Our Little Man :)

We officially have a new addition to the family - and we couldn't be more ecstatic! . . . can't you see his enthusiasm? :)

This handsome boy was born the evening of October 1 (5 days before his official "due date"). He was definitely excited to come into the world and was even ready before my body was. With no contractions I noticed, but previously dilated to 2 cm and 75% effaced, I found myself running to the bathroom every 25-40 minutes. I thought he must keep head-butting my bladder since I had to go to the bathroom so frequently.

By 9:00 am though, I knew something had to be up - no woman, pregnant or not, should have to go to the bathroom over 8 times within a 3 1/2 hour period (way to go Kegels though)! So, I sent Mr. off to class and then called the doctor to set up a quick appointment to see if my water was leaking. The appointment was for 10:20 am, and Mr.'s class wasn't supposed to end until after that point - so originally I was going to let him to go class, then take a test, and I would go to the appointment and let him know what the doctor said. However, as I got to thinking about it, I didn't want to go alone because I had no idea what they would do at the doctor's office (i.e. if my water was leaking, but no contractions were coming, would they strip my membranes?) - no way did I trust myself to drive if that should happen! 

So I called Mr. home and then left shortly after for the doctor's office. Once we got in, we found some unexpected news - my membranes had completely ruptured (my water broke) - we had to assume it occurred around 5:30 am when the bathroom marathon began. - Still, no contractions. We calmly drove home, sent an email to Mr.'s professors, grabbed our hospital bag, and went to Labor and Delivery. A very odd, calm-like manner (not at all like the movies or like what we expected). 

Admitted around 11:30 am - still no contractions I could feel, yet somehow dilated to a 3 and about 90% effaced. So abnormal! The nurses decided to induce me since baby had to be out within 24-hours of the water breaking and my body didn't seem to be going fast enough. Man, if I can help it, never again! The contractions came so irregularly with exponentially growing intensity. I could handle it at first (yoga ball = my best friend), but as they came harder and harder with little to no breaks between them, I had a very difficult time breathing and relaxing enough to let my body progress. I had been hoping to do an all-natural birth, but with the seemingly endless pain, I knew my body was tensing and fighting what needed to happen (it had been a few hours and I had only dilated to 5 cm) . . . so I called for an epidural. 

Such a weird feeling honestly - my left leg felt as fat as an elephant! We still had slow progress, however - by sometime around 4 or 5 pm, I was still only to 5.5 cm. New methods were necessary for progress - so I practiced my visualization and breathing techniques to imagine that area relaxing and enlarging. Within about an hour I was all the way dilated to a 10! 

Finally, after waiting for the doctor for an hour, and then pushing for 2 1/2 hours (on a VERY hungry stomach), Munchkin graced us with his presence!

8 lbs. 9 oz. - 19 1/2 inches long (sorry Caleen - no head circumference)

Our adorable little blessing coming home :)

No idea how that is comfortable - but he seems to love it :)

We are a happy family! :)