Labor Day...the story!

Well it all began last Monday 10/13/08. My day started as usual. Elliptical trainer in the morning, take a shower, then head to my doctor's appointment. At my appointment I was dilated 3 and 80% effaced. My doctor "swept my membranes," which she said is equivalent to having sex, but a little more invasive. If it's meant to work, then it would work within 24 hours. So we set up a few more doctor's appointments and an induction for 10/21/08. After that I went to work.

At around 1pm that day I started having cramping (or contractions) and bleeding. I continued to work because it was more annoying than painful. At around 6:30pm the "cramping/contractions" were more noticeable and coming about every 7 minutes. I decided to go home. When I got home around 7pm, my "pains were about every 6 to 6 1/2 min, so Brent and I ate dinner. I had a soft pretzel and buffalo chicken bites (mistake with the spicy food), then we walked around the neighborhood for about 20 minutes. We came back in from our walk and I took a shower. We tried to settle in on the couch and watch Benchwarmers, but my contractions really started picking up. Brent was being great by rubbing my back and feet, but that really doesn't help the situation. We then decided to go on another walk for about 15 minutes, but contractions were coming a lot quicker, lasting longer and more intense, so we headed back toward home. At that point contractions went from 6 minutes to every 3, then 5, then 2 minutes, so we called the doctor and they said to head into the hospital. I decided that I wanted to take 1 last shower, so I did. We then got in the car and drove to Riverside.

Being in the car during contractions is torture. It was killing my back and Brent was getting nervous, so he was speeding up...not good. We got to the hospital around midnight and she checked me at 12:30am. I was dilated 5, totally effaced and my contractions were off the charts. The nurse told me since this was my first baby I could expect to dilate about 1cm an hour, so I would probably have the baby at 8am. They admitted me to labor and delivery.

As my contractions picked up speed, I thought I don't know if I can do this for 8 more hours! Laying in the bed was horrible, so I tried to sit on the birthing ball and then I felt the contractions more in my pelvic region and at that point I realized I did not want to feel this baby coming out of me. I was in labor and delivery about 10 minutes and decided to get an epidural (wonderful decision), so anesthesia was up in my room in about 5 minutes. The epidural did not hurt at all, so that was a relief, but I guess if you compare it to the pain of contractions it puts it into perspective. About 15 minutes after the epidural was in place my nurse checked me again (around 1:45am) and I was fully dilated and ready to go! Good thing they didn't check me before giving me an epidural or else I wouldn't have gotten one!

At that point I wasn't ready to start pushing because Evan was still up pretty high and my water hadn't broken yet, so it began the waiting game. Had I not gotten an epidural things would have gone quicker, but it was well worth having relief. I was just relaxing and the only problems I had at that point were shaking and indigestion (from those buffalo chicken bites). Brent, my mom, my sister, Brent's mom and dad were all there with us. We all just hung out and waited for things to progress. Around 4am my water broke on it's own and was slowly leaking out as Evan was making his way down. At about 5:15am I was ready to start pushing. My pushing was quite effective because after 2 pushes through contractions they had to go find the doctor stat! I had to wait it out through a couple contractions and then the doctor came in and 2 contractions later at 5:48am our beautiful baby boy was born!

What a wonderful experience. I wouldn't change a thing! Nurse Kim was amazing. I barely tore and recovery has been a piece of cake! I was warned that next time I have a child I have to go to the hospital immediately :)

So Evan was born on 10/14/2008 at 05:48am. He weighed 8lb 2 oz, was 19 inches long, and had apgars of 8, then 9. When he came out he was really white. The doctor said it was because the labor wasn't stressful enough for him? I don't know about that, but he is perfect! And of course Dad was right on the prediction...he was born on 10/14 like he said all along and that when I got home from work that night he predicted he'd be born at 5:45am. We should've played the lotto that day!

Still waiting...

Well we are officially 3 days away from Evan's due date. I had a doctor's appointment this morning and I was dilated to 3 and 80% effaced, so we'll see what happens in the next few days. If he doesn't enter the world on his own accord, then I am going to be induced next Tuesday October 21st. Hope you enjoy Brent's masterpiece on my belly. We are going to paint something different every day until he comes, so check back for more of his artwork.

I was wrong!

Well September 30Th has passed, so my prediction for little Evan was wrong. I made my prediction based on the moon phase. I read some ancient Chinese nonsense that you will give birth to your children around the same moon phase in which you were born. I was born the day after a new moon, which would have been yesterday, but that theory didn't work this time. That is unless he wanted to wait until Oct 29Th, but my doc won't let me wait that long! Brent is predicting Oct 14, so we'll see if he's right! That happens to be a full moon, too!

Tomorrow I will be 38 weeks. I can't believe how quickly time has gone. It seems like yesterday when we found out we were expecting. Although I am sure the time will drag until we finally meet him. When I went to the doctor yesterday I was dilated almost 2, effaced 75% and he was at a -1 station, so he's slowing working his way down...and my bladder and back can feel it!

I finished up at "The Drugstore" last Friday. It was really sad leaving and I already miss those girls so much. Don't get me wrong I love working at Children's, but "The Drugstore" treated me well. Those sneaky girls had a surprise going away party/baby shower for me. It was a lot of fun and I appreciate all they do.

We finally got some baby furniture! Note the word "some." I'll tell you it's always something with furniture! We are just waiting on his bookcase now, so at least he has a crib to not sleep in for awhile :) It looks so adorable, too!

36 weeks...the countdown is on!

Here is Evan at 36 weeks. He is approximately 6lb 4oz and completely smashed inside of me. Just look at his nose! During the ultrasound he was being as active as he could be by sticking out his tongue, practicing breathing, kicking, ect... He is still measuring about 1 week ahead of schedule, but only time will tell! The ultrasound tech told me that he is down low and in vertex position for birth. When I had my Dr appt on Wednesday I was dilated 1, 60% effaced and at a -2 station, which means it could still be awhile.

We are finished with baby showers, have all of his clothes washed, but are still waiting on his furniture! Hopefully it will get here this next week?

Nesting mode for Dad, too?

This past weekend we had a wonderful shower, where Evan received tons of great stuff! We really appreciate everyone's kindness and thoughtfulness. Now I feel that if he were to come early, then we at least have somewhere to put him and clothes to dress him! Thanks again to everyone.

Brent spent labor day assembling all of the large items as I organized and put everything else away. He did a great job and I know it excites him knowing he has many years of assembling ahead of him. Now we just need to figure out the camcorder :) I am quickly finding out that we should buy stock in one of the battery companies and probably diapers, too!

As of tomorrow we will be 34 weeks, which means Evan could safely arrive without being considered "premature" in 3 weeks...crazy! I switched to my doctor in Columbus and she informed me that she will not let me go more than 1 week past my due date, so by October 23rd Evan will definately be here. I have still been feeling relatively good. I have had some back issues lately, but I went for an OMM treatment yesterday. My pelvic bone was rotated forward, which was making it hard for me to walk, so let's hope that after the inflammation goes down I feel better.

Well that's it for now. Brent started rotations today and next week I start weekly doctor visits, so I'll keep you posted.

32 weeks and still trucking along

Here is Evan at 32 weeks! He is getting snug in there, so it's hard to get really good pictures anymore. When I went for my ultrasound she estimated that he weighed about 4lb 10oz, which means he will definitely be in the 8lb range when he is born! Sounds like fun doesn't it? It's OK as long as he's healthy. We also saw hair on the ultrasound, which really excites me because I love when little babies have hair! The ultrasound tech also told me that every time I have an ultrasound my estimated due date is before the one that they initially gave me, but they don't change them after the fact. So instead of being due on Oct 16 she estimates Oct 8. I think that he will come on Sept 30th...may be wishful thinking, but that's my prediction.



We have finally moved and are settled into one house! Everything went surprisingly well and we are excited to be back in Dublin. Brent finished up classes today and starts rotations after labor day. His second rotation (in October) is at Evan's pediatrician's office, so that's fun. I have still been feeling really good. We are both off of work and school next week, so we are looking forward to spending time together before the little one gets here!

I'm not keeping up like I said I would

So it has been a few weeks since the last post! I am now in my 30th week. I can't believe that it is anywhere between 2 and 3 months until we finally meet our little Evan. Our last ultrasound (28 weeks) he already weighed 3lbs, so we may have a little chunker on our hands. I really hope that he doesn't get too big because I am determined to labor and deliver this baby without any drugs! We have been going to our lamaze class for the past couple weeks and it has been really informative. It is definately not what I expected out of lamaze. I thought it would be more breathing, ect... but I am glad that we're going.

Brent passed his boards.

We survived registering for baby items. Do babies honestly need and use that much stuff? I guess after he's born I'll let you know!

After 18 gallons of paint and new flooring, we are officially moving all of our stuff from Athens on Aug 15th. Hopefully after that things will slow down a bit and Brent and I will be able to enjoy spending our last days as a family of two together!

I did have time this past weekend to sneak away to hang out with my college roommates. We had a great time at the Champaign County Fair. It was my first (and maybe my last) fair experience. I just think of poor Jeanette walking through the cow stable eating her ice cream cone :) The picture is of all of us, including the newest Theta girl, Sophia! Leigh Ann is holding her and just gave birth 3 weeks ago...I hope my body comes back as quickly as hers :) Obviously I am now visibly pregnant to all those who doubted the day would come! You can even see the "oh so sexy maternity panel" peeking out from underneath my shirt! There is nothing like stretchy pants. I may actually forget how to wear clothes that don't have an elastic waist! The pro is that you don't have to worry about your zipper being down!