Happy BIRTH Day!

Today was the day! Finally! I got to meet our new little guy. I have to admit, this experience was incredibly different from my other deliveries. Yesterday night was surreal going to bed knowing that we were going to be getting ready for our baby to come today. I was able to pack everything up in the car and get the kids ready for school and dropped off at Mom's house. I ate a light breakfast. I put makeup on. There was no rushing. No craziness. It was just a calm morning...well, as calm as it can be with three kids and a dog.

Here I am. The last picture of me pregnant...ever. I think I got pretty round, but not quite as big as I was with the twins. I gained about 40 lbs.

Here's labor room 18...our home for the next few hours. We had waited in the waiting area for about 45 minutes and I was really hoping that they wouldn't cancel my induction because they were very busy. Thankfully we were called back by Cinnamon, my labor nurse. What a relief to know that things were going as planned.

First, I had my blood drawn and IV started. Then my doctor called to let my nurse know all of the orders for me. The plan was to start some Pitocin and then at around lunch time break my water and hopefully get labor going. Cinnamon said that she had two of us that she was starting for inductions and the nurses were guessing who would go first. Ha ha. Typical nurses.

So at around 10am I had the Pitocin started and at 1130 one of my doctor's partners came in to break my water. I hadn't progressed too much from when I started and the baby was still sitting really high. After my water broke I started to feel the contractions a little bit more. Cinnamon said that I could have an epidural any time that I wanted, and considering my history of relaxing and dilating quicker with an epidural, I decided to go ahead and have her give me the fluid bolus so that I could get it. About 1:30pm I got my epidural and my doctor came in to see how things were going. The baby was facing up and high still so we used a peanut ball and continued upping the Pitocin hoping things would progress. It did fairly quickly. I started to feel some pressure and Cinnamon checked and I was 9cm. At that point she sat me up a bit to let gravity help and she called my doctor. 

Through all of this time, I was looking at labor affirmation cards that I had received in my baby box. Jake and I were just relaxing and watching some Netflix. With Elijah we slept and the twins came so quick, that this was an entirely new experience. We were able to enjoy each other's company and just have a great time. Funny thing to think of when you think of delivering a baby. Ah the joys of epidurals. 

Anyway. My doctor arrived and set up for delivery. I was very focused on what I was doing and Jake was great about coaching me through everything. A few pushes and our little boy was out. Originally I hadn't wanted him on my chest but I changed my mind at the last minute. We were just overcome with emotion when he arrived. He had a head full of hair and was a long skinny boy. Looks were deceiving and he actually is larger than Elijah was at birth. He was so much like Elijah. Not only in looks, but he also didn't want to cry. He needed to work out some fluid and cry but he wouldn't cry for me, Jake or Cinnamon. My doctor was the one who finally got him to let out a good wail.

Introducing Oliver Govanni.

He was born at 4:04pm

Weight 8lb 12oz

21.5 inches

Because he was facing the wrong way for so long he got a bit bruised on his face. Poor little guy.

Look at all the dark hair! The other boys were bald. This is just amazing to me.

Here's our white board. I love that I have zero pain tolerance. Jake knows me too well.

Here's my doctor holding Oliver. He's delivered all the boys.

Me after delivery. Makeup pre delivery and an epidural make a huge difference in photos.

My nurse Cinnamon. She was amazing. I would recommend her as a nurse to anyone. 

Little Ollie

Proud Daddy.  

It is so nice to have a baby to cuddle. They fit right into your arms.  

What an amazing day. We were able to go to our postpartum room at about 630pm and got settled in for the night. Time to return to the waking-up-at-all-hours-to-feed-a-baby stage. 

Finally settled down for the night.