On Monday the 4th I was dilated to a 4. The doctor stripped my membranes at my appointment that afternoon. Everything continued as normal until 6:30 pm the next day when I saw the first signs of true labor...bloody show. The next 30 minutes was kind-of chaos trying to decide whether to go out for the evening as planned or head to the hospital. At first the nurse said to continue life as normal and keep an eye on the contractions. At the end of our conversation I mentioned that my first two labors were only 6 hours from water breaking to baby. That changed her mind. She put me through to the doctor and it was a good thing she did. :) The doctor recommended coming in to be checked, just to be safe. In the hour that it took to finish dinner, clean up, get the kids to bed, and for our friends Jessica and Burke to arrive (to stay with our kids) my contractions started to come pretty regularly. When we arrived at the hospital at 8:20 they were 4 -5 minutes apart, though the pain wasn't too bad yet. I was dilated to a 5 at 8:45 at which point they called the doctor and he said he was on his way. I was surprised he was coming so soon, but didn't have much time to think about it as two nurses came in and started firing "check-in questions" at me while giving me paper after paper to sign. Do they not know what it is like to try to force your brain to work while in the middle of a labor?!? My brain was not working. At one point, I asked them to please let Jared take care of all of the check-in procedures. They wouldn't. Arg. When Dr. Darling arrived at about 9:15 or 9:20 I was dilated to an 8. That got those silly nurses to quit asking me questions. Everyone began running around getting everything prepared for delivery.
Here I pause for a side note. When I was pregnant with Brielle, I was 100% determined that I was going to have her "naturally," without any pain medicine, if at all possible. Thanks to a short labor, I was able to do it. With Nathan, I was about 80% committed to having him "natural." 1/2 of the way through my labor with him I asked for an epidural, but by the time the anesthesiologist arrived Jared and the nurse had talked me out of it, helping me remain true to what I wanted when I started. This time I was maaaaybeee 50% committed to going "natural." I know. That pretty much means as soon as the pain gets too bad, bring on the pain medication. :) Well, in between those nurses asking me questions, I was asking some of my own, like, "At what point in the labor is it too late to get an epidural?" and "Exactly how does this huge needle going into my back thing work? (I really don't like needles...one very convincing factor to going natural)". When Dr. Darling arrived, Brenna (my awesome nurse) had just finished explaining the whole epidural process and in my head the decision was made. An epidural it was. So the doctor's news that I was already at an 8 was a bit devastating. My dismayed response, "I had just decided I wanted an epidural". Dr. Darling's reply: "I am pretty sure we will have a baby here before we could ever get an epidural giving you much relief." So, I sucked it up, said a heartfelt prayer and decided I could do it...just 'cuz I had to. :) It took 4 or 5 contractions for the doctor to get ready and then delivery began. Jacob was posterior (nose pointed towards my belly button instead of my back as is best for delivery) and I was concerned about that as Nathan had been posterior as well and that had caused a lot of back labor, getting stuck at 9.5 cm dilation for over and hour, and a lot of pain when he finally did turn. This time it wasn't a problem at all...thanks to a great doctor. He turned him 3/4 of the way during one contraction and turned him the rest of the way during the next. Then he told me to start pushing. 7 or 8 pushes later I heard the doctor say, "Kristen, open your eyes and look down". And there was my sweet little boy. They put him directly into my arms and I got to hold and talk to him for the next 5 or so minutes. Just seeing him made it all worth it (I know, less than 3 hours of labor isn't anything to complain about, but still)...as all of you mothers know. There is something so special about holding a brand new baby straight from heaven.
A few minutes after they took Jacob to the corner of the room to get him cleaned up etc, I heard my soft-spoken, doctor of few words exclaim, "Oh my goodness!" Brenna said, "Do it again. I don't believe it." I looked over to see 9 lbs 8 ounces on the scales. The doctor told me the next day that Jacob turned really easily for a baby of that size. Plus, I only had a minuscule tear that he said would heal quicker without stitches. I had many stitches with my 6 and 7 pound babies, but not with this one. The ease of that delivery was a direct answer to many prayers. Thank you to those of you who offered those prayers, knowing how worried I was about having the strength I needed with everything that has been going on. And thank you to my wonderful husband, Jared. He was the perfect support through the whole process. I thank heaven for such a good man at my side.
My father has been a wonderful role model and friend to Jared and I. We respect him in so many ways…his Christlike service, his integrity, his generosity, his kindness, his hard work, and his stalwart testimony and dedication to doing what is right. The name Jacob means: “He who supplants” or “To track or follow”. We would love to have our little Jacob Kenneth follow his Grandpa Ken’s example as he grows and eventually become a wonderful husband, father, and leader as he is. 
