The last week - what a week it has been!!!

Wow - I cannot believe it has been a week since Sam was born! Oh, and what a week it has been. I will make my labor short and sweet.....I went into labor last Sunday evening and went into the hospital after my contractions were about 3-4 minutes apart. So Emily our doula and Pat and I headed to Methodist. I was dilated to a 3 and about 70% effaced. I walked the halls with my mom who met us there and Pat and Emily. When I was checked I was still a 3. So I was given the option to go home which I was happy to take - only so many rounds around a sterile hospital hall with pictures of births from the 70s one can take. I was told to come back when my contactions were 1 minute apart and I couldn't walk or talk from the pain.
SO....I labored at home for about 6 hours. I walked up and down the block, took a bath and used our birthing ball. Then it was time. I was in so much pain and couldn't walk or talk well due to the pain. So we decided it was good to go. I got to the hospital and I was at a 5. So...I labored for 2 hours. I won't go into details, but, man, it hurt like hell!!! Then they checked me....still a 5. They broke my water also to move things along. In doing this they fould out that I had meconium in my fluid which is common, but you do have to take precautions with your baby right after you give birth to make sure the meconium doesn't get into Sam's lungs. I was a little worried, but they assured me it happened all the time. So...I labored for 2 more hours. I was sure that I was further along because it was SO painful! Well, still a 5. I was done and called for the epidural. The nurses tried to give me an IV to get some fluid in me before I could get the epidural. Well, 4 times and they couldn't get it. So they called for the IV team. It took them 30 minutes to come....damn, it went by slow. They showed up and gave me my IV and I had to wait until the entire bag of fluid was gone before I could get the epidural. The nurse squeezed that bag like hell to get it in my arm as fast as possible. So about an hour later I was good to go. I go the epidural and it was relief. Pat, Emily and mom took turns getting food and taking a break. I started pitocin shortly after that to jump start contractions. A couple hours later the nurse checked me and I was a 10! Yeah. I was pretty excited, but also so exhausted that I had a hard time even imagining that I had enough in me to push. But what can you do? You just pony up and do it! So I pushed 2 times before the nurses told me to stop because the nurse was not available to take care of Sam and the meconium. So I laid there with my legs up and his head right there for an hour or so. Then they came back and said that we were delayed again because the doctor was not ready. So we waited again. About an hour or so later we had the team and we were ready. I pushed for 1 hour and 15 minutes. For anyone that says this part doesn't hurt is lying. It, like everything, hurts like hell! I really thought that I was done and couldn't do it any longer when the cute, laid back doc assured me that I only had 2 more pushes and I was done. So I believe him and pushed liked hell. It all happened so fast. Once he came out they rushed him to the corner of the room to clear out his lungs and do his vitals. Pat was so excited and was right with him the whole time. I was in my bed in disbelief and trying to absorb all that just happened. They brought me my baby Sam and I fed him right away. I thought I would be mad at this little thing for all the pain, but I forgave him so quickly because he was beautiful, because he was perfect and because he was mine!

So that was that.....the hospital stay was great. The nurses were amazing and I had a great experience. We were home on Wednesday evening. Both Pat and I thought that we were be more scared, but since Sam has been so amazing. Pat has been such an amazing supportive partner through everything. And though I am not surprised, I am so thankful that I have the most amazing husband in the world that makes having the most amazing child so much better. I cannot believe how lucky I am. I am trying to really appreciate every since second of my life because man, my life is wonderful.
So that is my birth....not as short and sweet as I wanted, but I really tried.

Here is the little man that was worth it all......our personal little angel!

39.5 weeks!

Man, we are getting down to it. Only 3 days from tomorrow until my due date!!! I still feel really great. I feel so lucky to have felt so great this whole time. I still love going to yoga - thank goodness for that! For the last week I have been getting lots of comments - the "oh, I didn't think you would still be at work" or "I am glad to see you at yoga, didn't know if I would." It gets annoying. I mean I have not even reached my due date yet. I told everyone at work that they are NOT allowed to say anything like that again until I have reached my due date and then it is up to them if they want to take the risk and make a smart ass comment to a chick that is overdue. So hopefully that will shut everyone up! :) We'll see!
I have been having contractions all day today (again) but I catch myself thinking "Oh, been here before, NBD." Followed quickly with a "This COULD be it, you are practially 40 weeks" and then I proceed to freak out, cry and try to take my mind off it. I just don't want to get too excited and have to wait 10 days. But it is close and it will come! So I allow myself just a little window of uninhibited excitement. I just cannot believe it is here! In the next 10 days we will meet our baby boy!!!! But maybe tonight. But maybe in 10 days. But then again, maybe tomorrow. It goes on and on!
So......the next blog entry is totally up in the air.... only time will tell!
xoxo

Cute photos....

Ok, just had to throw this up there since I just uploaded it. It is from my cousin Mckenna's wedding June 26th - How dang cute is my brother?!

Forgot one thing...

Forgot one very good, blog worthy thing....for the past 2 weeks or so Pat has been able to put his head on my belly and feel Sam's heartbeat. So every night before we got to be he does this and taps his finger on my leg so I can feel the pace of his heart. WAY cool! And the only thing that Pat can do that I cannot - which he happens to rub in every night :)

xoxo

39.5 week update

I went to the doc on Monday. I am about 1.5 cm dilated (which doesn’t really mean anything, I know :) ) and my cervix is soft. This is a major dose of TMI for a blog, but I want to remember this for me too so sorry for those who have to read that.....

I have been feeling really good still. There are some days that I think that my body is getting ready for birth, but most days I really don't think this baby is going to come any time soon. This is all okay - he can come when he is ready! I guess I should hope that my body is preparing somewhat for what is around the corner since I am due in 6 days! But at the most it will be 13 days until I meet my baby...YEAH!Until then I am going to continue to sleep in, go to bed early, do yoga and hang out with my fam and friends until Mr. Sam decides to grace the world with his presence! Oh, man are we getting excited for that day!!!!!!!!

38.5 Weeks

This was a crazy week. I had a doctors appointment on Monday. The nurse said that my cervix was softening and that baby was "very low." He is engaged in the ")" station. Really, none of this means anything I am learning. Well, it means that labor will probably happen within the next 2 weeks. Well, that is my due date so big deal :) Then later that night I thought I was going into labor (kind of) on Monday. I had contractions in the middle of the night that were about 10 minutes apart for hours. I couldn't go back to bed so I just laid there staring at my clock. I finally fell asleep and woke up with the contractions gone. I really wasn't ever REALLY thinking that I was, but more of a "hmmm....could this be it?!" Weird feeling!
So since then nothing really. I have been feeling really good, but starting to slow down a little. I do have days were I have contractions all day (like today) but that is pretty normal I think now. They never get too strong or painful.
I am really trying to enjoy every day with my hubby and this time before out little angel comes. So for now it is business as usual! Just waiting to meet my baby and really enjoying the time I have before he gets here. But, man, when he gets here will we be EXCITED! It is just weird to think that in weeks out life will change forever. Bring it on....but whenever Sam is ready!
xoxo