Wait no more...

Monday, August 3, 2009

Wow it's been a whirlwind week. This time last week Jay and I were counting down the hours until we had to report to the hospital to be induced and meet our little man. We were very nervous and unsure of what to expect.

As planned, we arrived at the hospital at 7:00pm. We were escorted to our labor and delivery room and the fun began -- hospital gown (rear end shining), about 45 minutes of answering questions and then all the monitors were placed on my big belly. About 8:30pm the first of the meds. were administered. I had to lay flat on my back for 2 hours after that -- I thought 10:30 would never arrive, but at last it was time that I could get up! Then the waiting began. We "turned in" about 12:30am and then we were all back up at 3:15 when my water broke (that wasn't in the overnight plan, but it worked out). :) My nurse called the doctor and she decided that we'd start poticin at 6:30am, so I should rest as much as possible until then. I was having some mild contractions, but nothing too painful. So we tried to rest -- not too easy with vitals being taken what seemed like every 5 minutes and regular check ups by the nursing staff.

Again as planned, at 6:30am the poticin was started in my IV along with some pain meds. At that point I was only 1cm dilated... it was going to be a long day. From this point forward until 4:15pm I can give an account of events, but no time markers -- yes, the meds. were that good. :)

The poticin was turned up every 15 or 30 minutes until it was on wide open (I don't know -- I just know it was bad). Of course, as the poticin went up so did the strength of contractions. Finally, sometime around lunch or so the contractions were steady and strong every 2 minutes. I was finally dilated to 3cm. My doctor doesn't ok an epidural until 4cm, but becuase I was in SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO much pain and my contractions were steady and had been for about an hour she decided that I could have my epidural -- ahhhh, angels started to sing -- I promise!!! However, it took about 30 more minutes before the epidural gods got to my room. When the anastealogist and his team finally got to me I was dying -- I'm sure of it, I can remember the nurse asking me what my pain level was on a 1-10 scale, I told her "at least 15"... At some time about 2 or 2:30 I finally had my epidural and upon another "check" the nurse announced that I was at 8cm, what 8cm how did that happen?!?!?! However, because I'd "labored" thru all the horrible contraction from 3cm to 8cm in a matter of only a few hours I was too tired to push, so the doctor told the nurses to let me sleep/rest for a couple of hours and she'd be back to deliver the baby. I slept off and on for about 2 hours and around 4:00 Tiffany, the midwife, came in and I began to push about 4:15. I only pushed for about 45 minutes and Eli arrived at 4:59pm!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is me resting after the epidural!!!

And, here is it almost a week later and it's been GREAT!!! Eli is eating good, he's decided that he doesn't enjoy breastfeeding, but will take breast milk from a bottle. I've been pumping breast milk about every 2 to 3 hours and alternating it with formula. It's working for now. And that's all that matters.

Eli is perfect and Jay and I are enjoying every single minute of him. Ok ok, enough of the story and how perfect he is... Here are the pictures!

Tuesday, July 28, 2009 @ 4:59pm

Elijah James Henderson -- 8 pounds / 12 ounces / 20 inches long

Proud, but tired Daddy

Sweet Boy -- sleeping at home on Friday (we came home on Thursday about noon!!)