Kendrick Scott Brenchley Arrives!

This year, I was especially happy when the month of September arrived. I was due this month, the 25th, to be exact, and I was happy that the long road of being pregnant was almost over! I had been sick, had heartburn, had swollen, very swollen feet and legs, and you name it when it comes to being pregnant, I had all the fun side effects.

So, at my doctor's appointment on September 8th, my blood pressure was high, I had swollen feet/legs, and so the doctor says to me, "I think you're going to have this baby on Monday." I said, "What?" Thinking to myself, I'm not ready at school, I haven't done my lesson plans for my sub! Then he thinks for a minute and then tells me to come in on Friday morning and he will see what he thinks then.

Well, I left there pretty excited, a little relieved, and nervous! I called Scott and told him, and my mom. But, I told everyone not to get too excited until after Friday's appointment.

At Friday's appointment, my blood pressure was down. They put a monitor on my belly and monitored the baby for a while. It recorded his movements and his heartbeat. Everything was fine and since my blood pressure was down now, the doctor told me to come in the next Wednesday, September 15th and we would go from there.

I decided that I needed to get busy at school and get things organized for my sub! That weekend, we had our annual drill team golf tournament on September 11th. It was a big stress relief to get that over with. Luckily, I just got to sit and try to keep my feet up that day. I'm so grateful for my assistant Marci and all of the awesome parents that were there to help out.

Then, starting on September 13th, we had our annual Fall Jr. Drill Clinic. Marci came and helped me out with it as well. This was another fundraiser that I was glad to get over with!

On Wednesday, September 15th, I went to my appointment. Again, the doctor put the fetal monitor on me and monitored the baby for a while. He then came into the room and announced, "You're going to have this baby on Saturday." I thought, Saturday, that works. My mom will be back from her trip and I don't have anything planned for Saturday, so that would be the day! He told me the hospital would give me a call and tell me when to come in on Saturday morning and he would induce my labor. It would be one week early.

It was so good to know when it was going to happen. I felt relieved, but again a little bit stressed, because that meant I had two days to get prepared at school!

So, the next two days at school, that's all I did. Make sure I had everything lined up for my subs. Yes, subs--Marci would take care of drill team. Then there was a sub for my A-day computer tech classes and then a sub for my B-day social dance class and computer tech classes. Yeah, I guess you could say it takes three people to replace me! Ha ha!

On Friday, September 17th, MMHS had a football game with Salem Hills. Their drill team invited us to a party just before the game. I went to the party and then stayed to watch halftime. Marci was going to stay with the team. While at the game, it was weird to think that the next day, I would be having a baby! My whole life would be changing so much! I was excited and nervous!

I went home, got a few things ready for the next day, and then went to bed. I was very tired and knew that the hospital would be calling early.

The phone rang right about 6 a.m. It was the hospital asking what time I could be there. I told them around 7 a.m. I layed in bed for a few more minutes and then got up and got ready.

As usual, we were running a little late. We left the house about 7:15 or so. We decided to get a quick breakfast at McDonalds--yeah, I know, so healthy! I didn't know if I could eat or not--so I just got a breakfast burrito. Which, I'm glad I did, because once they started things, then the only thing I could eat was ice chips!

We arrived at the hospital and got all checked in. Then they took me to the delivery room and I got in the lovely hospital gown and the nurse helped get me hooked up to the monitors and IV's etc.
Here I am looking so lovely. We would watch the baby's heart rate and you could also see when the contractions would come and how high they would go.

Dr. Dewey arrived and saw how I was progressing. He then broke my water. That felt weird. The nurse told me that the baby had had a bowel movement and so there was a green tinge in the water. I got a little bit nervous, but they assured me that they would monitor it and make sure everything would be ok with the baby.

So, the waiting game began. It took some time to dialate. I fell asleep for a while, Scott was watching some football games on TV. I ate some ice chips--they even had flavoring in my favorite flavor--Tiger's Blood.

Then came time for the Epidural--I was a little bit nervous for this too. But, I knew that I wanted it, based on what other women had told me, so I had to get it! They had me lay on my side and the guy came and prepared to put it in. Oh my heck, it hurt! Then he tells you to push your back towards him and not move away from him. Ooh, I don't even like to think about it, but I am glad that I had it. I can't imagine labor with out one! I remember beginning to feel the contractions and there was a button that I could push to give me more of the epidural. I pushed it a few times, let me tell you! It felt very weird to not feel anything down below. I couldn't move my legs. The nurse had to help me. What a weird feeling!

Still, had to wait for a while. But soon, the contractions got so I could really feel them and I was finally dilated!

Waiting to dialate!

Well, Dr. Dewey had left for a while, probably because things were going pretty slow. But, now, all of a sudden, I was ready. So, they had the "in house" OB/GYN come in and see what was going on while Dr. Dewey was on his way from Payson. They gave me something to slow down the contractions so that Dr. Dewey could get there.

Soon he was there, and we were ready to begin the labor! I think the time was about 5:45 p.m. So, Scott and the nurse came up by my sides and would help "coach" me through the pushing. I would feel those contractions coming on and think, Oh great, here we go! The pushing was intense! I thought I was pushing hard, but I guess I wasn't. So, Dr. Dewey looks things over and says something about maybe having to have a C-section if things don't progress sooner. Right then, I thought, "I don't want a C-section--the recovery time is longer!" So, that was my motivation to really push now! I would push and think, "I don't want a C-section!" It worked--both the nurse and the doctor told me that was better pushing.

Oh, it got harder though, and I got tired! I started saying I couldn't do it. I was doing just what I hate--COMPLAINING and being a whimp! I felt like I was going to pass out when I pushed! It was hard work! Finally, they said the head was crowning and I seriously felt like I couldn't do it. My gosh, just do the C-section then--I thought. But, we were past that! The nurses and Scott kept trying to be supportive and I kept trying to push. Next thing you know, the head was out, one more big push, and the shoulders, and then whoosh--it was over! What a relief! Oh my gosh! Then I heard the baby cry and everything was okay. They took the baby over to the place where they started cleaning him up. I look over at Scott and he is laying down on the couch, coughing. I guess all of the blood made him get a little bit light headed!

So, I'm looking back and forth from Scott, coughing on the couch, to the baby, crying as they clean him. I also looked over to make sure the baby was a boy--yes it was! The doctor told Scott he was doing the right thing by laying down. He soon got control and then they brought the baby over to me.

He was so cute! He was 8 pounds and 3 ounces! Born at 6:52 p.m. What a cute baby boy!
I looked at him and he just looked like a "Kendrick" which was one of the names we were thinking about. So, we decided to name him Kendrick.

Looking at my new baby boy.
Kendrick Scott Brenchley

Meeting Grandma Mangelson.

My mom and Scott went with to go bath Baby Kendrick and the nurse took me to my room. Here are some pictures Scott took while they were bathing Kendrick and afterwards.

After his bath, they brought him to my room. We had some family come visit that night.

Kendrick and big sister, Kaycee.

Kendrick and Aunt Emilee.

Kendrick meets his niece, Emmalee. He is an uncle already!

Grandma and her newest grandchild.

Wow, what an experience! All I can say, is labor and delivery is hard work! But, it was worth it to see our cute baby boy! He was so cute, even when they brought him in at 3 a.m. for a feeding. He did pretty good, except he kept falling asleep and I would have to wake him up. The nurse took him back to the nursery so I could get some rest. Everything had been so perfect that night. Little did we know things were going to change the next morning!