Jensen's Birth Story

World meet Jensen Hugh Alfaro born November 25, 2011 at 7:03pm, 6lbs 11 oz. 

Here I am at 9 months pregnant one week before Jensen's arrival.

This is the last family photo taken on Thanksgiving just about 24 hours before Jensen was born and then before I knew it we were here...

 This photo is raw and real but a picture of the most painful and wonderful experience of my life. Jensen's birth story is SO different from Jett's. My labor began Thanksgiving night about 10pm and I had contractions through the following day but they ranged 7-20 minutes apart. They were pretty severe but I waited to go to the hospital because they were inconsistent and far apart. Finally around 4:30pm on November 25 Josh made the call that we should go to the hospital. We stopped at the  Starbucks drive thru on the way...not in a rush at all! We arrived at triage about 5:30pm and Josh sent out a text that I was measuring at a 6. His next text was sent at 7:03pm announcing Jensen's birth! Our family and friends were shocked how quickly he arrived! And boy were we shocked.

After the triage nurse discovered I was already a 6 she quickly took me to labor and delivery. I remembered her asking "would you like an epidural or would you like to go for it on your own". Josh and I laughed...."epidural please!" At this point the contractions were very intense and very close. God knew the road ahead and blessed me with a wonderful nurse and friend's wife, Krissy. She came in to my room simply to help out and get me registered but the events that followed progressed so quickly that she stayed for the delivery. I will always remember the sweet prayer she prayed over us before the craziness began. Shortly after she said "Megan I have to be real with you...you are progressing too quickly and there will not be time for an epidural." I thought to myself "okay this has been done for generations, I can do this"...my eyes remained closed from then on and it was organized chaos in my room. The doctor on call was paged (my doc was on vaca in Alaska) and they were quickly prepping the room for birth....birth, what?! I just got here! I remember Krissy saying I need to ask you questions and have you sign some forms, she also had to put in an IV. All the while I was having excruciating contractions very close together...maybe one to two breaths in between. I was a yeller. I never thought I would scream out but oh heavens I couldn't help it. Krissy had to get in my face and help me to breath..."breath for the baby Megan". Hee Hee huuuu, Hee Hee huu. (Josh does a great impression of the breathing technique). I had a death grip on Josh's bicep (thanks for being buff honey) and the bed rail while my face was buried in the pillow.  I didn't think I could tolerate the pain but I did and...

 ... he came. Boy did he come quickly once the doctor arrived at the hospital. Three pushes (it was three hours of pushing with Jett!) and he was here. Amazing. The hardest and most painful experience of my life but amazing. Lets just say the pain scale 1-10 has a new meaning. I know what a 10 is :).

 Our precious boy, Jensen Hugh. Thank you Lord.

Pure joy and RELIEF! My wonderful husband on the other side of the camera, eyes welled up with tears of joy.

 Krissy, the wonderful nurse who got me through labor. A gift from God who will always be a part of Jensen's story.

Daddy held Jensen's hand from the moment he was born. 

 We kept Jensen's name a secret until he was born. Josh heard the name from the race car driver, Jensen Button. He shared it with me and I loved it because it held more significance as it is a family name. My great grandmother, Lilian Jensen, came to the states from Denmark as a young girl. Jensen's middle name Hugh is after his late Papa who passed in January of 2010. We miss Papa Hugh and love to call our boy Jensen Hugh.

The hospital was very quiet because it was Thanksgiving weekend and there were very few scheduled inductions or c-sections which meant a private room for us. Josh was able to spend the night and visitors came and went during our brief 24 hour stay. Some of our friends brought us coffee and our favorite sweets. I really enjoyed the company.

The morning after Jensen's birth I was so excited to see Jett and introduce him to his little brother.  He liked baby brother but REALLY liked the "race car" rolling bassinet he slept in. He pushed it all over the room. 

Besta and Papa's first time meeting Jensen.

Grandma Susan brought Papa Hugh's red roses to the room so that Jensen would have a 

part of Papa with him. 

 

My friend Katie and I were due just days apart and she ended up having an emergency c-section the day after Jensen was born! Cambria Lynn Scalzo was just a few doors down from us. 

All Aboard! Halloween 2011

Jett was a train conductor for Halloween, although he did not want to wear his hat or red scarf. Getting these few photos with his adorable hat on required shameless bribery.  After working all day I rushed to Grandma Susan's house. I had a 10 minute window to snap a few photos before meeting Josh for trick or treating. I came armed with everything I thought I needed to guarantee at least a few good photos...stickers and suckers. We battled..."Jett if you let Mommy put your hat on I'll give you a sucker", Jett responded with his new favorite word "NOT!" and ran off. This continued for a few minutes as I unleashed the worst parenting skills...ha! Finally I caved, "FINE, here is your sucker now put on the hat!". And so I did get a few cute photos of my train conductor enjoying his sucker. 

Minnie Mouse and Ariel...Avery and Grace. I love these girls and so does Jett. He prays for them each night. 

We just bought a house in the same neighborhood as the Scalzos (more to come on this later) and decided to trick or treat in our new neighborhood. I was very impressed by how many houses were decorated. The Dads went to the door with the kids as the Moms (both of us 9 months pregnant) waddled along. 

After every house Jett and Avery wanted to hop back into the stroller. Jett loved watching the wheels go over the "bumps" in the road. In and out, in and out...it was so funny! 

Tractor Party!

For Jett's 2nd Birthday we had a TRACTOR PARTY!! (it is only said loud and enthusiastically at our house). It was a wonderful celebration. Jett doesn't have any young cousins but he is blessed with many, many little friends...the children of our friends. Their were little people everywhere and I loved it! Most important Jett had so much fun bouncing, singing and eating his new love, the cupcake. He sang "happy birthday to you" as he fell asleep that night and continued to sing it for the next few weeks.

Papa and Besta

Grandma Susan

Uncle Joe Joe and Jamie. 

Grandma Susan decided to rent a bounce house. It was a hit! The kids were entertained the entire evening and the birthday boy really enjoyed it. 

It has become a tradition for Josh's Mom to make the party treat bags and lead the kids in an activity. This year she created pig puppets and ducky hats. They sang a song about the three little pigs and another song about a duck. Jett really enjoyed being Grandma's assistant and proudly wore his 

ducky hat. 

My friend Tamara frosted the cupcakes to create a grass texture. I made cupcake toppers that looked like tractor tires. Jett LOVES cupcakes and now request them on a regular basis or when ever he hears the word "birthday.

The girls enjoying their cupcakes.

The grandparents bought Jett a John Deere tractor he can ride with bicycle pedals. Jett calls it his "Tractor Party".