From Morgon Mae's Facebook photo album:
"Tanya's water broke at 4:45 Saturday morning. After 35 hours of intermittent contractions, breast pumping, penicillin IVs and waiting for nature to take over, Tanya received Pitocin and geared up for labor. For the first several hours, she was composed and very self-contained. Around 10 p.m. Sunday, contractions really started slamming into her and she mastered them with breathing and moving, refusing pain medication so that she and the baby could be alert for the birth. With Jon conducting, Tanya pushed Kai into life with amazing power at 2:21 a.m. Monday, July 13, 2009."
I keep thinking I need to write down what happened before I forget, but I'm not sure I can do the experience justice. It is overwhelming how challenging it was and how proud I am of myself for just surviving the experience, let alone being able to do it without pain medication and in the company of some very supportive and understanding partners. Jon was the most patient and compassionate partner I could have hoped for. He was paying attention, and as soon as we both let go of our expectations of what managing the labor would be, we were able to communicate and get through it. Morgon Mae, cast as the "bucket rinser" never had to rinse a single bucket, though she did have to fetch ice. The documentation of the event couldn't have been enough if it weren't for her insatiable curiousity and commitment to the experience. Ugh. I'm completely overwhelmed by how lucky I was to have you two there. You both believed I was capable of succeeding in the best possible birth for our son and myself and I won't ever be able to recipricate that gift.
Anyway-I'll come back with the blow-by-blow soon- I need a tissue.
Here are some photos of the little guy. He's got Jon toes and my upper lip. Last night, he had my temperment.
