For nearly a year we waited for the day to come to find out we were pregnant. We had followed the plan, saved money, payed off debt, done all the things we were "supposed" to do before having kids and we were ready. We'd been married for 5 1/2 years. It was time, but not on our time. We would learn that lesson over and over in this journey of parenthood.
On March 30th, 2003 (Ryan's 29th Birthday) I woke up at 5am. I was a few days past my period and decided this would be the day I would take the test. It would either be a exciting birthday gift, or another disappointing discovery. When I looked at the test in the prescribed amount of time and not a second sooner and it was clearly two pink lines, I was in disbelief! I ran to the bedroom to wake Ryan up and tell him the news and I couldn't even speak without letting the tears flow.
Fast forward 9 Months. A long 9 months with morning, afternoon, evening, and nighttime sickness. Forcing myself to eat, barely gaining weight. But still I was happy to be pregnant. I read all the books. Wrote down all the first and was in pure amazement of the miracle of it all. The only thing I really miss about pregnancy is feeling the baby move. It got me through many difficult moments of the pregnancy. That reassuring kick or roll would push me right on through to the next moment.
We decided we would not find out the sex of the baby. I had always thought of it this way and had several reasons why I wanted to wait and felt it would be best for me. One was that I was so worried about the health and well being of the baby, that on that 20 week ultrasound i wanted to totally focus on that and be happy about having a healthy baby. The excitement of it also was fun and kept me going for the pregnancy. But, it bugged lots of folks!
December 3rd was my due date. On Monday November 17th I had my scheduled OB Appointment at 2:30. I went right after a work. I had dialated to 4 and was fully effaced when I arrived and my OB sent me up to labor and delivery.
Things seemed to roll along smoothly. Water broke. Epidural. contractions coming. As they got stronger and stronger though I had several blood pressure drops and lots of nausea. It was miserable for a while. At one point I remember thinking "Can I undo this?" "How can I getta outta this?"
Finally we were on the homestretch and I started to push at 12:30, midnight. Well, we all thought this was going to be a 7 pound baby since I was nearly 3 weeks early. So, we thought it'd be a few pushes then done. Well that was not the plan of the baby. He wanted to start his life, when he wanted to start when he wanted to start. SOoooo over 3 hours later, many epidural adjustments and top offs, screaming, crying, throwing up in between....at 3:44 AM the baby was born. I will never forget the words that came out of my husbands mouth - "IT"S A BOY! IT'S A BOY!" I can't put into words how it felt to hear that from him. It was said exactly as I had imagined it. The first time I would meet my child, and hear my husband, his father announce his arrival. He was overjoyed! And so was I.
This picture was the first time we looked at him, and he looked at us in the face. The nurse was still cleaning him up. We were in awe of the whole thing. Amazed, elated and excited.
November 18th, 2003 at 3:44 am was my first moment as a mother. Joshua Ryan Bradley was 8 pounds 6 ounces and 19 3/4 inches long. And he's been a wonderful adventure since that moment.
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