Obviously I am not very good with blogging. However, lately
I have really wanted to type out the crazy chaos we experienced while having
Kolt. Some of it is still hard for me to believe! My sweet baby definitely
wanted to make a grand entrance into the world. He would not settle for ordinary!
My due date was set for January 3, 2013. This was a blessing
for me since I was in my final semester at Alabama. What most people do not
realize is how strict the University is during our internship. We are only
allowed two sick days and can earn only one personal day. Also, we are in the
schools five days a week all day. However, Kyle and I made the decision at the
beginning of my pregnancy that we would use a doctor in Hattiesburg because we
knew I needed to deliver at Forrest General. (Kyle’s dad has worked there for
years and is now a director at one of their branches in Columbia and Tyler
Town). Already we knew this wouldn’t be “typical” pregnancy. I was living two
and half hours from my husband and my doctor (not to mention living by myself).
I was traveling back and forth to my appointments and yes, I was the one who
drove me there and back! After every check up I would say “I think I make Dr.
Holland nervous being so far away!”. With only two days for doctor’s
appointments I had to take half days to help spread them out. That being said,
I didn’t have a day that “I just didn’t feel well” and could not go to school. The
Lord was with me every step of the way during the semester. He blessed me with
two amazing teachers who were so good to me and Kolt. During my first
internship I was with Pre-Kindergarten students (they were all four years old)
and my next internship was with fifth grade.
One of the big things that stressed me out during my
pregnancy was the fact that unlike most pregnant women, they live in the place
where they want to make the nursery. When I got the sudden urge to “nest” in
Kolt’s nursery, I couldn’t. Once I got here on the weekends I was exhausted
from teaching and driving that I really didn’t want to do much. Mean while during
the week in Tuscaloosa I was slowly beginning to pack up what I could while
being pregnant (mind you I had been living here for two and a half years). Kyle
was great help with the nursery. He was putting things together and arranging
while sending me pictures of the results.
The semester flew by and the next thing I knew, it was
Thanksgiving. I was miserable at Thanksgiving! Everyone kept telling me they
felt like he would could at Christmas and I was starting to think that myself.
My last day of teaching was scheduled to be December 7th which was
the end of my semester. Towards the end of my internship I was definitely
feeling like I would pop! It worked out with my personal day that I could take
December 7th off so my last day was that Thursday the 6th.
Kyle was scheduled to be in Jackson, MS at a teacher’s conference that Friday.
We had planned for him to drive over to Tuscaloosa that afternoon and help me
finish packing. His dad has scheduled movers to come on Saturday and once they
got there I was heading to Hattiesburg (I couldn’t handle watching them move my
stuff out, too stressful!) where I would organize all the stuff we got from our
baby shower, that Sunday. The few weeks I had been completely stressed out with
school, graduation, moving, and having a baby!
Friday rolled around and it felt like any other pregnant
day. I actually slept until about 10. Kyle was able to leave his conference
early and made his way to Tuscaloosa. He got there around one. Within thirty
minutes of Kyle being there, my water broke. I called my mom at school and said
“Don’t freak out…but…I think my water just broke.” Well she was definitely not
expecting that! I called the doctor and they told me to head on to Hattiesburg.
All I can say is, poor Kyle! He never took his eyes off the road or his foot
off the gas pedal! The night before I had started packing a hospital bad…just
in case I needed it before all of my stuff was unpacked in Hattiesburg (the
Lord knew what he was doing!). I had all of these plans of using my last few
weeks before Kolt to unpack, clean, and organize..but those plans quickly flew
out the window! Once the doctor told me to come on and I began having
contractions, I told my family to head to Hattiesburg. Kyle’s dad kept calling
asking how far apart my contractions were. Little did they know I was having
them the whole way there, but didn’t tell them because I knew we could make it
to Hattiesburg and I didn’t want to freak anyone out more! (Kyle got really mad
about that one…oops!)
We made pulled up to Forrest General in honestly about an hour
and a half. It takes two and a half if you go the normal speed. Kyle was
determined we would get there! I was in good spirits the whole way, bugging
Kyle by singing Christmas songs and even said “No, Luke Bryan I cannot shake it
for you, I am in labor”..ha! Mr. Bryan (Kyle’s dad) was waiting for me at the
door with a wheel chair. The head nurse was also with him. I was soon in a room
and being examined. They informed us, we were gonna have a baby! My parents got
there along with the rest of Kyle’s family. My water had broken around 1:30 so
I figured it wouldn’t be too long. Boy was I wrong! I was in labor all night
with very little progress. We also had a really big scare. I became nauseous during
the night and was given medicine to help it go away. I had an allergic reaction
to the medication. I don’t mean just itching. I went out of my mind, hallucinating,
the medicine made my chest muscles tighten which made me feel like I couldn’t
breathe, I couldn’t control my upper body and kept hollering. I can remember
the doctor saying “She’s not having a seizure, but this is what one looks like.”
I was so worried about my baby. I was finally able to take a drug to counteract
with the other medicine and I calmed down. It was a long two hours for
everyone! Not to mention that sixteen babies were born that night. So the staff
was running ragged! I am so thankful for my precious nurse and the doctor who
literally sat in front of my bed the whole two hours out of concern.
I had been told I would probably have a baby by around four
or five a.m. believe me, I was watching the clock however, no change! When the nurses
made their shift change, my “drill sergeant” as Kyle called her, made me lay on
my sides telling me things had to change on their own quickly or we would be
making other plans. When my little boy decided he was ready to make an appearance,
he was ready! She checked on me at 7 and I was only 5 cm. at about 9:45 they
were calling the doctor in my room and at 9:59 a.m. we welcomed Kolt Allen
Maxie into the world! He weighed 6 pounds 11 ozs and was 19 ¾ inches long. He
is the most beautiful thing I have laid my eyes on!
The craziness was still not over. I still had to finish
packing my stuff and move out of my apartment. Plus Kyle’s truck was still in
Tuscaloosa. We had to take my car to be able to have the car seat. On Sunday,
my parents and Mr. Bryan and two movers all GRACIOUSLY went to finish packing
my up my stuff and moving it to Hattiesburg. I knew I had a lot of stuff, but
gahlee! I felt so bad for them having to do my dirty work! Having boxes and
stuff ALL over the house was not what I wanted to bring my baby home to! But,
everything got to the house and day by day we were able to unpack and rearrange.
I had applied to walk at my graduation on December 15. But since Kolt was only
a week old, and we hadn’t even been home from the hospital that long..I figured
not walking was for the best. I knew I would have my diploma either way!
Kyle was amazing through all of this. He was by my side
through it all. He is a natural daddy and loves his son with all of his heart.
During the time that we were in the hospital (we had to stay a few extra days)
Kyle had to make and give his final exam. I’m not sure how he juggled it all!
I was beyond grateful and thankful that my mama was able to
come to Hattiesburg for two weeks to help us. I wouldn’t have made it without
her! I think my sister and daddy barely made it without her! I’m also thankful
she was here because after Kolt was born, I got a real bad infection and was
running fever every day in the 102s. After days on antibiotics didn’t help, I
finally gave in one night and let Kyle take me to the ER. It was so hard
leaving Kolt for even a few hours, but I knew he was in the best of hands. The
whole time I was at the hospital I was praying they would not admit me. Even
thought the doctor really wanted too, he knew this new mommy couldn’t be away
from her son! The IV and 750 mlg 3 times a day antibiotic finally cleared the
infection!
I cannot express how blessed I truly am. My whole life I
have waited to have my own precious family and God answered my prayers. God has
provided for us constantly. Kyle and I could not have asked for a better baby
(people are constantly telling us how good he is!). I pray daily to be the
Proverbs 31 wife and mother.
