Baby brother is here!

Well, little mister you  arrived a week ago :)

**warning...this post will be about his delivery...***

On September 24 I woke up at 4:15 to get ready to head to the hospital, we had to be there at 6:00, and we had about an hour drive! However, at 4:30 I got a call from Shawnee Mission that they were booked and they would call later if they could get us in.....I was a little discouraged. But, I tried to think positively, and decided we needed to wait so we could have the best nurse! When we got there our nurse Marci told us that she had been called in and had just arrived about 20 min ago! And we loved our nurse...so I was right :)

So, I debated going back to sleep - or staying awake. I was pretty excited/nervous so I stayed awake for a little bit - but then ended up falling asleep. Your daddy woke up around 7 freaking out because he though we had slept in! Then at about 7:30 we got the call to head on up! I don't think it sunk in we were about to have a baby...

We arrived and got all hooked up, about 9:30 the pitocin was started. With your sister the pitocin kicked me in to labor immediately! This time it started me...but I felt totally fine! So, your daddy and I watched a bit of TV...then your Mimi arrived and we chatted a bit too. At around 11:30 the on call dr came in and I was dialted to a 4! She broke my water...and boy was that an experience! With Eliana they broke my water, but it just slowly trickled. This time it gushed...I felt like I was sitting in a flood....and it just kept going forever!!!

Once my water broke the contractions were stronger. Right after I told your daddy to get out uno, but by the time the cards were shuffled I was focusing and breathing too much to play!

So, despite the contractions, I was not progressing fast enough...(at least in my opinion). I got to a five, but my cervix was to the left and wouldn't center...so they recommended an epidural soon...I wasn't quite ready for that. At about 2:00 they checked and I was a 5 1/2. I said, okay, bring on the epidural. I was hoping it would relax me enough to get my cervix centered and then everything would just happen.

I got my epidural at about 2:30. My anestegeologist, Tammy, was awesome! She wanted to make sure she did her job right! She gave me the epidural, and it all seemed well. And then we started to progress! I went from a 5 1/2 to a 10 in an hour....but the he big pain came from little mister being at a -2 and dropping to a positive 3 (apparently the position of the baby in you starts at a negative 3 and once they get to the positive three they have dropped all the way and you're ready to push....so a negative  2 was still pretty high up in me).

Well, the epidural didn't totally numb everything. I could still feel contractions in my lower abdomen. And since he was dropping so fast the contractions were coming fast and hard! To be honest, I wait to get my epidural for as long as possible so I can experience labor more naturally...so, even though I was gripping the side bars and moaning and moving back and forth....I didn't mind the pain and was thankful for the experience....that's probably weird huh? 

Right after I got my epidural my nurse's shift changed...so Marci left and Jamie came in to help. Again....loved her! She was so concerned about my pain she got another nurse to cover her other patient and she never left my side! The anesthesiologist, Tammy, was called in again to give me another dose...she, too, then chose to stay by my side. The second dose helped and I wasn't in as much pain....that lasted a whole five minutes :) this whole time Jamie was checking my dilation almost constantly...and it was constantly changing! She then had to call the anesthesiologist in again! 

This time Tammy and Dr. Carriker walked in at the same time...because it was time for me to push. Tammy waked in determined to give me a different spinal block....I still don't remember what it's called....but it's what they give their emergency c-section patients because it instantly numbs them. She did this so quick to try to go between contractions....which didn't really work ;) afterwards they laid me back down and I was so dizzy I thought I was going to pass out....but Dr. C helped me breathe through it and got me focused again. :)

So, then it was time to push....and I couldn't feel anything! It was glorious, with Eliana's epidural I could still feel everything...it was just slightly less...put the pain was still plenty! I enjoyed this because when you came out sweet boy I got to see you and relish in the moment, rather than be exhausted from pain! :) so, we pushed for 20 minutes and there you were! My beautiful baby!

I got to hold you for about 10 seconds before they rushed you away....you had the cord wrapped around your neck twice...so they had to get you some oxygen and get you to perk up. It took a little while and the room was very quiet. We also noticed your little legs and feet looked a little curled up too.  

Thankfully you began crying and they got the oxygen going and your apgar score went up so you were doing good,

Precious baby boy

I finally got to hold you 30 minutes after you were born! You are so handsome and beautiful! I was for sure in love right away! And your lips were gorgeous (many nurses commented on your lips)

First photo with mommy and daddy! You were a trooper and wanted to eat RIGHT away! So daddy waited to hold you until after your first meal :)

Daddy's turn to hold his new son! :)

Checking your vitals again 

Your first bath! You did so good!

After you ate, and I ate ;) it was time to move upstairs to our new room. We moved there about 7:15 p.m. ...so as much medicine as they pumped in to me...I could always move my legs! :) this is out of order for the story...but Tammy, our anesthesiologist came by to meet you the next day! She was so nice!

After we moved to our new room all your visitors came by to see you! You still did not have a name at this point...

Eliana meeting her baby brother! :)

Little mister, you are absolutely amazing and beautiful! I am so thankful God chose us to be your parents! I know you are going to bless our lives beyond measure! :) 

I love you so much!

Love,

Mommy

Gee whiz...I never wrote your stats! You were born at 4:45 p.m., you weighed 8 pounds, 11 ounces, and you were 20 1\2 inches long :)