HE IS HERE!!!!!

This is our first family photo and a moment I will remember always.

They actually brought him to us right after he was born to see him and give him a kiss before they took him for measurements and to get cleaned up.

James Robert was born June 30th at 10:38pm. He weighed 8 lbs, 7 oz and was 20 inches. I can't believe I had over an 8 lb baby in me!

THE BIRTH STORY

This whole thing started on Tues, June 29th when I went in to be induced after being a week past my due date with a suspected big baby. I didn't want to be induced, so we tried the folley tube/balloon first. That went in around 4pm and let me tell you, that was not a pleasant experience. Seeing as I was starting labor on my own and dilated to one, I thought it wouldn't be so bad. I was wrong. Luckily I used techniques from my hypnobabies to get through it. Once that was in, we had 12 hours to see if I would dilate to 4 and have it drop out. So I labored for the next 12 hours, walking the halls, listening to my hypno cds and working through contractions that were 2-3 min apart. I felt like I had to be making progress. Then the 12 hours were up and they had to remove the balloon. It got me to 2.5 cm which was rather disappointing. I then had to get some pitocin in me. The started me off low and gradually pumped it up. my contractions were getting pretty strong at this point and back labor started to hit. I would not wish back labor on anyone! Ouch... not fun. But again, I was able to work through it just hoping it wouldn't last much longer. Haws was so great during the whole thing. He walked the halls with me, helping me through the tough ones. I couldn't have asked him to be any more perfect. Eventually they broke my water and all hell broke loose! Once that water was gone, the contractions speed up and there was no water to "cushion" the contractions. After about 2 hours I couldnt take it anymore. I couldnt concentrate on my hypnobabies and I told Haws I could do it if I knew I only had to for another hour... but with no guarantee as to how long this might last, I needed that epidural! Once I decided to go for it, it felt like the anesthesiologist couldn't get there fast enough! What sweet relief when the epidural kicked in. I no longer felt like I was going to die.

So, they pumped up that pitocin as high as they could, I was at a 4 and 95% effaced at this point. I was having contractions that should have been dilating me a cm per hour and after 3 hours... nothing. The little guys head wasnt coming down which made dilating very difficult. I was communicating with my doctor and she kept letting me try a few more hours before she came in to talk about a c-section. Haws and I talked about it and we both had a strong impression that a c-section was the only way this baby was going to come out. I thought that my biggest nightmare would be to have a c-section. I wanted to be able to move around and take care of the baby as soon as he came out. I know joke that God must have known the only way I would take it easy after birth was to make me have a c-section :) So after 26 hours of natural labor and 7 hours with an epidural we headed off for a c-section.

It really wasn't bad. I went in feeling really good about it. The drugs made me get the shakes, but it also made me super chatty and excited. Maybe that was the adrenalin. So with in 30 min of prep, listening to the KOST in the operating room (unchained melody, some chicago, Hey, soul sista) they held up a mirror and I saw James' sweet little face coming out. Since he was sunnyside up again, he came out looking at us! It was amazing. I was so relieved to see he was perfect and I couldn't believe how cute he was. I gave him a kiss and just looked at Haws while he took him to cut the cord. Then he was back with the baby and we all went into recovery. James latched on right away and I was so grateful that he has been a good breastfeeding baby. I know that can be one of the most challenging things with a newborn. The rest of the night was kind of a blur. We got into our new room and tried to rest a little for the night. I think the whole time we were in the hospital, Haws and I got somewhere between 8-15 hours of sleep total. We were there Tues-Sun and brought baby James home on the 4th of July.

We had lots of visitors who came by and I am just so thankful for all the family and friends who have been so supportive during all of this. For the visits, the meals, the phone calls... just everything! We even had Dana and Chase fly in for the weekend so she was here to see us in the hospital along with other cousins that were here for the 4th of July week. Jared flew in to surprise us at the hospital which was such a nice surprise.

Get ready for a picture overload. This is my journal, so I gotta document :) I wish I knew how to do a collage or something, but I don't.

I love this picture of him.

Using my hypnobabies

 

Look how huge I look!

Baby James

 Visitors (I know I missed pics with a few)

Daddy changing the "tar" diaper. I love the look on his face!

Giving mommy a hug.

Going home!