Gorgeous Graduate

 Shelby got her cap & gown today.  It's becoming REAL!!

I love that my girl waited for me to get back from Keilie's to model it for me.  My goodness, I can't believe my Shelby-girl is graduating.  I distinctly remember when it was announced in Kindergarten that she was graduating class of 2025-- TWENTY TWENTY-FIVE?!?!  And now here we are!  

He's here!!!!!

 1:15am: Dallin calls Randy.  "We're at the hospital.  She's dilated to a 6!"  Randy and I spring out of bed and dress as quickly as we can.  I have never felt more awake after only two hours of sleep...

1:20am:  Keilie calls me, frantic.  "Mom, where are you?!  They've ordered my epidural, and I'm so scared!"  I had to giggle.  They didn't let us know she was contracting, didn't let us know they were headed to the hospital, nothing.  Five minutes after we get the call, she's wondering where I am.  Fear is not a patient virtue!

1:38am:  Randy and I make it to the hospital.  Shock of all shocks-- the Emergency room is empty!  Because there was nothing to focus on, the security detail actually stood up as they watched us run in, then wished us luck as they watched us run towards the elevator after giving us our wristbands.  Possibly the only time I will ever see that ER empty, ever.

2:00am: Bill, the anesthesiologist, comes in to give Keilie her epidural, telling us that only one person can stay.  Dallin, knowing Keilie's nerves, said it was alright if Keilie wanted me to stay.  She did, and my heart just about burst.  My girl and I are the same when it comes to needles, so it took Bill's "Dad Voice" telling her to "stop talking and listen" for her to calm down and let it be inserted.  By 2:06am, it was done.  When that first contraction came that she couldn't feel, I literally saw her whole body slump with relief.  I remember that so well.

*(One and only PTSD response) I felt my entire body tense in reaction to seeing Keilie in so much pain, but I did what I always do-- rose to the challenge, putting my own needs and emotions away, and was fully present and capable for my Love.  The moment she giggled at something Bill was saying, I felt the instant release of all of my adrenaline from my head to my toes.  I quickly just sat down and took a few deep breaths.  That was the only time, thank goodness, even if it was viscerally scary.

3:00am: While they checked Keilie (dilated to a 7!) and got her all situated for some sleep, I made sure to document that it was a full moon.

4:00am: The hospital only allowed three people in the delivery room with Keilie at any given time.  This made it VERY difficult for all of us.  When Megan and Justin arrived, they were told that since Randy and I were already in the room with Dallin and Keilie, they'd need to wait downstairs, which is super weird since there is a family waiting room near the birthing rooms.  That should have been our first indication of how things would go!!  Needless to say, Randy did what Randy does best sometimes: He took the brunt of a nurse yelling at him so that Megan could also be part of the in-the-room commotion.  Randy: "Worth it!"

There was a chair in the room that I was curled up on for a bit, but I just didn't feel near enough to my babe in the bed, so I sat/laid on the floor by the machines to listen to Hudson's heartbeat and Keilie's bed.  I knew the moment my girl was asleep when her hand fell from clutching her pillow.  The compulsion was strong to reach out and hold her.

(Me, laying on the floor on the bottom left- you can just make out my shoulder in the orange lights, Keilie in the bed, Dallin laying on the couch under the far window)

6:30am: Still dilated to a 7.  Time to switch up her position and break her water!

The "Throne"

"Oh my gosh, I have never sweat so much in my life!"  (Whisper: Just you wait...)

I know you cannot see it right here, but her feet are flayed out and her knees are literally tied together with a bow.  This new position made her incredibly nauseous, hence the bag that was ever-present the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.

~7:00am-9:00am

They repositioned her a few times, rolling her onto different sides with the peanut ball between her legs, hence the massive bump.  Each time, she'd be manipulated and positioned, take a deep breath, and then zonk back out.  I'm so grateful for the epidural.  1) for Keilie not to feel pain, and 2) because I truly don't know that I would have been ok watching her in excruciating pain for this long.

Not gonna lie, when they said she was a 6 at 1:30, I imagined she'd have had him by now...

Dallin got a few solid hours until about 7:45am.  Keilie kept mentioning how tired she was.  As this was her 5th time coming in, scared to death they'd send her home again, I imagine it was adrenaline letdown that it was finally real and that she wasn't in pain.  Justin went out to sleep in the truck, Megan got a few winks on the couches in the family waiting area, Randy played his game and explored to find the Family Nutrition Room, and I laid when I could and didn't sleep at all.  I wasn't freaking out, per se, but there is no way my body relaxed an inch from the moment we got that call to come.

9:30am: Fully dilated.  Going to start practice pushing!!!

Just two Grandpa's, waiting outside the delivery room.  Sadly, they got told (and not in a kind tone) that they couldn't hang out in the hallway.  Our plans for them to hear his first cries in person were thwarted.  No videos, so that was out of the question (although, when the time came, I broke the rules).  So, we had phone calls, and Randy and Megan switched out every so often.  *Until right at the end, when Randy broke the rules and stayed instead of leaving.  Again, "Worth it."

Between 9:30am & Delivery at Noon (on the dot!):  Every contractions, Keilie would bear down and push 3 times for 10 seconds.  I was the time-keeper, which made me feel super important, even though Dallin literally supported her back, which was obviously more important and helpful.  I took my job very seriously, though, literally using a stopwatch so she felt better prepared to push for the perfect amount of time, not too long, not too short.

They tried her pushing on each side and then had her on her forearms and knees.  Hudson was face up and not turning, which wasn't ideal.  After pushing for two hours, he still wasn't in a great position for delivery, so the doctor offered the vacuum to help hold his head down so his forehead and nose could make it past the pubic bone.  Since she'd been having the hardest workout of her life for the past 2.15 hours, she said, "I am pretty tired, I do think I need help."  And with those words, things sprang into action.

Five nurses bustled in.  Two to help on either side of Keilie, two to be near the baby's warmed bed, and one with a crash cart.  Her doctor got everything prepped and soothed Keilie's nerves by showing her things and telling her exactly what was going to happen.  And then it was time to PUSH!!!  From the moment the vacuum was placed and her contraction began, it was 69 seconds (I know this because one of the nurses' jobs was to watch that time) of sheer panic.  They were screaming at Keilie to push HARDER, HARDER, and GO, GO, GO!  After her 3 10-second pushes, the doctor said, "I'm sorry, Keilie, but you need to push again without a contraction.  GO, GO, GOOOOOO!!!!" And I watched as the doctor literally used leverage to continuously pull, no slipping and sliding of any kind, and then Hudson was out.

April 12, 2025

Noon

7# 5.8 oz

20"

Because of the necessary, yet violent nature, Keilie did tear significantly.  "I'd rather tear and have him here safely than have him bear the pain another second." 

I have always imagined myself as a fun grandma, always treating my grandbabies like I was treated by my Grandpa Kimber-- the Secret Favorite.  But one thing I had never considered was how my grandbabies would make ME feel.  He exceeds my wildest dreams.  I think about him every second.  If a text pings, I feel an adrenaline spike, hoping it is Keilie with an update, picture, or request. 

To Keilie: My sweet girl, oh, how proud I am of you!  I thought the best part of this day would be officially becoming Granny Steph, but it turns out, it was watching you snuggle your son skin-to-skin and soothe him with your hums of "You are My Sunshine."  I will never forget this day as long as I live.  THANK YOU for asking me to stay with you, for trusting me with such an important job, and for making all of my dreams come true by being the one that got to be there for you in whatever capacity you needed.

To Dallin: I have watched you support my Keilie for years, but none was more poignant or special as watching you literally support her back and encourage her with every contraction.  I saw how tired you were during each break, but still, you jumped up the moment you were needed and lent her your strength physically and emotionally.  I loved you before, but I love you more after watching you today.

To Hudson: You will feel claustrophobic from the presence and pressure of the love all around you.  Welcome to this wonderful world, Grandson.  You are SO LOVED!!!

Granny Steph: "I'm the luckiest girl in the world."

Dance... out

 We have all done our part to support Keilie through these last nine months.  Tyson's support is probably the most memorable...

CUTIES!!!

Shreds

 Like my clock a few days ago, here's another example of us using/keeping something until it's useless.

Randy, as he whips the covers back: "Steph, I think it's time to buy a new set of sheets."

After we purchased new, and as Randy was getting into his preferred sleep position: "I'm excited for a night of sleep without my big toe getting caught."

Here's to hoping this sheet set gives us a solid 10 years, too!

Hudson on Hold

 Dr. Altenau: "Head to the hospital when your contractions are less than 5 minutes apart."

Did that on Wednesday night.  False labor.  Got sent home.

L&D: "Come back in when your contractions are 2-3 minutes apart for a full hour."

Did that on Thursday night.  False labor.  Got sent home.

L&D: "Come in when your water breaks."

Did that on Saturday night.  False symptom, although she was leaking for hours and hours.

L&D: "If you were at a 3cm, we'd be able to admit you."  She was at a 2.5cm.

Last night at 11:00pm: Membranes stripped-- check.  Contractions 2-3 minutes apart for more than an hour--check.  Heads to L&D for the fourth time in a week.  Finds out she is dilated to a 3.5cm.  They make her walk the halls for three hours to see if the contractions actually do anything.  Nope.  Got. sent. home. again!  She is due in six DAYS, not six weeks!!

So all we know at this point is that she is 3.5cm dilated, 80% effaced, 100% exhausted, and 1,000% ready to be done with labor, if it ever begins for real... and she doesn't get sent home.

111,111 (11)

In a way, I wish the temperature was 111.  But only for the picture.

 

She Said...

YES!!!

Spring Cleaning

 "What do you guys want to do for Spring Break?"

Tyson: "Not Spring Cleaning..."

So we didn't ask them to help.

I'd love it if this refresh saved us from building a shed for another year.

Cruise Card Keeper

 We booked a cruise for the boys' Senior Trips, as well as to check off a promise we made to Keilie back in 2020 when our family Christmas cruise had to be cancelled due to covid and the Bahamas' demands for covid vaccinations.  The Pratt's are die-hard Royal Caribbean sailers so we decided to see what all the hype was about.  We booked the dream cruise of Keilie, Dallin, Brennon, and Tyson.  Shelby said she's just glad she doesn't have to go on another cruise and can stay home and earn money watching the dogs.

After getting all of the rooms booked, Randy called Customer Service to attach his last cruise for loyalty point status.  

"Sir, do you happen to know which ship you sailed on?"

Why, yes, yes I do...

Not only had he kept his room key from THIRTY YEARS AGO he'd also saved some of the drink umbrellas.  Some would call that hoarding, others would call it sentimental.  I call it endearing.

L&D J/K

 Spent a few hours here last night...

Here's what I learned:  

1) I need to steel myself to witness my girl in pain.  With each contraction (that turned out to be false labor), I wanted to run and stay and take it all away all at the same time. There's a PTSD response, big-time.

2) Even if I don't get invited into the birthing room, being close will be enough.  Sometimes that's what motherhood looks like-- being close for whatever my babes need.

3) I am 100% ready for the day my girl has her boy!!!

Miss This

I'm going to miss this...

These hooks were meant for backpacks and jackets, but have now become an extension of Tyson's closet.  Love him.
 

Baroque Clock

 Sometimes my loyalty to objects is ridiculous, I know that.  When I find something that I love, I keep it forever.  Or until it is dead or irreparably damaged.  When moving into this house eight years ago, this clock went missing.  I was so sad, thinking someone had accidentally dropped and broke it and just forgot to tell me.  A week later, a friend dropped it off, saying it had been stashed behind the seats in his truck.  I was OVERJOYED!!  I've had this clock since 2008, moving it from the Casper House to the Bar Nunn House to the Washington Rental, to 2701, to 1401, and now to 1307.  That's a lot of moves!

"Steph, I've got some bad news.  Your clock fell off the wall and broke in the middle of the night."  I'm telling you, it was a major blow, the worst way to start a day!  Randy, seeing my sadness, did what he does best-- got to work making my dreams a reality.

An entire day of gluing, putty, sanding, and painting.  He put in more hours fixing that clock than it was worth 17 years ago, let alone now, but he did it for me.  Not only that, he upgraded the back so it would hang more securely.  Where some would offer to buy me a new one, my Mister gave me the gift of his time to give me back what I already loved.  He is the best thing that has ever happened in my entire life.  I'm the luckiest girl in the world.

Hilarious Hoover

 I love it when she does this.

Randy was eating tuna.  She positioned herself right next to him, ready for whatever may or may not be dropped.  Cutie!

April Fool's

This is not a joke-- our dishwasher did in fact die on April Fool's Day.

This will be our kitchen view for a bit.  No one's laughing.

 

Promposal 2025

The Bait

The Date

Waiting for her to get home from Oregon with her family and cousins.  Brennon blocked their driveway so that he was the first thing she saw when she got home.

Kaylianne Haws-- Junior Prom 2025

 I love the pink tinge of her blush.  Not only is she the sweetest, but this will also be her first date.  How fun to get all dolled up for your first date, especially since the theme is Glamour and will be held at a mansion!

Dopamine Hits

 It won't stay here forever, but absolutely until he's born.  It is pretty much the first thing you see when you enter our home and basically looks like this nook was made for this crib.  It's my little hit of dopamine every time I walk past our computer room ("formal dining").  

2 weeks and six days left!!

Precious

 

Track & Field 2025

Tyson had his first-ever track & field meet today.  And so did I!  LOVED IT!!!

Tyson was required to compete in two different events.  On an impulse, he decided to do the 100m dash.  Knowing he is better suited for long-distance, he knew he wouldn't win, but he did PR, so that's fun! 

Literally, the first time I have ever seen my son do this!

And just like that, I'm a Pole Vaulter Mom!