I really didn’t mean to write so much. Once I started, I wanted to get down as much detail as I could remember. So, here is little Jackson’s birth story…

I never wrote out an official birth plan. I thought that I would be disappointed if Jackson’s birth didn’t go the way I put it down on paper. All I knew was that I wanted: to go into labor on my own, a vaginal delivery, labor at home for a while, would probably want an epidural, and Tim by my side the whole way. I also had to have my sister with me. She is a labor and delivery nurse and I trust her completely – with everything. Seriously, I call her all the time for medical advice . I hoped that things would progress naturally. I thought I would figure out what I wanted with Tim, my sister, and my doctor at the hospital.

I did have some concerns and fears. I was terrified of being induced or needing a c-section. I have never had any surgery and my body freaks out when it comes to medical stuff. I was worried that I would pass out or need be put out during a c-section and miss everything. Looking back I wish I had just let all that go. However Jackson came would be ok. As long as he was healthy, it would all be fine!

I joked a lot that I would go way past my due date. I did want him to get all the time he needed in my womb. The last couple weeks I was ok with him still in my belly, that is until May 16th, the day before his due date. It was a Sunday and I remember laying in bed and having this very relaxed feeling come over. I was ready for my little boy. I just had to wait for it. I hoped and prayed that things would start to happen that night.

That night was uneventful. Monday came and I was excited and hoped something would happen. I had a few random contractions and my back was hurting. Tuesday came and I was a little bummed. We had our 40 week appointment and this is where I break down…

I had no progress from my 39 week appointment. I was 1cm, 70% effaced, -3 station, cervix soft, and he was sunny side up. Still. My doctor told me we needed to start thinking about an induction. He said I could be induced in a few days or after a week and both may end in a c-section. We made an appointment for the following Monday to decide. He sent me for a non stress test because I was past my due date and wanted to monitor contractions.

I held back the tears until Tim and I got out of the office. I wanted things to happen naturally and my doctor made it seem like it wouldn’t. At least that is what I heard. We got into Tim’s car and I cried. Tim tried to calm me down – he couldn’t. I needed to call my sister. She tried to calm me down – but couldn’t either. Called my mom and she tried, too – no luck. I was just ready to have my son, but it wasn’t happening. In my mind everything was falling apart, I was going to need a c-section. Yes, I was being crazy. Very hormonal. Very pregnant. We went for the NST and everything looked fine. I was not contracting.

Wednesday morning I woke up disappointed. Tim came to say goodbye and I cried. He asked if I needed him to stay home, but I said I was fine. I got up and ready for a walk and my sister called. She surprised me with a spa day! I was so emotional and excited. We got off the phone and I cried. Sarah and her friend picked me up and we went to the Glen Ivy Spa in Costa Mesa. Amazing day. It was so nice and relaxing. My sister treated me to a massage and it was incredible. My very pregnant body was finally relaxed. The masseuse did some pressure points to start labor, too! After the massage we relaxed in the pool. Okay, if you are pregnant and have not go into a pool, do it! It is the most amazing feeling. A spa day was just what I needed to start to let go of my worrying.

Thursday was better. I wasn’t so stressed, much more relaxed. My sister and I went to the mall to walk around and try to get labor started. We walked around for hours. I wasn’t feeling so great. I couldn’t figure out why, I just felt off. I started having trouble walking upright on our way to the car. My sister felt my stomach and told me I was having contractions!

I got home and the contractions stopped. When Tim got home I started to feel them again. They weren’t that painful, just a little uncomfortable. At 10pm we went to the pool. It was freezing. FA-REEZING! But, it felt so good. They were getting a little more uncomfortable. Tim and I talked while I floated in the pool. After an hour I had had four contractions and couldn’t take the cold anymore.

It was exciting that I was having contractions, but I didn’t think anything was going to happen. I assumed they would stop and nothing would happen for a few more days. That night I tried to sleep, but kept waking up to contractions every hour. A couple were painful, but easily manageable. When Tim got up I told him he could go to work, but he insisted on staying home. I am so glad he did!

The contractions were very irregular and Tim was timing them on my iphone. They were 7-15 minutes apart for a few hours. Tim’s parents were bringing us lunch when they started getting more painful. I was thinking “why did I say yes to people coming over, these are getting painful”. I had to sit on a yoga ball and breathe through the contractions while we ate. Tim was timing them and I knew they were getting closer. After a while I didn’t want to be around anyone. I went upstairs and timed the contractions. They were about 5 minutes apart. They were getting to the point where I had to focus and breathe through them. I yelled for Tim after a big one. His parents left and I called my sister and Mom. That’s when Tim and I knew Jackson was really on his way.

My sister came over at about 2pm. Things were starting to happen. And it was happening naturally! I laid on my bed breathing through contractions. Talking with Tim and Sarah about what to expect next. We watched episodes of The Office. They laughed as I cringed and breathed.

After a bit the pain was becoming more intense. My sister suggested I get in the tub. It was nice and relaxing…between contractions. My sister was feeding me triscuits and sprite and we talked and laughed. My mom came and we all just hung out while I breathed and yelled through contractions. After about an hour I wanted to get out. I was back on the yoga ball and really needing to focus on getting through the contractions.

I was having bad back labor. With a heating pad on my back I was rolling back and forth, breathing loud through contractions. At about 6pm I had had enough. I was ready to go to the hospital. I looked at my sister and said I couldn’t do it anymore. She asked “Are you ready for your epidural?” and I said “YES”. I took a shower, did my hair and make-up. Had to rock through contractions. Tim got our stuff packed and in the car, my sister called the hospital to tell them we were coming.

The car ride was hard. All the bumps and turns made the contractions worse. We got the the ER entrance, they wheeled me in. We got up to Labor and Delivery, they checked me in, we got into our room, they dressed me, and put tags on me. My water started to break while standing waiting to get into the bed. Talk about perfect timing. I was checked and had progressed to 5 cm. A huge relief came over me. Progress!

7:30 to 11:30pm was a painful blur. My contractions were so intense. At 6pm I was ready for an epidural. I didn’t get it until 11:30. I think I had given up. It was harder and harder to breathe through contractions. I was yelling through them. I had Sarah at my back to counteract the back labor and Tim massaging my hand or head. Every contraction I needed something different. Some I didn’t want to be touched – at all. My mom got to the hospital and massaged my head.

Finally! Finally, the anesthesiologist was on his way! I was told he was coming around 7:30. I waited and waited and he was finally coming to give me relief – four hours later. He came in and it all happened quickly. He explained what he was going to do and waited while I needed to yell through a contraction. I had to sit up and still while he worked. Tim stood in front of me and helped me through it. I wouldn’t have been able to stay still if Tim hadn’t been there supporting me.

The epidural didn’t hurt too bad. It took about 10 minutes to start to feel relief. After about 30 minutes I didn’t feel any more pain. I was happy. I’m so happy I went through what I did. That is what I wanted, to do things naturally until I needed the epidural. I did what was right for me. The doctor came in to check me. I was 7cm dilated. I was so happy to hear that number. All those contractions were making progress. Jackson was still sunny side up. He broke the rest of the bag and it was time for me to get some sleep. They had me lie in a runners position and turned me every 30 minutes to get him to turn the right way. I was a little worried he wouldn’t, but knew I would really need sleep if he didn’t. Tim’s family were in the waiting room. They went home to sleep and wait for the call.

Tim slept on the couch while I tried to sleep. My mind was racing…what will the birth be like? How long would it take? Would it hurt? When will I get to hold Jackson? What will he look like?…and on and on. I would start to drift off and the nurse would come back in to turn me. I guess it was preparing me for no sleep once he arrived . Tim had put UP and then A Bug’s Life on the tv. I watched a few minutes each time I woke up. At around 3:30am the nurse checked me and I was 10cm. It was happening! Jackson was going to be here soon! We were excited!

The anesthesiologist came back and turned down the epidural from an 8 to a 4. After about 30 minutes I started to feel things again. We did some trial pushes with the nurse. She said I picked it up right away. After about 30 minutes of pushing she called the doctor. Once he came in things started happening fast. Things were being moved around, the doctor was explaining some things, I was pushing with contractions. I could feel them starting, so I knew when to push. I didn’t feel any pain, but I had a headache. Trying to reach 10 seconds with each push was hard. But I knew if I did, Jackson would be here sooner. Tim went to get my sister, she was going to take pictures after he was here.

I pushed an hour and 15 minutes. The last 15 minutes he was crowning. Tim said he had lots of hair. Jackson had turned the right way (thank God!) and he was almost here. After a few more pushes he was here, out in the world!

My little boy, Jackson James, was born at 5:08am on May 22, 2010. Weighing 7lb 3oz, and 19 inches long. He was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. The doctor put him on my belly and I touched his face and fingers. He made little whimpers and cries. I cried. I laughed. I cried some more. Tim cut the umbilical cord and Jackson peed on me.

They took him to clean him off and weigh him. The doctor cleaned me up and stitched up a small tear. I could hear Jackson cry. Tim was with him and was telling me all about him. I could see him if I lifted my head up. The nurses were talking, but I wasn’t paying attention. I was listening to Jackson. He was born with lots of hair, long eyelashes, my dimples, Tim’s cleft, long fingers and toes. He looked exactly like Tim, in my opinion.

They brought him to me and we started skin-to-skin. I held him close. We watched him move around, open his eyes, cry. It was a moment I will never forget. Bonding with our son for the first time.

We named our son Jackson James Katz. It took forever to decide on a first name! I had a hard time committing to one. We really liked the name Joshua for months, but it just wasn’t my son’s name. One day, when I was about 36 weeks, I called him Jackson and that was it. It was his name. His middle name, James, is a bit of a tradition in my family. My Dad is James the III, my parents used James in all of my brothers names, and my sister named her son Ethan James. My Dad is really important to me, he has always been there for me, my biggest supporter. I wanted Jackson to be named after someone strong that he could look up to that I always have.

I saw my husband become a Father. Tim is a natural Dad. He is an amazing husband and he is amazing to our little boy. Tim was beaming looking at his little Jackson for the first time. Another moment I will never forget.

My mom came in to meet her grandson. Tim, my mom, and my sister crowded around Jackson and I and watched him. We told them his name (that we kept a secret until he was here). It was an awesome moment. To have my mom and my sister there with me, seeing me go through what they have gone through, was awesome. They were both there for me the whole time. My sister stayed by my side, talking me through contractions, for hours. I don’t think I could have gotten through as much as I did without my big sister. My mom was great moral support, she was there with me, to help see me through it all. She prayed over me and Jackson and held my hand. They have no idea how much it meant to me and how much I needed them there – maybe they do now .

Tim called his brother, Nick, to tell him, Ashley and Hayden the news. His family came about an hour later. They came in and Tim introduced them to Jackson. They kept saying how beautiful he was. They each held him and took pictures. I watched from my bed. My Dad came in 20 minutes later, checked out his new grandson, and then checked on his daughter. He told me good job and kissed my forehead. I told him we named Jackson James after him. It was a special moment, I could see a tear in his eyes. He then went over and held him.

We were moved to the recovery floor around 8:30am. Tim’s family followed us with our stuff. My mom and sister brought us Panera. It was nice to have food, I hadn’t eaten much the last 24 hours. My brother and sister-in-law, Jonathan and Jenn, came to meet Jackson. My Dad brought my younger brothers, Peter and Paul. I sat in bed while everyone held him and took photos. They all pointed out who’s features Jackson had. Jackson was just hours old and already there was so much love around him. Our families are the best. I saw that my phone had tons of messages. I went to text my friend Sarah, and she had already heard . The word was out!

We relaxed. I was exhausted. At some point Tim and Jackson left for Jackson’s sponge bath. All this is a blur. I was tired. Very tired and very sore. I was ready for a nap. I think I kicked everyone out, so I could sleep.

Jackson was very alert from the moment he was born. He looked around at everything and stayed awake to see everyone. We have beautiful photos from my sister of Jackson wide awake. These four are from Sarah:

It was finally just the three of us. The little family we created. Our little Jackson was here, in our arms, our son. We stared at him, listened to all his noises, talked about the last 9 months. We tried to get some sleep while he slept. We worked on breastfeeding a lot. The nurses were very helpful. Lots of people came into the room. Nurses to take blood, give shots, check my vitals, check on Jackson, doctors came to check Jackson, my doctor came to check on me.

After two nights in the hospital – we were over it. We wanted to go home. Jackson had his circumcision (we have been told an awesome one)on Sunday around 4pm. We were both checked for discharge. Finally, we got to go home around 7pm.

It was wonderful to go home. We walked Jackson around the house, he met his sister-cat, Maybe. He was jaundice and needed biliblankets. They arrived around 10pm, we got him set up, and went to bed. And no, I didn’t even stay up to watch the series finale of Lost .

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It has been 10 weeks since Jackson was born. I’m writing this while Tim is walking Jackson around. He is cooing and smiling all the time. Every day we fall more and more in love with him. We can’t remember life without our little boy. Our world is all about little Jackson James and we wouldn’t have it any other way!