Lane Ryan's Birth Story

It's hard to believe, but it's true.  Last week, Lane Ryan turned S-I-X! My baby is 6.  It's hard to wrap my mind around it.  I always dreamed of having babies...but I never pictured myself with school-aged children!  Those days are upon me and my baby boy is now a Kindergartner. {sigh}

Let's see, it all started the week of DD's first birthday.  Yes, a second child never completely has his "own" story.  There is always that sibling who came before you to steal your sunshine.  DD turned one on February 2, 2005.  I don't remember exactly when I first started listening to the "I think I may be pregnant" voices that were going on in my head. To tell you the truth, I didn't want to hear them.  My baby girl would be turning one that week and I was NOT about to  steal her sunshine by announcing at her first party that she was going to be a big sister!! No way.  So I tuned them out. 

Mom and I took DD to the photographer for her birthday pictures and I had the hunch, but wasn't letting myself believe it yet.  She kept saying, "let me pay, she's my only grandchild!" and I would say, "so far."  Evidently, I said it enough that Mom asked if  was expecting.  "NO!" For crying-out loud! DD wasn't even one yet. (I kept telling myself!) 

Eventually, my body was confirming what I was suspecting.  Without getting all "too-much-information" on you, I want to explain that I nursed DD for 13 months and had yet to have a period, so it's not like I was able to "track" things.   

DD's party came and went.  The next day was the Super Bowl.  Ryan was hungry gor "game" food, so he suggested we run to Hy-Vee in Iowa Falls.  I hadn't shared my suspicions with Ryan, but used this excuse to figure out for myself!  DD fell asleep on the way, so I volunteered to run in myself so she could sleep.  I found the hot wings, the salsa and chips, pizza rolls...and the pregnancy tests.   

That night I decided to tell Ryan, "I think I'm pregnant." 

"Well, that would be a good thing, wouldn't it?"

Ok, that's not was I was expecting.  We both knew we wanted another child, but I guess I thought I would have to take medication like I did before DD or at least we'd have a conversation like, "should we have another baby now?" "Sure" You know, decide we were going to have a baby.

I kept the test in the bathroom and decided I'd take it in the morning.  I told Ryan, "DO NOT call me in the morning and expect me to tell you over the phone...either way."  (I told him over the phone with Drue!)

I woke up, took the test and left the bathroom.  I was shaking.  How in the world could I be "doing this" to my baby girl! She's just one.  Are we even ready for another baby?

Well...Ready or not...There was one coming!  As soon as he knew I'd be up, Ryan called.  Obviously, my tone let him know.  He was so excited.  I was a wreck.  The minute I hung up with him, I remember sitting on the side of the bath tub crying and then called my best friend, Heather and asking, "can I do this?" "how far apart are your girls?" blah, blah, blah in my new pregnant emotional state. 

And then it hit me.  I hadn't known I was pregnant for more than 5 minutes and I felt sick.  It was like my mind flipped the "pregnant people feel sick at first" switch.  Luckily, that stage was very short lived and I never puked. 

Baby Luiken was due to arrive October 8, 2005.  We found out our baby was a boy and were ecstatic to have "one of each!"  The following months were very uneventful.  No problems, praise God. 

The craziness all started at a regularly scheduled OB appointment on Thursday, September 15, 2005. 

My appointment was scheduled for mid-morning.  My mom had just finished painting the nursery and moving the furniture around the night before and decided that night that she'd take the morning off work and watch Drue.  This would be the first appointment my midwife would check me for any progress and Drue wouldn't have to sit through all of that. This was the first of now weekly appointments I would have in Waterloo.  I remember Mom saying, "I should take you girls' picture this morning" and Ryan saying, "I bet they just keep you" the night before.  Why would they say that, other than the huge belly there were no signs of a baby coming any time soon. 

The nurse called my name, I changed into my gown and when the midwife came in, she asked, "would you like me to check you or not this month?  We wouldn't normally start until next week's visit, but it's up to you."  "Sure, why not!" I was anxious to hear if anything was going on!

Mrs. Boote's eyes popped out of her head.  "Hmm." I got nervous.  I immediately thought she'd tell me Baby Boy was breach was already dreading the process of turning him.  When she blurted out, "Um. I dont' think I can let you go home today...unless you want to send your husband in for a crash course in how-to-deliver-a-baby!  You're dilated to a 6 and when I checked you I made you a 7!"

What!? Our little guy wasn't supposed to be here for almost an entire month!  Is he ok? Is he even fully developed yet? She assured me he would be fine, but they'd be ready if not. She also asked if I'd been having contractions.  I told her I definitely had not...or at least I didn't think so? Wouldn't I have been able to tell?

Before I left she scheduled my admission to the hospital for 1:00 that afternoon.  It was so weird knowing that later that day, we'd have our son.  So what's a girl to do in the 2 hours before she knows she's going to be in labor?  Duh, I went to Target. 

I also had to get a hold of Ry to tell him the news.  Ironically, he was preg-checking cows.  I couldn't get him to answer his phone, so I called my dad.   I still remember his, "Oh! Oh Jeez! I'll tell Ryan!" I think he thought things were happening right NOW.  Ryan had time to go home, shower, grab our bags (yes, I had them ready) and I called Mom to let her know she would be starting her 2 weeks vacation THAT day! She occupied DD all day and waited for our call.

To be quite honest, I don't remember a lot of the day after being admitted to the hospital.  The midwife came in to break my water around 2:30.  Obviously, I needed some help since I was not in active labor.  I had the pitocin drip and she would up my dose every once and a while.  However, so would the nurses.  Around supper time, I dismissed Ryan from his duties so he could grab something to eat. We both figured it would be a long night since things were moving so slowly.  While he was gone all heck broke loose!

Beepers started beeping, alarms started going off, doctors, the midwife, an army of nurses ran in to my room.  I had no idea what was going on, I didn't feel any different.  The stuck an oxygen mask on me, gave the baby oxygen (still not exactly sure how that all works?!) and stopped my drip.  After a few very scary minutes, the nurses started calming down and the worried looks on everyone's faces diminished.  Come to find out, the midwife was upping my pitocin and so were the nurses...the midwife was not recording every time she made a change so I was getting WAY too much.  I'm still not sure if Lane's heart rate went crazy high (I'm thinking?) or if it dropped dangerously low? I just know if was very scary...and Ryan missed it all.

When Ry made it back to my room, everything was exactly as it had been when he left, he almost didn't believe my story until a cute nurse confirmed it. 

We decided to take the safer route and let nature run it's course.  We were told it would be a long night and try to get some rest. 

At 7:00 p.m. Ryan decided to call my Mom and Drue and let them know they won't be needing to come visit us tonight.  Drue's brother wouldn't be born for several hours.

Mom didn't believe him when 23 minutes later Ryan was able to call her back and say, "You have a grandson!"

I'm telling you, babies just fall out of me!  I could probably sneeze one out if I wanted to! =)  I pushed 3 times, for about 90 seconds...and there HE was!

Lane Ryan Luiken.  7 pounds, 21 inches.  The cutest little boy I had ever seen.  The first thing I noticed was his perfect head.  I still love that head! (and take pictures of it often!)  I also remember him looking up at me with his bloody little hat on and a crossed eye...like "are you my mommy?" 

Lane was perfectly healthy.  Perfectly perfect.  He stole my heart that day and has continued to wrap himself around my finger every day since then.  Seriously,  I am so in love with that boy.  He knows just how to smooch on me and what to say to make me smile.  How am I supposed to discipline him!? He is defintely all boy but he has such a tender heart and is so very polite and caring.  He can play soccer, basketball and baseball with the best of them...but can turn around and write me a love note the next minute.  Perfectly perfect. He's going to make someone a wonderful husband...and his mommy jealous! =)

Lane completed our family of four and Ryan and I thank God everyday for blessing us with the opportunity to care and love for His children, who we also get to call OURS.

I love you, Dig!

Our Litte Old Man.  I thought for sure he looked more like the Balvanz side. 

But, these days I'm starting to wonder? Can't one kid resemble me?

Seriously!  I could eat him up! He's always loved balls and sports...

somethings never change!

I told you! I have a ton of pictures of the BACK of his head!

This is from his birthday week 2009.  We rode on Thomas the Train!

 I can brag, can't I? 

He's honestly, just a natural when it comes to sports.

He's just an all around little athlete!

Digga Dean on his 6th Birthday, with the gift he'd been asking for for half of the year!

Want to read DD's birth story? Click Drue Kathleen's Birth Story