Preston Michael Taylor

We were blessed with an early addition (4 weeks rather than the usual 3 weeks early) to our family on November 22, 2008 at 7:26 pm. Preston weighed 5 pounds 5 ounces and measured 18 1/2 inches long. He has dark brown wavy hair and dark eyes. He has long fingers and toes just like Ben and his siblings, and just like Natalie and Lincoln did he has skin rolls instead of chub rolls. He is so quiet and calm, he barely cries and when he does it's not too loud. He really reminds me of Natalie when she was a baby--quiet and easy going. He has a mixture of both Natalie and Lincoln in his face, so it will be fun to see what he looks like as he grows. He was totally healthy when he was born and went home on time with me. He does have a bit of reflux right now that he takes Zantac for, but he is so calm you would never know it was bothersome besides it gives him a little cough and stuffy nose at times.

As for the story I had gone to the doctor the Wed. before he was born and my blood pressure was up (no surprise this happens at the end of every pregnancy) and he adjusted my medication and wanted me to come back on Sat. for a blood pressure check. In between appointments I started having contractions on Thurs. which weren't that big of a deal just a little uncomfortable at times and not very regular. But my worst fear was that I would go into labor while Ben was at work in DC with no fast way home (he rides the train). Friday the contractions were more uncomfortable and that night pretty constant and close but nothing to get me to start timing them (I've never actually gone into labor on my own--I've always been induced); however, I didn't sleep great those 2 nights.
Anyway, Friday night I pack my bag for the hospital and Ben thinks I'm being a little hasty because things will be fine. (I knew we would be having a baby on Sat.) So on Sat. morning I don't feel great but I get on with the usual family life and have breakfast and shower and I even cut Ben and Lincoln's hair before my appointment. When I went to the doctor I was sitting there waiting and having contractions about every 2 minutes or so as I looked at the clock.
When the nurse took my blood pressure it was high of course and when the doctor checked me I was dilated to a 3 and 80% effaced and he sent me over to the hospital to deliver (he would be coming over shortly). So Ben forgot his cell phone and we couldn't call the Beatty's who we had previously talked to about either watching our kids that day while I delivered or coming over to our new house to play games, so we had to drive over and hope they were home.
Luckily we caught Troy right before he left and he graciously took Natalie and Lincoln and helped Ben give me a blessing before we went to the hospital. When I got to the hospital around 1:00 they gave me an IV and then I got to lay there for 2 hours waiting for the doctor and things to progress. The nurses told me I was having regular contractions on my own about every 1 1/2 to 2 minutes--more regular than any other patient in the hospital (basically I was already in labor so I probably would have been in the hospital soon anyway).
Finally they gave me an epidural, which they hoped would lower my blood pressure and thankfully it did so I didn't have to have magnesium (used to prevent seizures with high blood pressure--had it with Natalie don't recommend it to anyone and I begged not to have it with Lincoln and Preston and lucked out--the nurses told me it feels like the flu with a hangover--never had a hangover, but if that's what it's like I don't know why anyone would drink.
They started me on a little pitocin and then about 3o minutes later the doctor came in and broke my water and they turned off the pitocin because they didn't want to stress the baby out--my body was doing fine without it. So then we just had to wait until I dilated to a 10. Around 7 or a little after I was feeling pressure and not quite a 10 yet and they were thinking they might have to give me something to decrease my contractions because every time his head dropped down his heart rate
decreased so they didn't want him under stress for too long. Fortunately a few minutes later I was fully dilated and the doctor said I would have to hurry and push him out or he would have to help with his tools. Preston's head was turned the wrong way on the first push but then he flipped around himself and he was out on the next push. Too bad I had to sit around for 2 hours in the beginning because otherwise he would have been born in 5 hours like my other two instead of 7. Oh well, at least he was healthy. He has been such a joy to have in the family--he is our calm in the midst of a storm, and Natalie and Lincoln absolutely adore him.

Natalie holding Preston.

Natalie and Lincoln holding Preston.


Lincoln giving Preston a kiss.

Our family.

The Taylor boys.