Goodbye 2009

Signed, Sealed, Delivered

So there I was, standing in Wal-mart, unsuccessfully trying to fight back my tears. I could probably start many different stories from my life this this way, but this particular story is elevated above all the other ones, as it is pretty important. I had just dropped Claire off at school and I was grocery shopping, one last time before I was going to be put out of commission by the addition of one little boy to our family. For you see, I was six days overdue and I had an appointment to be induced on the seventh day over. I was completely fine with this plan. I mean, you may recall that I would much rather go into labor on my own rather than be induced, but my lazy body just didn't feel like it this time. I didn't mind being overdue. I still felt fine and was sleeping fairly well. The apprehension of delivery and subsequent sleepless nights always outweighs any minor physical discomfort I may have at nine months pregnant. My only concern was that I could tell that this baby was going to be pretty big. How big? I didn't know, but I was scared enough to allow them to schedule an induction date a week after I was due.

So as I was stocking up on groceries, I got a phone call from Cody. He had gone to talk to the doctors at the hospital who were in charge of my induction (because they were a little less than clear on the when I should show up at the hospital) and the doctor he talked to suggested that I come in this very morning to be induced instead, since I was scheduled for an evening induction the next day (meaning I would most likely be in the hospital for Thanksgiving). So Cody called me to see if that was what I wanted to do. So my reaction was simply to cry. I wasn't mentally prepared to have the baby that morning and I was a bit stressed about such a sudden change and the need for sudden decision making. So I handled it like an adult and I cried, in Wal-mart, in the cereal aisle. I did my best to hide it, because even though I was shopping at Wal-mart, I still have some dignity to keep intact.

My initial reaction was to tell Cody, "no way, Jose". I wasn't ready (which is kind of silly being that I had nine months and six days to get ready), but it was already all set in my mind that I was being induced the next day. After talking to Cody and considering our babysitting options, I decided it would be best to go in that morning. I had two hours from the time I was crying in the cereal aisle to finish shopping, take the groceries home, get Morgan and Claire's babysitting bags, drop Morgan off at the sitters, and get to the labor and delivery triage.



Cody and I arrived at labor and delivery a little after noon. Soon I was in a room, in a very revealing hospital gown, waiting for a doctor to get this show on the road. We waited for a while. Finally a doctor came to check on me, determined that I was dilated to a 6 even though I hadn't had any painful contractions yet, so I had hope that this induction would go fast. At about 1:30, they hooked me up to pitocin, had a parade of residents, nurses, and clowns come dance around in my room, and then I just waited. I wanted to feel some contractions before I got my epidural (because believe me, I was going to get an epidural!!), but after a while on the pitocin I having contractions, but they still weren't painful. I went ahead and got the epidural, because I didn't want to risk missing the point where I could get one.

Now I have had two previous deliveries, with two previously perfect epidurals. I just knew the epidural streak wouldn't last. The epidural only worked on the right half of my body. At about five o'clock, I was started to feel super strong contractions on my left side. Ouch. I kept pushing my epidural button but it was not getting any better. I knew I was close to delivering and I wanted the epidural fixed NOW! So the Anesthesiologist came, adjusted the epidural, and ten minutes later I was dilated to a 10 and ready to push. Thankfully the pain started to subside when I started to push.

Claire was a six pound baby and I pushed for 30 minutes. Morgan was a seven pound baby and I pushed for 40 minutes. I thought, being that this baby was going to be bigger that it would take even longer to push. Nope, five minutes and he was out. All nine pounds two ounces of him. Needless to say, recovery was a bit tougher with this one.

But at 5:38 pm, we had a beautiful baby boy, whom we named Luke James. He is now over a month old and is such a good baby. He is growing like a weed, a big fat weed. He weighed 11 lbs 5 oz at his two week appointment and has grown a ton since then. We love having this little boy and are enjoying watching him grow and develop.



Well, to make a long story short (too late), that is our labor and delivery story.

'Tis the Season

Here is what we have been up to this first part of December. I didn't know if having a baby right before the holidays would put a damper on the festivities, but really, I have felt more festive than ever and have enjoyed the extra time spent with Cody and my mom.

We are doing great, though we could do with a little more sleep. My mom has been here helping with the kids and has been a lot of fun (and a big help) to have around. And she is not helping me lose the baby weight as she keeps making really good homemade goodies. Luke isn't the only one gaining a pound a week.

Luke James

We welcomed Luke James into our family on Monday, November 23.
He weighed a whopping 9 lbs 2 oz.
He was 21 inches long.

The girls just love him, constantly wanting to hold him, kiss him, and touch him every chance they have.

Luke has been a great little baby so far and is quite the chunk. We just had his one week appointment today and he now weighs 10 lbs 5 oz. The kid knows how to eat.

Last night, in the middle of the night, as I changed Luke's diaper in my bed, I thought I was doing a good job holding the diaper over him so that he wouldn't squirt pee everywhere. It turns out I was merely pointing it up. The kid amazingly managed to send a line of pee straight up and over his shoulder, landing across the bed, square on Cody's face. The kid has good aim.