Grayson Shepherd Hall birth story

Graysons due date was Saturday, January 29th but he was born Monday, January 14th in the evening. I wasn’t expecting him to come early at all but I woke up Monday morning and started feeling contractions. I still hadn’t lost my mucus plug (that I could tell) so I didn’t think My body was ready yet. However, once I felt contractions that hurt, I believed it was going to happen soon.

I tried to go about my day as normal- helping kids get ready, preparing breakfast, doing laundry, cleaning up, etc. Malcolm was studying for his NPTE which was a week and a half away. He was headed out to the library to study when I asked if would stay home with us instead. He agreed :) And by the afternoon, my contractions were becoming more consistent.

Jamee, my sister who lives nearby, said we could bring the kids over to spend the night just in case it happened that evening. Malcolm took Reece and Brody over at about 4:00 while I stayed home and got my stuff ready just in case we needed to head to the hospital.

About dinner time, the contractions were becoming increasingly intense. They hurt. It didn’t matter what position I was in or what I was doing- they hurt. So, I filled the bath with water and tried to watch some funny shows on my phone. The bath was the only thing that helped  with the pressure and pain.

I started to think that I should call my doctors office and let my midwives know that I was probably going into the hospital tonight. I had been having a lot of anxiety about who would be there to deliver because neither one of them were on call that weekend and I didn’t know the on call doctor. I was worried that whoever came would not be welcoming of a natural birth or would be inexperienced the process of natural delivery. But one of my midwives, Lynn Andersen, has mentioned that I could call before I go into the hospital to give her a heads up in case she could make it.

I had said many prayers about having this particular midwife be there and that all would go well. Although I didn’t know what would happen, I felt like everything was in Heavenly Father’s hands and it would be okay.

So, I called my doctors office but  no one was answering. I was feeling discouraged. I finally reached he after hours line, after the closed, and the lady told me that she could not contact or leave a message for my midwives because it was after hours and they had already left. I was frustrated because I had been trying to call the clinic 30 minutes before their closing time to reach the midwives but no one had answered until the after hours line became available. I was sad and anxious but I had no choice but to just have faith and move forward.

I spent some more time in the bath until my contractions were 7 minutes apart and painful. I told Malcolm I felt like it was time to go to the hospital. (It would take 30 minutes to get to Renown Hospital in Reno from where we lived in sparks.)

So, he loaded all our stuff in the car and we headed out to door at about 7:20. On our way to the hospital, we joked around and tried to have fun. 😁 my contractions were becoming increasingly closer and more intense that by the time we parked at the hospital, they were 3-5 minutes apart. I had to stop and breath when a contraction came as we headed inside. I noticed women would look and have compassion on me and men would just walk past, barely even looking 🤣

We checked into the hospital at about 8:00pm and I was not able to stand up straight anymore when a contraction came. I told them who my midwives were and what clinic I was a part of. How it’s supposed to work is they would look up who the on call doctor is at my clinic and then call him/her to let them know I was there.

But when one of the nurses heard me say my midwives names, she said, “oh! Lynn was just here delivering a baby and was headed out- let me see if I can catch her!” I was so happy to hear that.

Lynn came through the door and said that they had notified the on call doctor (who was a student) and he was supposed to be coming but that she would stay until then. She checked to see how far along I was, and I was a 7!!  I couldn’t believe it! Thank goodness! I told her that my last delivery went really fast once I made it to transition. So, she felt like she should stay in the room with me instead of just with the nurses.

They started me on a dose of antibiotics because I had tested positive for Strep B. At about 8:30, I started to feel like I was going through transition. I had turned down pain killers. I didn’t like


The epidural because of back pain and bruising I experienced afterwards. And the only other options during delivery were medications that would make me drowsy or “out of it” and I didn’t want that.

But by the time I reached an 8, it was so intense I was starting to regret my decision to do it naturally. But by this time, it’s too late and you can only go forward.

The student ended up not coming because of something and Lynn told him that she would stay to deliver instead. My prayers had been answered once again.

In these moments, when it’s most intense, and you are so close to bringing a child into this world, is when I have felt Heavenly Father’s presence the most. I almost audibly hear him in my mind encouraging me and sharing His love and comfort. I remember begging for His help to have strength and He responded with encouraging words and just telling me He’s there. It is a very powerful, spiritual moment. Transition felt like it lasted forever. I want to say it was lasted an hour but it could have been shorter. (It always feels longer to the person whose hand is held on a hot stove.)

Finally, after I had received all of my antibiotics, I was able to push. I felt ready to push and wanted to. I had never felt that before with Reece or Brody. Reece, I had an epidural and with Brody, we broke my water at a 7 and he was born 20 minutes later (literally just slipped out.)

This part was very intense as well. My midwife coached me on how quickly to push and when to slow down. It was very hard to control but I feel like I had so much heavenly help.

My water broke when he was coming out and I saw it burst and spray everyone 🤣 (eww). My midwife had prepared with a full wet suit 🤣. When he was all out, the first feeling I had was relief. He was born at 9:34pm. They put him on my chest but his cord was very short so he couldn’t reach up very high before my placenta was delivered. He was pretty blue and was crying. I remember saying, “he’s blue, is he okay??” And after a minute, they took him and gave him oxygen to help with his color. Malcolm cut the umbilical cord.

Grayson was such a sweet baby. I think he was a 9 on the apgar scale. I got stitched up while they weighed and measured him. I couldn’t believe how fast it went. I mean, transition was painfully long. But I had just barely checked into her hospital at 8 and he was born at 9:30!

Momma Hall met us at the hospital and held my hand when I wanted her to. It was nice to have a motherly figure there. Malcolm was great with putting pressure on my back and using hot pads when I needed.

After I was wheeled into the recovery room, they started me on petocin. The cramps were miserable and I couldn’t sleep even with a high dose of ibuprofen. I was supposed to have another bag but I asked not to have it. After a while of convincing my nurse (because she said 2 bags is hospital policy), she finally removed the petocin and my cramping stopped. The cramps were like intense contractions.

I was so relieved and so grateful that everything worked out okay. And that it was over. I was also amazed at how the Lord answered my prayers. He listens and He cares. And I’m so grateful for Him.

Brody: 6 Months

6 Months

I started solid foods and love to "chew" baby food while I watch my family eat dinner.
I like to babble and say "daddaddadaa" 
I screamed when I got my vaccines but mom was able to calm me down after a few minutes
I get VERY distracted while nursing and constantly turn to see what that noise was.
I eat better when I'm sleepy and relaxed. I'm going 3-4 hours before nursing again.
I love to watch my sister run, jump, and play.
I laugh when other people laugh
I am starting to push up on all fours and "rock"
I want to move/crawl around so bad but I'm just starting to learn how.
I can scoot in a circle when on the kitchen floor
I LOVE to splash and make a huge mess in the bathtub
I reach for/ grab everything when mom walks me around the apartment
I weighed 21 lbs at my 6 month appointment
I can have a horrible "drool rash" on my chest that gets really itchy. I'll scratch until I bleed.
Mom has to keep bibs on me all day long because I drool so much.
I have no teeth.
I love to be outside and especially watch the cars drive by.
I love to watch my sister and other kids play on the playground.
I smile from ear to ear when daddy comes home from school.
I put any and everything in my mouth.
I've started to do this weird but cute snort laugh while my mouth is wide open.
The women in Relief Society beg to hold and cuddle with me.
I am taking 3 naps a day but they are usually short unless someone holds me
I wake up 2 times a night to eat (gotta keep my weight up :)

Brody: 4 Months

 4 Months

I love to chew/suck on my pointer and middle finger
I take 4 naps a day
I love it when my sister talks to me
I am already an avid star wars fan and giggle when daddy sings
the Emperial March.
I try to eat anything and everything that gets close to my mouth
I have blowouts multiple times a week
I weigh 17 lbs and am 25 1/2 inches long
I can always find mommy in a room
I bat at things in front of me and try to grab them
I laugh when mommy dances 
I sit in my Jumperoo but haven't figured out how to jump yet
I smile and laugh at the girls in Relief Society
I hate tummy time
I love my sleeper blanket (Zipadeezip)
People tell me I have beautiful blue eyes
I'm content most of the time
I love to take walks outside
I love to sit facing the world in the baby carrier while mommy walks around
I love when people notice and talk to me
I'm wearing 6 month clothes
I don't spit up as much as I used to

Carter Andelin

This is Carter Andelin. He is one of the most talented people I know. One thing I love about him is he uses those talents to serve the people around him. Both Reece and I have scarves that Carter made! He also made this beautiful blanket for Brody and sewed Brody's name in the corners. Brody LOVES this blanket. A few Christmas's ago, Carter bought a artist's model at Barnes & Noble for himself but decided to gift it to us instead. He is such a good example to me! Thank you for always thinking of the people around you, Carter. We love you. P.S. I think it's time for an updated picture of us two!!

The day I saw my husband for who he really is.

Sometimes I get upset that my husband  doesn't like to talk much. I am definitely the type that loves to sit around and chat. Chat about anything. Light and heavy topics. And when I first got married, I viewed my relationship being like my parents (I think we all do that to some extent.) And in my parents relationship, my dad loves to talk. My dad and I  would stay up late to talk about the gospel, our lives, the stars, or anything. I never even considered being in a relationship where my husband simply doesn't like to talk much.

 Okay, don't get me wrong. We talk. But there's not a whole lot of depth there. And maybe its because we have different interests. All in all, its been a struggle in my marriage to have meaningful conversations to a depth that I yearn for.

But recently, I saw things in a different light.

We sat in a combined relief society and priesthood meeting. I began to wish my husband talked more, commented more in class or was more like ME.

But after the lesson was over, he jumped up and started putting away the tons of chairs that our ward was sitting in and needed to be put away. I went to get our daughter  from nursery and went back to find him. I couldnt find him so I started walking around. And there he was. In a whole other room of chairs with just 2 other guys putting those chairs away too.

And I began to see.

I saw the many times he has helped clean up after church activities. I saw whan people were moving and he  willingly volunteered to help them move. He showed up and worked hard until the job was done. Late at night or even early on a Saturday morning. I saw him sign up to bring a man in need of dialysis to the hospital each week because he couldn't drive himself. I saw him offering our tools and things to neighbors in need. Everyone is a neighbor to my husband. I saw him waking up early on Saturday morning to make our family pancakes and clean our apartment before going to school to study extra on his "day off". I saw him get ready and help get our children get ready for church each week without question. And stay for all his meetings. I saw him volunteer to go to campouts whenever he is needed. I saw him answer a phone call and jump in the car to go help a friend whose car broke down and is needing help. I saw him drive strangers without a car somewhere they needed to go. I saw him pay for the persons meal behind us in the drive thru. I saw him studying hard for school and never being late for class so that our family will have a future. I saw him reading his scriptures in the morning. I saw him kneeling to pray every night before bed. I saw him attending the temple.

And then this scripture came into my mind:

But Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers (or speakers) only, deceiving your own selves." John 1:22

My husband is not a hearer (or sayer) alone. He is a DOER. And that is living the heart of the gospel. And I love him even more for that.

On top of all that. He never complains. Never.

He tries to be happy all the time. And he carries so much peace and calm with him wherever he goes. He is solid. Sturdy. Patient. Kind.

I loved him when we got married. I love him even more now. And I'm excited to see the kind of man God turns him into as the years go by. Because a good man can only become great.

Brody: 3 Months

 Brody is officially 3 months old and I'm loving being his mommy more and more each day.

I am ALL smiles after I wake up and eat
I have 3 rolls on each leg
I have bright blue eyes
I know how to roll over from tummy to back
I spit up A LOT
I "gargle" at people when I notice them looking at me
I don't like to get raspberries on my belly
I sleep really well when someone is holding me
I hate to be swaddled
I love to bounce to sleep
I love my binky when I'm tired
I chew on my hands constantly
I love watching my sister play
I curl my upper lip in when I nurse
I poop only once a week
I'm starting to reach for and grab objects that are put in front of me
Daddy calls me "silly little goof ball"
Mommy calls me "Brody Bear, Brodster, Brode, Chunker, Chubby little man"
Others call me "the cutest chubby baby ever" 

And just because she's too cute:

Brody's Birth Story

I had not been nervous with this pregnancy. When I was pregnant with Reece, I was so anxious and nervous all the time. Mainly thinking about delivery and then caring for a newborn. I was blessed this time around to not be anxious until about 2 weeks prior to my due date. I had one major panic attack and got a blessing from Malcolm.

 On April 30^th at 12:30am, I started having real contractions. The kind that feel like someones stabbing you in the abdomen with a butter knife. (Gross, I know. But.. seriously. They hurt.) They started about 15 minutes apart and kept getting closer together over the next few hours until I was 2 to 5 minutes apart. I got in the bathtub at our apartment to ease the pain/pressure. And then I started throwing up. Each and every contraction made me want to vomit. I remember thinking that was so cruel! Not only was I dealing with the contractions but wanting to (and actually) hurling every 5 minutes. Then, around 3:00, I felt like it was time to go to the hospital. My contractions were staying consistently close together. Malcolm went to pick up Christie and she slept on our couch while Reece was asleep in her crib. 

We got to the hospital about 3:30am. (Why do I always go into labor during the night? I'm double exhausted! Next baby I am guaranteed to deliver during the day right??)  They had me dress in a hospital gown and checked me. (I was going to go back home if I wasn’t at 6 cm yet.) 

Thankfully, I was at a 6 so they kept me there. They went through the ton of generic hospital questions, “Are you allergic to any medicine? Have you ever done drugs? What’s your great aunt Marjorie’s dog’s social security number?” You know, all of that. Then they failed putting the IV in my right wrist and left me with a pretty good black bruise. But then successfully got it in my left. It's pretty darn hard to sit still for a needle while your having a contraction and trying not to hurl on your nurse. Bleh. That was the worst part. So they gave me some heavenly anti nausea drugs to make me normal again. Which worked instantly after taking it. 

My Midwife, Marie Horne, wanted me to walk around and keep moving before getting in the Jacuzzi tub. She said sometimes, at this stage, the Jacuzzi will slow down your contractions and you could get “stuck” at a certain point. So, we walked around a little and an hour later (about 5:30am) I was at a 7. Then, at that point, she talked us into breaking my water. I felt like I was far enough along that it was okay and Brody was in the right position for delivery. (With Reece, we broke my water when I was barely a 4 and her delivery was looooooong- and I pushed for 3 hours. I considered breaking my water so early as having something to do with her being posterior but I don’t know.) I just didn't want that same experience with Brody so I tried to wait it out as long as possible.

Eventually, we decided to go ahead and do it. We broke my water at a 7 and things got REALLY intense after that. I was able to manage the pain up until that point with breathing, pressure on my lower back, leaning against something, or sitting in the tub. But after my water broke, NONE of those things helped. I didn't want anyone to touch me. All I wanted was “counter pressure” or something to pull against so I pulled against Malcolm’s clothes and arms. Which is kind of funny because Malcolm's pet peeve is having his shirts stretched out. And I stretched his shirt out to the MAX. I wonder now what he thought about that! 

 Here's where things get good!! I remember feeling “pressure” like what women talk about when they need to push but I did not realize that I was anywhere close to the pushing stage. Wasn't I just at a 7?  So, in order to manage the pain, I asked Marie if we could try getting back in the tub. I got in the tub and remember telling Malcolm that when this next contraction came, I’d want him to pull against so I grabbed his arms and pulled to counteract the pain I was feeling. Then, to everyone’s (including my) surprise, Brody was COMING! Coming, like NOW. And that's exactly what I screamed. “He’s coming, he’s coming, right now!” Everyone kind of said “Uh huh, yeah, you’re in labor.” But when Marie looked and actually saw that I wasn't messing around (Brody's head was crowning) she pushed the emergency button and called for the nurses help. 

I remember her yelling at Malcolm, “Pull her out of the tub and set her on the chair!” (The Jacuzzi tub is not meant for laboring in, just managing pain.) So Malcolm pulled me up out of the water and set me down on a small fold up chair next to the jacuzzi and by the time I was in the chair, the baby was birthed. So, I pretty much birthed a baby in the air while being transferred to the chair from the tub.) Malcolm was just grateful to not get any blood on his shoes. HAH! Yes, that was the first thing he said to me after Brody was born. Not "Wow, good job, honey" or even "I'm so glad that's over" Just, "Is there blood on my shoes?! (looks down at his shoes) No, Pheeeewww, Okay." 

It was really exciting. And the whole time "Landslide" by Fleetwood Mac was playing on my phone. I will always have this memory when I hear that song!

It was quite the rush, I must say. I did not know what it felt like to be that far along in delivery. It was really intense but I thought I had a while to go still. And everything went so fast. I kept saying, “It’s done….it’s done…it’s all over…” while enjoying my new baby boy on my chest. I was so happy to have him and I felt so....relieved and grateful. Throughout the whole process, I had felt the whisperings of the Spirit giving me comfort, peace, and encouragement. I could hear Heavenly Father cheering me on and feeling His love for me. I shouldn't say whispers. They were more like heavenly shouts. They were very distinct and powerful enough to get through to me while I was going through something so intense. It was very special and I will never forget that.  

I looked at Malcolm. I had so much going on inside my mind and heart. But all I could think to say was, "He is SO cute." And Malcolm responded with, "Yeah, he kind of looks like a potato." 

Marie asked me later, “Did you feel any pressure, did you know at all how close you were??” I said, I remember feeling pressure, almost like a bowel movement but I had NO idea how close I was!” I said I basically had to push ONE TIME. And she corrected me saying, "No, you never pushed. He was coming anyway!"

Because Brody came so fast, I tore quite a bit. About the same amount I did with Reece. So I got wheeled back to my hospital room where they stitched me up.(I felt so bad for the nurses who had to clean up the Jacuzzi Room, wheel chair, AND the hallway to my room. Delivery is messy business, guys! Marie did not know how to do that many stitches so she called Dr. Codd in from Seasons Medical (my OB office where they work together). He “coached” her on how to do the stitches and it took 45 minutes. I was a champ during delivery but oh boy was I wuss during stitches. I kept saying, “You’re going to numb me first, right???” They did. But then if there was ever a time when I felt it even A LITTLE, I’d say, “Wait, wait, wait, I feel that! More numbing, please!!” That was almost the worst part because it took so long.

Those next couple days in the hospital where it was just Brody and I were very sweet. It was just me and my little man. He took on to nursing very quickly. He could also go longer stretches (about 3 hours in between feedings) instead of the 2 hours around the clock many newborns do. Although sleep deprived, sore, just physically/ mentally exhausted, I really enjoyed that time with him.  

It was quite the experience when we introduced Reece to Brody. Malcolm brought her in where I was holding Brody in bed. As soon as she saw him, she just stopped and stared and was thinking very hard about what was going on. She was silent for about 10 minutes. We kept saying, “The baby in Mommy’s tummy came out! This is Brody, your little brother. You are a big sister! Isn’t he so little and soft? Are you okay Reece? Reece?” And she just said “ …..Yes.” Then when she got to hold him, she perked up and just wanted to kiss him all over. She couldn’t stop kissing and touching and caressing him and holding his hands. And then she didn’t want to leave him! It was so cute. But she is definitely stronger than she thinks so I felt like I was constantly saying, “Be soft, please!” And trying to show her what soft means without Brody getting demolished. 

Photo Credit: Cami Nichelle Photography

https://www.facebook.com/camistarksphotography/

I had felt a desire to go natural in this delivery. My main reasoning was for a quicker recovery. Compared to my recovery with Reece, it has been SO much better. I almost felt 100% at 2 weeks PP. I needed a quick recovery since I moved across states the same month I delivered a baby. It’s been a huge blessing. And my delivery was quick (which I prayed for) enabling me to do it naturally. Heavenly Father answers prayers.