What a wonderful 11 days we have had with our sweet baby! He has been so easy (knock on wood), and just a joy to have in our family. His birthday went something like this:
My mother-in-law came into town on Sunday afternoon to make sure that she would be here for his arrival. On Monday, I saw Dr. Aycock and he stripped my membranes, and then I went to the grocery store and stocked up for the next few weeks. I had heard that Macaroni Grille's eggplant parmigiana would put me into labor, so guess where we ate dinner?! Yep, Macaroni Grille. My eggplant was delicious, and the sweet waitress kept coming by the table to see if I was in labor yet. At 1:37 on October 12, I woke up with a pretty strong contraction. I really couldn't believe it! (on a side note, I woke up at 1:39 with Kate. Isnt that crazy?!) They were about ten minutes apart, and quickly moved to five minutes apart. I was walking around our bathroom and closet by then and hopped in the shower. I woke Luke up, and told him the eggplant parmigiana worked! He was as excited as I was, and I told him to hurry up in the shower. I was hurting pretty bad by this point, and as soon as he got his bags packed, we headed to the hospital. The whole way to the hospital, I kept thinking, "I have become a wuss in the last 18 months. I don't remember it hurting this badly!" We got there about 4:15, and they got me all checked in. We got back to our room about 4:30, and my nurse, Dana, got ready to check me. I told her I was 2-3 in the office that morning, and she asked if this wasn't the real thing if I wanted to stay anyway. I told her I did, because his official due date was October 13, and we were ready! She looked up surprised and said I was 7 cm! This threw everyone into action! (That was also the reason my contractions were so much stronger than with Kate.) She immediately tried to start an IV, and had another nurse come in to finish my admission paperwork. She paged anesthesia, and the CRNA got there soon after. She tried twice to get an IV, and my veins just wouldn't cooperate. The CRNA then tried three times, and finally got it on the third stick. He told me if I had dilated anymore I couldn't get an epidural. I promptly told him no one would be checking me until he had that epidural in :) He asked if my water had broken and if I had felt him move down anymore. No and no. And if it had been yes, I wouldn't have told him! He got the epidural in at 5:40. He got ready to leave the room, and I told him I could still feel it. He reminded me it took a few contractions for it to get in full effect. I told him I was not trying to be a baby, just wanted to make sure it worked before I started pushing. I am sure he thought I was a "princess patient" as we call them, but I really didnt care at that point! Dr. Aycock came in at 5:50, broke my water, and told me I was 9 3/4 (just a little anterior lip for those OB folks).
I really couldn't believe it! At that point, I felt validated that my contractions were big and it was ok they had hurt like they did! They were working. He left to let me labor down a little since I pushed so long with Kate. Dana came back at 6:30, and said he is right there! So Dr. Aycock, a tech. and my friend, Sarah, from the nursery all came in. I started pushing about 6:40, and he arrived at 6:50. Whew! Such an easier time than the first! Sarah plopped him on my chest, and Luke and I both teared up a little at the sight of our precious boy.
I checked for a penis (I didnt trust our u/s-haha), and then started wiping him off. He was beautiful! I dont think anything, even already having one, prepares you for that moment when you see your baby for the first time. Right when he came out, I could visibly see my stomach change shapes. I told Sarah to put him on the scale. My guess had been 8lbs 2 oz, and Luke's was 8 lbs 4 oz. He surprised us all being 8 lbs 15 oz! Big Boy!
We had called our families on our way to the hospital, but we all thought it would be another all day event like Kate's birthday. Luke told his mom to wait until Kate woke up about 7, and then head our way. My mom, dad, and Jake took their time getting there as well.
When Luke went to the waiting room to get my family, they were all sitting there eating breakfast. They thought he was coming out to get food. He was asked them if they wanted to come see the baby, and they jumped up and left all their stuff (laptops, purse) sitting in the waiting room. They had no idea he was already here!
Kate and Amy got there soon after. Little Man surprised us all with his quick arrival. Kate was very unsure of him at first. She is not a morning person, like her Mama! She just looked and wanted to be held.
By the time they moved me up to my postpartum room, she had woken up a bit. My friend, Elizabeth, and our preacher came by.
Kate was getting ready to leave, and I had Preston in the bed with me. She came over to the side of the bed, and I held him down close to her. She started jabbering and laughing hysterically. She was stomping her feet, and pointing to him and then to herself. This went on for almost five minutes, and had the whole room cracking up! I am so glad we got part of it on video, because it was too funny!
We spent the rest of the day in awe of our Sweet Boy and sharing him with our closest friends and family.
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17
