BETTER TOGETHER: Welcome Brinton Dan Rappleye!

Thursday morning at 4:12 am I was woken up by some contrations. I'd been contracting for 10 weeks now, but I knew instantly that this was the real deal. I stayed in bed until 4:40, then got up and stretched and showered. I woke Devin up about 5:30 and told him it's baby time. He was planning on going to the temple that morning and he was so disoriented and said, "So should I go to the temple or not?" haha.

I called my mom and she came over to stay with the girls. We got to IHC at 6:30 am. I got checked in and I was dilated to a 6. The nurse was so great. She read my file and said, ok, you want tot go natural correct? OK. You don't want to be hooked up to an IV correct? Ok great. You can walk the halls, stay in this room, whatever you want. Do you want a medicine ball? Yes? ok I'll go get it.

I came in to the hospital already exhuasted. Devin and I realized we weren't going to have a weeekend for a while so we stayed up really late Tuesday and Wednesday nights watching a movie and playing games and just spending quality time togehter. I thought it was fantastic, until mid labor and I'm so exhausted that all I wanted to do was lay in the bed and endure the contractions. It was no wonder that I was still at a 6 at 7:30- after a whole hour of pretty painful labor.

Just then Dr Thackeray walked in. I told him pre-labor I wanted to just see what my body does this time, since my water has never broken on its own. But when I saw his beautiful face, I told him to forget what I said and break my water immediately- let's get this done! It was extra painful after that. Devin walked me through it telling me I'm strong and can do it. He held my hand and let me lean on him when I was doubled oer in pain. Dr. Thackeray came back in at 8:15 and I said- let's do this dance.

I wasn't sure if i needed to push yet, but I was done being in labor. They got the table/bed all set up and I pushed once. Dr. Thackeray said he saw the head. I pushed a handful more times. I was in so much pain, I was letting out these blood curdling screams- and I could hear them couming out, but I couldn't control them or stop them. Ha! The head came out and I completely deflated. The nurses and Dr. were saying one more push, ok, one more push. I was so exhausted I was only half heartedly pushing until thankfully a nurse yelled at me and said, "Curl your body around your stomach and push that baby out!!" After that, Brinton came right out.

I was so relieved it was over, I layed back on the bed and closed my eyes and just breathed for a few seconds. I realized Dr. Thackeray was talking to me he said- Joslyn, Joslyn! look down!" He was holding the most beautiful baby boy I have ever seen in my entire life. For a sec I was so thankful it was over I completely forgot about meeting Brinton. Dr. Thackeray put him on my chest and he was so beautiful and perfect and I couldn't believe how pure and precious he was and that he was mine. I felt so quickly a deep love and connection with him. He was 8.1 lbs, 21 inches long, a decent amount of black hair, really big hands and feet.

Dr. Steven Thackeray with us. He is by far my favorite Dr we've had. He delivered both Myla and Brinton.

Grandma Beck brought the girls to meet him. Cambry and Vienna were so excited.

Grandma Beck got them all "Big Sister" t-shirts and 2 out of 3 were so happy and proud of that fact.

Cambry made sure he had all his fingers and toes.

Myla was really excited to find the cracker and juice supply in the family area, and completely ignored Brinton and whoever was holding him.

Poor princess Myla, dethroned by your baby brother.

Grandma Ber always brought a big fruit basket filled with all sorts of fiber to help new moms have some healthy snacks to move things along inside hehe.

I brought Grandma Ber's picture to help remind me to be strong like her through labor. I felt her presence and her strength during labor and after. If I can't have her here on earth, it's so nice to know that she isn't too far away.

Some family came to meet Brinton, and we took pics of some of them (for once I have a legitimate excuse why i didn't take pics- I just had a baby!!). Both Grandparents came and some of our siblings and friends.

Here's aunt Jessica