I honestly don't remember why. I think it was because the monitor on my belly was being spotty or something. She tried and she tried but his head was stuck in between my pelvis. "Oh boy!" she griped. " He is a big boy, i'm just going to let you know now, you are in for a hard long labor." She finally gets the monitor on his head. Great, thanks. The nurse had realized his heart rate was going down and also my blood pressure, so I was put on oxygen which seemed to help.

7:30 am

The nurse came in with my peach ice chips, and Christian's breakfast, How unfair is that. I have been in agony all night with no sleep in over 24 hours and a long labor ahead. The nurse checks me, "okay, we're getting ready here soon, you're close to a 9."

8:30 am

My Dad and my sister Jordan had just arrived. We all talk for a few minutes, anxious to meet the new addition to our family, while the nurse was prepping the room. Dr Willis walked in, everyone chatted while making their way to the door to go wait in the waiting room. I let out a deep breath while he looked at me, "okay, you ready? Its time" I was nervous. "alright, i'll check back with you later" Dr Wills said to the nurse and left the room. I knew at this moment I was in for a long morning. The nurse walked me through the pushing and breathing. I had an uneasy feeling, I don't know why exactly. I just felt awkward and like I was not doing a good job, I don't know if it was the nurse, or just having all my bits exposed. I just thought it would be different, like I would be better at it, even though I was probably doing a fine job. I also deal with anxiety and I think that was most of my problem. 10 minutes into pushing and the nurse looks up at the monitor, " wait wait wait. I don't like his heart rate right now." I was scared, I knew something was not right. " I'm going to get Dr. Willis."

9:00 am

I knew what was coming. Tears filled my eyes as Dr Willis came in, he glanced at the monitor.
"well, how do you feel about a c-section today?" nurses already wheeling things in and getting me ready, I sobbed. I was terrified, nobody was explaining anything that was going on. my mind going a million miles a minute, I replied, " is he (my baby) ok? Is this serious? Of course if you think it is the safest way to get him here." I love my Dr. he says things how they are he does not sugar coat things but he also makes you feel at ease and puts your worries to rest, like a Dr. should. " The cord may be wrapped around his neck, I know this is not what you were planning on (it definitely was not). What are your concerns? I honestly had lots of concerns (remember my anxiety) but I just asked, " will we get to have our skin to skin time?" I had been looking forward to this special time the most. Dr Willis smiled at me, " of course!" I was not expecting that, and that made me feel a little better. By the end of our conversation I was already being pushed out the door by the nurses. My Mom looked at me and said, "you can do this Micall, i love you" she said this and I calmed down, I stopped crying, I put on a brave face and they wheeled me down the hall.

9:15 am (estimating here)

They picked up my numbed body, and put me on the surgical table. They had been putting more medicine in my epidural I was completely numb from my ribs down. Christian was not with me yet, and they were prepping me. They put a dividing sheet up, and I assumed they were rubbing my stomach down with iodine and putting a sheet over where my incision would be (I've watched a lot of Grey's Anatomy, okay!)

9:40 am (estimating here)

Christian finally made his way by my left side, and grabbed my hand. Christian, going into the medical field, was so excited to see a c-section performed. I was a little annoyed how smiley and giddy he was, and i'm sure going to see his son for the first time was of course adding to the excitement. Dr Willis peeked his head over the curtain, "okay, i'm going to begin, I nodded in response. I could not feel anything but pressure, I could just tell by Christians face that the cut had been made.

9:57 am

A big relief of pressure, "he's here!" Dr. Willis announced, I looked up at Christian just waiting for an update, "the cord is wrapped around his neck". Before I could react a loud, boisterous cry filled the air. He made it he's here! They took him to the table to clean him off. I looked at Christian, who was mesmerized at whatever the Dr was doing with my stomach, "GO TO HIM, he needs you" I yelled. We had a good laugh about this later. They brought him to me, tears filled my eyes as they placed him on my chest. At this moment everything I went through was so worth it and would do again in a heartbeat for this babe of mine. One of the best moments of my entire life. I felt an overwhelming amount of love for him and my husband. He was familiar, he was mine, I knew him.

Griffin James Deveraux born on December 11th at 9:57am

weighing 8lbs 6 oz and 21" long.

There is no end to how much love I have for you, Griffin.

XOXO - your mommy

(there is so much more to tell, hospital story coming soon)

++ PREGNANCY UPDATE

i am officially 32 weeks almost 33 in two days.

time is just flying by! everyone keeps telling me how much

it will drag on in the third trimester... but it hasn't for me yet.

it probably will when i get a little closer to my due date.

we just have so much left to do and get ready for that i am very preoccupied.

don't get me wrong i am hurting and aching and very much ready to be done but also

i will miss our little baby boy wiggling around in my tummy.

christian and i are so excited to meet our little guy. he is going to be here

before we even know it. christian keeps telling me, " it is going by sooooo slow,

i want to meet him already" i have to laugh because he isn't the one that has to

deal with the sickness and the swelling and the back pain and braxton hicks and

most importantly getting FAT. and for me time is still at a fast pace, but i am working

and staying busy so i think that is why it feels like weeks go by and then

i'm like, "woah! its already the end of October, WHAT??" i think from here on out though it

is going to get rough i can feel my body every day just get more and more tired and i know

i will be like its time, i'm done, throwing in the towel. i think i will miss being pregnant though,

i know i must be weird i don't know. December will come soon enough though and i'm so excited

i can't even tell you how much excitement there is to meet him here in 8 weeks or less.. ah.

oh.. and lets just be real about how i was feeling this last weekend....

i have my moments.

How far along? 32 weeks

Total weight gain/loss: 23 pounds

Maternity clothes? a few but i am just getting so big that all my shirts now do not fit over my belly. big sweaters are going to save my life the next couple months that and my 'stretchy pants' (nacho libre voice)

Stretch marks? i have gotten pretty lucky in that area. just a few on my hips that i think will fade away. cocoa butter i tell you it works wonders, at least it has for me, which i am very very thankful for.

Sleep: i just don't? what is sleep anymore? who knows? this will forever be my life, i know i know i know.

Best moment this week: not a lot to report this week so far. oh one new thing that is happening is hiccups and they happen at

least twice a day now. i love it!

Movement : he has always been so wiggly from as early as 15 weeks when i first felt him but this last week i think he is just getting

big and room is getting limited, so they are not as crazy as usual but still there. a lot of kicks to the ribs and jabs in the bladder.

Miss Anything? being comfortable. i also cannot wait to sleep on my stomach.

Food cravings: popsicle's, slushies, and crunchy ice

Anything making you queasy or sick: raw meet, and gross smells.

Have you started to show yet: i'm huge are you kidding me.

Gender: BOY

Labor Signs: just braxton hicks. my body wants me to practice for labor i guess.. last night was horrid worst ones i have had yet

Belly Button in or out? still in. but it is so funny looking. christian and i laugh at it all the time.

Wedding rings on or off? off how sad is that my ring doesn't fit me anymore :( i'm a swollen mess.

Happy or Moody most of the time: it varies.

Looking forward to: a shower that my mother in law and sister in law are throwing me this weekend. and my dr.s appointment next week

i always love to hear his heartbeat.

yay for making it this far and only a little left to go till our whole lives will change and never be the same again.

i can't wait.

xo - micall

+Micall Deveraux+

Thursday, June 23, 2016

JOURNEY THROUGH PREGNANCY

Monday, May 16, 2016

BEAUTY IS NOT CAUSED. IT IS.

Wednesday, May 11, 2016

GRIFFIN'S BIRTH STORY

Friday, December 4, 2015

39 WEEKS.

Tuesday, October 20, 2015

32 WEEKS