I had a doctor's appt. on Thursday in Ann Arbor. I was 3 CM and 80% effaced. We decided with the doctor to "plan" an elective induction for Tuesday if baby had not arrived. David begins his surgery rotation on Jan. 4 and will be extremely busy with 100-120 hour work weeks through April... so we wanted baby to arrive early enough in his break that he could enjoy the baby. So I left the doctor's office feeling pretty discouraged. I was hoping to be more dilated than a 3 and the idea of being induced was terrifying. We went to our church's Christmas Eve service and had a low key meal just the 3 of us...
I woke up Christmas morning around 5:30 AM with some minor contractions. I had been having them during the day and night all the time for weeks... but I knew these were different. So I made us waffles for breakfast and we opened gifts. I had to stop to breathe through the contractions, but wasn't sure if they might still go away. I took a nice long shower and packed up my things. We decided to call the doctor and she suggested we go in. I walked around the house a bit just to make sure the contractions didn't go away before we left. (We have 2 sets of stairs for the second floor so essentially I just did circles up and down the stairs around the house!) We got in the car and started driving to Ann Arbor--- a 45+ minute drive. While in the car the contractions faded away and I looked at David with a very disappointed face, "I think they're going away. We should go home. I am not in labor." The roads were pretty bad though and so we decided to continue on just to see how things progressed. We dropped Bentley off at his aunt and uncle's home and then arrived at the hospital. We took another quick walk around the parking lot and then up to the 3rd floor. So it's about 11:30 AM now. In triage the Resident checked me and said, "I think we'll keep ya, you're about a 6-7." :) I felt so relieved to know that I am not crazy and I do sort of know my body. After we got our room we walked the halls for about an hour trying to bring labor along. When the contractions became too painful to be in the hallway I went into the shower in my room. On one wall was the shower head and the other wall had 3 jets and a place to sit. Well I turned the shower head on as hot as it would go and it just ran next to me and I sat in front of those jets for about 45 min. and did some serious laboring. :) It felt sooooo good to have the water on my back and then when I was contracting I'd turn around to have the water on my belly. After awhile the nurse got me on the bed and put me on the bean bag to help baby keep turning around... oh yeah, the baby was occipital posterior (looking up and not down) just like my first was... we we needed him to turn around. The resident came in and checked me and I was 8 CM so she broke my water with her fingers rather than that awful hook thing and ahhh relief. Well, only for a second... because then the contractions added much more pressure. Within 2 contractions he had descended down and I had the awful urge to push. So I said I was pushing. That's when things got busy! The doctor and resident put on their green gear :), the nurses were all ready and they were encouraging me to get the baby out. I don't remember it hurting so bad to push! I think I pushed for about 15 minutes and they announced, "It's a boy!" and placed him on my belly. It was great to have him out! His time of birth was 2:40 PM. Fortunately I didn't tear much so I only got a little unnecessary stitch... They did all the tests and then he nursed for about an hour. He latched on great... Then I showered and they brought me to the mother baby unit where we stayed for 24 hours before going home.
We are home now and he's doing well. It's been a very long first night, but I am hoping it gets better. :) Bentley slept soooo well and rarely cried. Clayton definitely lets us know he's here with his strong vocals. :) He has really dark hair and beautiful dark eyes.
Overall everything went very smoothly. My recovery has been much easier with him as well. It was such a different hospital experience. With Bentley they took him at birth for a couple hours and by the time I got him back he was in the sleepy newborn stage for a day or 2. I needed lots of help with his latch- there were tests being done on his heart... nurses were constantly checking on me and taking care of everything. This time I rarely saw a medical person- and was pretty much left alone to do my thing... neither experience is "better" or "worse"- it's just been very different.
12.27.2009
12.24.2009
House Christmas Dinner
We had our house Christmas dinner on Monday, December 14th. It was great! I made "Reindeer Chili" (venison chili), with cornbread, green beans, and salad. Leigh made york peppermint brownies with peppermint ice cream. It was a feast to remember! We had a wonderful time socializing and sharing our hearts with one another. We also did a gift exchange that turned out so great! The only requirement was not to spend more than $6.50 on your gift. The creativity made it so fun!
Anyway, here are some pictures!!! They're a little random.... but I think there are more on Micah's camera... I'll have to get them later.
Anyway, here are some pictures!!! They're a little random.... but I think there are more on Micah's camera... I'll have to get them later.
MERRY CHRISTMAS EVE!!!
Things are well here in downtown Detroit. We've had a little snow this week which makes it feel like Christmas. :) My dad was here from Sunday-Wednesday. We had a great time. Unfortunately I don't have one single picture. Wow, that's horrible. On Sunday I was very sick with a stomach virus, Monday Bentley had the same virus, and Tuesday my dad had it... so needless to say it wasn't the normal visit we would have had.... we laid low and apparently didn't take a single picture. I also must admit that at 38 weeks pregnant I am not keen on having my picture taken. It was good to catch up with my dad and watch him interact with Bentley. I especially enjoyed listening to him read Bentley his night time stories as it reminded me of my childhood.
My mom arrives tomorrow morning, assuming there isn't too much snow in St. Paul and the ice is under control here in Detroit. She will be here until January 17 to help me take care of Bentley and Baby. I am sooo grateful. We are going to have a great time. I will definitely post pictures- I've learned my lesson!!!
Bentley is doing really well. He's cruising on the furniture and doing all sorts of cute new things. :) He turns the pages for me on his books, touches his pointer finger to mine (it can be hard for kids with low muscle tone to isolate their pointer finger), and is all around a very happy and excited little man. It's really hard for me to imagine loving another child the way I love Bentley, but I hear from parents who have multiple children that it is possible. :)
I took on the task recently of photographing several families in the church for their Christmas cards. I really enjoyed it. I didn't charge (although in hindsight I should have!!!) It's nice to have a hobby that I enjoy so much.
It's a little weird not being in Arizona this Christmas. We will still see our parents and a couple of David's siblings, so that's good. I have enjoyed going to Arizona in the past to soak in plenty of sun to see me through the winter.... having the baby will have to be my sun!
Well here's a picture of Bentley from earlier today with a "cutie" he found in my bag. He decided he didn't need to peel it! He has only one snaggly tooth, but I guess it works for him!!
My mom arrives tomorrow morning, assuming there isn't too much snow in St. Paul and the ice is under control here in Detroit. She will be here until January 17 to help me take care of Bentley and Baby. I am sooo grateful. We are going to have a great time. I will definitely post pictures- I've learned my lesson!!!
Bentley is doing really well. He's cruising on the furniture and doing all sorts of cute new things. :) He turns the pages for me on his books, touches his pointer finger to mine (it can be hard for kids with low muscle tone to isolate their pointer finger), and is all around a very happy and excited little man. It's really hard for me to imagine loving another child the way I love Bentley, but I hear from parents who have multiple children that it is possible. :)
I took on the task recently of photographing several families in the church for their Christmas cards. I really enjoyed it. I didn't charge (although in hindsight I should have!!!) It's nice to have a hobby that I enjoy so much.
It's a little weird not being in Arizona this Christmas. We will still see our parents and a couple of David's siblings, so that's good. I have enjoyed going to Arizona in the past to soak in plenty of sun to see me through the winter.... having the baby will have to be my sun!
Well here's a picture of Bentley from earlier today with a "cutie" he found in my bag. He decided he didn't need to peel it! He has only one snaggly tooth, but I guess it works for him!!
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