Show Off....

Another eventful evening in the Merrell home tonight.

Today was crazy, i spent my entire morning getting everything ready for Liams arrival. Cleaning, scrubbing, painting and organizing everything in sight and I must say, it looks DANG good. If Liam could care, he totally would and he'd feel so welcome...I assume.
   I was exhausted, I hadn't felt Liam kick all morning but I figured its because I've been so busy. When I'm active, he doesn't move much.
 Work was even crazier. Last minute move outs, empty checks, tours, phones ringing off the hook and tenants coming in every 15 minutes with various issues, questions and business to deal with. Chad and I walked in the house from our crazy day at the same time and collapsed.
   Shortly after, I realized that I hadn't really felt Liam all day. Most of the time, I apply a little pressure to my bulgie belly and he'll kick right back and squirm around a little. So I lightly pressed on my belly and I felt him flop in the direction I pressed, no kicks, not movement, just me moving what felt like dead weight from one side of my stomache to the other.
Fear shot through my entire body. Chad asked me what was wrong, he knew something happened when he saw all the color leave my face and tears fill my eyes.
   I waited a moment for any sign of movement and pushed lightly again, only to experience the same horrible flop of weight what felt like my babys small balled up, precious body moving motionless from one side of me to the other.
   Tears everywhere. No noise just tears and confusion. I rushed to my bed without even acknowledging Chads questions and concern for me. I laid on my left side crying, trying to relax and wait for the baby to move.
Nothing
30 minutes
Still Nothing
By this time, I had told Chad what I was so worried about and he suggest we call the doctor. After speaking with our doctors office on call nurse, she looked at my folder and asked me a few question. Since I hadn't eaten for 4 hours and he still hadn't moved, she said I needed to go to labor and delivery for an exam and monitoring.

More tears.
I couldn't shake the thought that the worst had happened.

Chad grabbed me and said in a calm steady voice "Everything's going to be ok, I promise"
   We grabbed our hospital bags and rushed up to the hospital where Chad dropped me off at the door so I could get a head start while he parked. By the time he made it up there, I was in my gown and ready to get some answers. Our nurse, Fay was the sweetest. She grabbed me some cold apple juice to coax Liam into moving and hooked up the monitors to find a heart beat.
The longest 15 seconds of my life, waiting to hear that heart beat. sure enough, he was there, hiding from mom and dad and Nurse Fay. I could breathe again, Chad gave out an audible sign of relief and smiled ear to ear at me!
  The nurse said she needed to see a few signs of health before we could leave so I'd need to be monitored for at least 30 minutes and feel him move at least once. As they monitored me, I watched myself have contractions and heard the heart beat of my little man go up and back down with each one. 20 minutes in and still no movement but I was so relieved to hear that heart beat, I was ok with that.
   Dr. Codd (my favorite person ever) had just delivered a baby and came in to check on me. He was very reassuring and told me I was smart to come in and get things checked out. He gave me and exam and much to my dismay, I am still at a 2 but he also said that I have a very health amount of fluid and my contractions looked promising.
   Right before the 30 minute mark and a full glass of cold applejuice later, i finaly felt little Liam move.
Sure, now that there's a doctor and a nurse watching, do a little dance for everyone.... show off.
   Dr. Codd checked everything else and answered a few questions for us about inductions...bleh. Its becoming more of a reality for us unfortunately and I've tried to educate myself as much as I can, but its hard to know whats best to do. Dr. Codd tried to help but he kind of made the decision even harder ( but I love how much freedom he gives me choices he offers). Chad and I will have to pray about it and hopefully Liam will help us decide but as of right now, induction is set for Friday at 5:30 am and I cancelled my appointment for tomorrow seeing as I was just examed.
   While we waited to be discharged I held Chads hand and looked at him with awe. He handled everything with so much strength and gentlness, that of which I have never seen from him before. I asked him how he was so collected and strong during all that. He said "I wasn't, I was terrified. I dropped you off at the doors and parked the car and cried and prayed for a few minutes. I knew everything was going to be ok"

I'm unspeakable grateful that my son has my husband for a father. He's so wonderful.

As the mood lightened I realized that Liam was just giving us a little costo style taste test of the rest of our lives. He is going to scare me so many more times with his with his genetically wreckless and fun loving personality. He's a little show off and I'm glad I have his dad to help me raise him and share the worry with.

Tonight was so scary but even though Chad was as scared as I was, he knew, as I know now that everything's going to be ok!