Jordan's Birth Story

I know this is almost 2 years late but it's better late than never. I wanted to document this for Jordan and my family.

Jordan's scheduled due date was April 15, 2010. At the beginning of the pregnancy I got a phone call regarding my platelets (the blood component that helps your blood clot). I needed to go in and get my blood tested a week later to see if they had gone up any. I really wasn't concerned. I figured that they would be low because it was the beginning of the pregnancy and usually the blood count levels are low. Well, my levels hadn't really gone up so off too the hematologist I go.

I was okay with going until I saw that they were with an oncologist group and in the Piper Cancer building. Just the word cancer and oncologist is a scary thought. The thoughts that went through my head was "are they going to find cancer? What if I have cancer, who is going to take care of my babies? I can't have cancer, what are you thinking?" So my first appointment I had went good but I had to get my blood drawn. 16 viles of blood... That's a lot of blood to have drawn. I then have to return every week to get my blood drawn for platelet levels and I'm suppose to see the oncologist every so often.

I returned to the oncologist to see what my results are from my blood test. They found a minor discrepancy in my blood so more testing of my blood is needed. They continued to look into what was going on in my blood. After several more tests and more detailed tests they noticed that there was a little hint in the autoimmune family that includes rheumatoid arthritis. There isn't enough to say that I have it so instead the test are all inconclusive. So now I need to just continue the weekly tests for my platelet levels. By the time I delivered Jordan, my platelets only dropped to 126,000. Normal range is 150,000-400,000. It never dropped to a dangerous level.

Other than the platelet issue, the pregnancy went really well. I continued to work through out the pregnancy. I was nearing my due date and since I had to be induced with Logan I figured that I would have to be induced with Jordan. I asked the doctor if I could be induced the Friday before the 15th. She said no. So the Monday following it is. I wanted it before because Grandpa and Grandma Niebuhr were planning on coming down that weekend and I didn't want them to miss the birth.

April 9th it wasn't a busy busy day at work and we were done with surgeries so I decided to go home. Marshanna told me that i was going to deliver that weekend. I said absolutely not, no way. I had to many things to do. I needed to get the house packed because we were in the process of purchasing a house (good timing I know). So Friday and Saturday I packed things up, moved boxes around, and started to get things cleaned up. Apparently I did too much because Sunday morning I woke up at 4 am with braxton hicks contractions... or so I thought. I went back to sleep but woke up at 430 with more contractions. once again I thought they were still braxton hicks. Then they got stronger and started to hurt more. I continued to time them. They were between 5-7 min apart. I was still denying that i was in labor so I started to time them on my phone to make sure. They were still 5-7 min apart and then they suddenly went to 2-3 minutes apart. I thought, oh no, we need to go.

We got thing packed and got Logan up. We took Logan to Diana's house at 5 am and continued to drive to Scottsdale Shea. AJ's is driving as fast as he can on the 101 Loop freeway, but that wasn't fast enough for me. I'm still timing my contractions to keep my mind off of the pain. Here are the time intervals that I saved:

6:13
5:39
2:52
5:28 (I thought... wow, a break, maybe I'm not in labor)
2:57
1:56 (oh yup... i am in labor)
2:13
2:21
1:48
1:54
1:52
1:59
2:08
2:13
2:09
2:11
3:31
2:14
2:25
2:23
2:56
2:58
2:00
1:57
2:15 (AJ telling me I can stop timing cause we are in the delivery room)

When we got to the hospital, AJ dropped me off at the front doors and went to park the car... are you serious?!? park the car, park it in the valet, it's 5 am who cares about who is going to need to park there once valet opens up. It seemed that I was waiting forever for him to show up back at the front door. Even a employee at the hospital saw me there and didn't know what to do with me.. she just gave me a blank stare and asked, "ummm... are you in labor?" Well yeah!! Can't you tell by the pain that I'm in. I told her yes and said that my AJ would be coming and getting me any second. AJ gets to the front door and I get into a wheelchair so he can push me to Labor and Delivery. As he was going down the hallway I kept telling him to go faster... He was running already.

We get into the delivery room and I get undressed, on the bed, and I'm feeling the need to push.... Actually I HAVE to push. I can't help it and i tell the nurse that I have to push. I push and my water breaks and out comes Baby JJ. No doctor was able to make it to the delivery. Not even the on call doctor at the hospital. Eventually my doctor made it my room but it was well after Jordan was born. I like to give my nurses a challenge.

Jordan James Spencer was born at 5:33 am. 8lbs 8.9 oz and 21 inches long. He was beautiful. I was in pain, and couldn't stop shaking. He had blondish hair and was perfect in every way. I can't believe that I was able to deliver a baby naturally without any drugs and no epidural. I can't believe my beautiful baby boy was finally here and EARLY!

Poor AJ... everything happened so fast. I looked at him and he looked white as snow and about to faint. I had never seen him like that. I made him sit down so he wouldn't faint. I thought it was so funny because nothing normally affects him.

Welcome to the world Jordan. You are such an amazing and perfect little one. We love you so much!