sarahfossphotography-blog

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Our family - Salmon, ID Tuesday, August 18th :: The Big Day :: The Day We Met Walker. At 12:00AM we arrived promptly at the hospital and immediately started the paperwork that was needed to be filled out. After about an hour of paperwork the nurse then inserted my IV into the top of my left hand (not the most ideal place, but the veins on my forearm weren’t showing up that well.) After the IV was in place, the nurse immediately started the Pitocin/Oxytocin (the same hormone in the woman’s body that makes the uterus contract). She mentioned that what “usually” happens is that at about 9:00AM, my contractions would slowly start going and maybe by mid-afternoon we would meet Walker. She then stuck a shot in my backside to help me fall asleep, although to be honest, I really don’t think I even needed it, I was so exhausted from all of the excitement of the day before. By the time I fell asleep, I think it was roughly 2:00AM. I woke up around 6:30AM having mild contractions that were painless, and slightly spread out. A while later, I asked the nurse if I could take a tub to pass the time away and after checking me again she gave me the green light. It was only for about 15 minutes when she came in, apologizing to me that Dr. Natelson had showed up and was ready to check me. At around 8:45AM he checked my cervix and stated that I was at 5-6cm dilated, 100% effaced, and baby Walker was at +1 station (if you are like me, and before being pregnant, had no idea what any of this meant, it just meant that I was really starting to kick into gear).  My contractions started to get more and more noticeable, but still painless, and more consistent. Dr. Natelson then asked if I wanted him to break my water, and I then asked him if he suggested we do so. He said he thought it would be a good idea so I trusted him and told him to go ahead. The second he broke my water, things started to get real. From 9:00AM-9:38AM I progressed from 6cm-10cm (10cm is when I am supposed to start pushing because baby Walker wants to come out!) Those 38 minutes were the most excruciating (which excruciating doesn’t even describe the pain) 38 minutes of my life.  **Side note - At our last Baby Class that we attended the educator told us to imagine the worst pain we have ever experienced in our lives & then imagine having that pain during the labor process for each contraction. I started to realize that I have never experienced any type of real pain in my life. I’ve never broken, twisted, sprained, ANYTHING. I really had nothing to base how painful this labor would be. During our check-ups Dr. Natelson recommended Remifentanil, a short-acting synthetic that takes the edge off during labor & helps me relax in-between contractions. I liked the idea of Remi because I knew I didn’t want to get an epidural if I didn’t have to. I really wanted to do this labor somewhat as natural as possible.** I would love to try and describe the pain that I felt during each contraction, but I really can’t. I can tell you my amazing husband was by my side the entire time. He was rubbing/putting pressure on my back to “try” and relieve the pain but in all honesty I don’t really know if it did, what really helped was just having him by my side and talking me through it. As I am writing this, I am doing my best not get all emotional because I really do have the best husband, supporter, and leader as my spouse. -Hunter babe, you are my champ.- Hunter & both nurses were doing an amazing job at keeping me as calm as I could be when the painful contractions started. They told me I would start to get an urge to poop (I don’t sugar coat that word, because it’s real.), which is when my cervix would be around the 10cm mark. All of a sudden through the painful contractions, I felt it. I told Hunter that I knew it was time, and supposedly at the time Dr. Natelson ran out got his scrubs on and ran back in and in that short time he said it was time to push. From 9:38AM-10:01AM, I pushed during every contraction for a total of 3 times, for 10 seconds each. After the third 10 second interval the contraction would seize and I would be able to *”relax” for what seemed to be seconds, and the contractions would come again and I would have to repeat the pushing process. I pushed as hard as I physically could with each 10 second interval and at 10:01AM baby Walker entered into the world. From 9:00-10:01 I did not open my eyes once. Maybe it was because I had my glasses off and I literally can’t see past 4 inches without them, or maybe it was because the pain was so ridiculous I didn’t want to open them, or more then likely it was because I was doing my best to focus on what Dr. Natelson was coaching me to do. Either way, at 10:01AM when I opened my eyes and had baby Walker place on my chest, he was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen with my eyes. I remember Hunter holding me, and I was holding him, and the tears started to fall. The “pain” that I felt was immediately and completely gone, and I remember feeling the most joy I had ever felt in my life. 

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Our family - Salmon, ID  Monday, August 17th :: Doctor’s Checkup :: 3 cm dilated, 80% effaced, 0 station. Dr. Natelson recommended to do an induction due to my body being as ripe and ready as it was. I had mixed emotions about inductions, but after thinking about it with Hunter, we decided to go with our guts and listen to the advice from our educated doctor. He wanted us to come in at 12:00AM on Tuesday morning to get the induction process going.  The rest of our Monday was full of mixed emotions. We were so excited to finally meet our baby boy and now we knew we were about to. We spent the rest of the afternoon/evening enjoying our last night of being solely alone. We both got all dolled up, went to a fancy resteraunt, and reminiced our last 5 years together as a couple. I am so in love with my husband and I couldn’t/wouldn’t want to share this experience with anyone else. We then decided to take Moses to the river to spoil him before the baby was to come. We threw rocks for him, let him swim down the river, and played fetch along the bank. Once we got home we finished the evening with the movie, City Slickers. Tuesday, August 18th :: The Big Day :: Post coming soon!

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Bailee - Senior - Salmon, ID

Bailee, you are an absolute babe! I had such a fabulous time photographing you even if it was at 8:00 in the morning! Thanks for being so easy-going and flawless all at the same time! 

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Savanah - Senior - Minot, ND

Savanah, Savanah, Savanah. You are absolutely gorgeous and your personality matches your looks. I am so thankful to have met you, and that I was able to capture this lovely time in your life! 

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Mandi & Troy - Portrait - Minot, ND

To see this family grow in the past three years has been nothing but an honor. I am so thankful for Mandi for letting me photograph her and Troy for a total of six times now. I love this family.

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Holmen’s - Family - Minot, ND I had this amazing opportunity to photograph the Holmen Family and make Lacey’s idea come to life! Besides the storm we had to wait on, this session couldn’t have gone any better!

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Jane - Senior - Minot, ND

Jane, you were an absolute joy to be around at 7:00 in the morning! Not only is this gorgeous girl gorgeous, she has her own business and just kicks butt in life. I know you will do amazing things Jane, and I wish you all the best!

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Heather & Stella - Portrait - Minot, ND These two lovelies are both equally beautiful. I had such a fabulous time spending time with Heather & Stella (even if Stella wasn’t so sure about me!) I am so in love with this whole set.

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Justine - Glamour - Salmon, ID Black on black on black on black. I am in LOVE with these glamour shots of my lovely friend, Justine. She is the owner of her own floral shop here in town, and I think she looks flawless! 

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Bailey - Glamour - Salmon, ID Bailey and I went for a little adventure a few nights ago. Thank goodness she was willing to sit in an ant pile for just a few minutes for a shot or two. Bailey, I wish you the best in making your decisions on where to go for college!

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Kaleigh - Senior - Moscow, ID Look at how absolutely adorable Kaleigh is! I am so thankful we had time to sneak Kaleigh in before we made the move down to Salmon. I wish you nothing but the best in your last year of high school!

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Anna - Senior - Moscow, ID What doesn’t Anna do? She is an athletic, musically talented, beautiful, wise young lady! I had such a fabulous time getting to know Anna throughout taking her pictures! Good luck with all you have ahead of you, Anna!

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K. - Boudoir/Glamour - Salmon, ID - She is:

She is ravishing.

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Nicole - Senior - Moscow, ID Talk about beautiful. This girl made my job way to easy. Her blonde hair and stunning eyes are absolutely killer. I wish you the very best in your last year of high school and the years to come!

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Madison - Senior - Moscow, ID This lovely girl has been such a joy to know. She is not only beautiful on the outside, but absolutely gorgeous on the inside. Madison, I wish you the best of luck for your up and coming senior year of high school. <3

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C. - Boudoir/Glamour - Moscow, ID - She Is: She is enticing.

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Kayla - Glamour - Moscow, ID Kayla came into the studio yesterday to have some glamour shots done. I’m so thankful she came in and let me photograph her. She is naturally beautiful and I am so thankful to know her.