Dear Mason,

Dear Mason,
The day you were born was an amazing, life changing day. I want to tell you all about it. Your daddy and I got to the hospital about 7:45 the morning of November 18, 2010 to induce you. We decided to induce so Dr. Locke would be there since you were due Thanksgiving Day. They gave me the medicine and everything got started that morning. You had many visitors waiting for you and they all wanted to see me before your arrival. Two by two, our families filed in to see your mama in labor. Contractions soon started. The anesthesiologist had a surgery to get to, so our sweet nurse Lela had him rush in and give me the epidural before his surgery. This was very scary. Since he was rushed, he just ran in, flipped me around and was really rough with me. I was crying and Ryon wasn't sure about what was going on either. I was thankful to not have to wait for him to get out of surgery, however, the manner in which he rushed the process was not a fun one at all. The medicine soon kicked in though and my legs were numb for the rest of the day. This was probably around 1:00 or so. Daddy and I weren't prepared for all the waiting time. We literally just laid around the labor room, I slept a bit, and he tried to watch some t.v. Needless to say, our families had been waiting in the lobby since about nine that morning and were getting anxious for your arrival. My body was responding to the medicine and I was slowly dialating. Our friend Lindsey Roby brought our families Taco Villa so they didn't have to leave for lunch, what a wonderful friend. And you are bound to be her son Ty's friend forever! Can't wait for yall to play together. The families ordered pizza for dinner and Ryon was able to grab a piece before all was eaten! At 7, it was the nurse shift change, so there we went, meeting new nurses! You just didn't want to come soon at all. We had fun sending funny pictures to the family back and forth as they were delirious by now in the waiting room. About 9 that evening I was able to start pushing. I was excited for this part, this was what he had been waiting for and I had been really excited to go thru this process. You dad was much more involved than he thought he was going to be, and was such a wonderful coach. The only thing I really didn't like about the process was my legs being so numb. I didn't like watching Ryon pick my legs up, watching them move, but not being able to feel it. So there I was, I started pushing for your arrival. I pushed for about an hour and a half. The nurse was keeping an eye of your stats during the process. I had pushed you so well that the nurse could see your hair! I was really proud of myself at this point, however that's when they called Dr. Locke and everything changed in an instant. Dr. Locke got there and apparently your heart rate fell every time I pushed. This was obviously not a safe thing. That's when the decision was made to do an emergency c-section. This scared both me and your father. They gave Ryon a minute to go tell our families, of course, he cried, for fear of everything that had happened that day and the fear of the unknown now. They gave your dad his scrubs and he quickly changed as they got me ready for surgery. As they wheeled me out to surgery, I looked down the hall to see our families faces pressed against the glass as tight as can be. I blew a kiss as they wheeled me down the hall. The surgery was the worst experience I have ever had in my entire life. But you are cute and you were worth it :) They strapped my arms down, which they always do. But the worst part was that since it was such an emergency, the medicine didn't have time to kick in entirely throughout my body. I'm pretty sure I felt a lot more pain than I was supposed to. It was awful! I could feel every tug and every pull. Mason, you were so far down into my pelvis, that Dr. Locke had to get some help in pulling you out! We soon heard your cry and it was just so sweet. The Dr. brought you over to me so I could see you, and I'm not going to lie, you looked really weird, you were kind of a blue color. But you opened up your eyes and looked right into mine as he held you there. It made the process all worth it! You were amazing. You were born at 11:32 pm., November 1, 2010, and were 6 pounds, 9 ounces and 19 inches long. Now, you will see pictures, but you looked very beat up when you finally came out. You had a very large bruise and cut on your head where you were lodged into my pelvis. But you also had a bruise on your shoulder, and then a cone head from my pushing as well! You were a mess! They took me to recovery and daddy joined you in the nursery where the family finally got to see you. I remember Daddy came to my bedside to check on me and he was just sooooo excited since he had just been with you. I told him to not worry about me and to join you. I was so tired. That night, the nurses brought you to me at about 3:30. You were perfect, but I was so drugged up still and tired that I only spent about 15 minutes with you and had the nurses come back to get you. I felt bad, but I couldn't stay awake to enjoy you! The next few days were filled with lots of fun with family and friends coming to see you. Ryon was delivered lots of food by TK and V Daddy thank God for the both of them helping us while we were in the hospital. It was so nice to have them available to help us with things. We were ready to take you home on Sunday when the Dr. came in to tell us you had a small case of jaundice. You needed to stay in the hospital under the lights in the nursery for the day and over night. I was discharged from the hospital but was kept in the same room. Basically, the nurses just didn't take care of me anymore and the nursery took care of you! Your daddy and I visited you in the nursery that night and I had my first "cry" moment has I sat there watching you lay with your little sun shades on as a Christmas song played over the speaker. You were a gift from God and I couldn't believe he trusted your daddy and me to take care of you for the rest of your life. We came home the next day, Monday. We were very ready! Four and a half days in the hospital was way too many. Your great granny and grandaddy came in from Baird that day to meet you. They had also welcomed your cousins, Crew, Jax, and Samuel that same week! You were a lucky little boy. We have been home for a few days now and are learning how to take care of you. You smile all the time now! Which is so funny to watch. Right now your daddy is getting ready to put up our Christmas tree and you are swinging in your fish swing. You are screaming, of course! But you look pretty darn cute. It's almost feeding time, lucky me. Dubya and Bradley have been watching you all day. Dub tried to eat one of your toys, and I found it in the back yard! Mean ol' uncle Dub. I feel so blessed to be your mom and have your daddy by my side. I'll be sure to share all your funny stories with you and your future friends and girl friends :)
Love, Mom