It all started Wednesday 16th at 0500 woke up with contractions very mild.. had them all day long. Did some last minute errand running, made 2 pans of lasagna and 2 coffee cakes. By dinner time contractions were getting a little more frequent and had a little more umph to them... Went to bed about 10ish- Nick fell asleep and I of course couldn't sleep--- too much running through my mind and then of course the contractions! Well by about 0100-0130 I woke Nick up asking him to hold my hand.. We did this for about another hour.. contractions were about 4 min apart at this time- started texting Kymm our doula.. at about 0230 they were 3-4 min; We got up and finished packing the bag and got ready to head to the hosptial..
We got there about 0345-0400-- In triage I was 1.5cm (was about 1 cm a week ago) with a bulging bag of water. We were admitted my doc came in at about 0630 and broke my water. Then the waiting game began. I don't rememeber a whole lot.. I had my eyes closed for 99% of the day! They checked me about 1030 and I made it to 5 cm, by 1:30 I was 6.5 cm, and I think about this time we realized that he was still face up- so went for a walk.. that was a little harder than I thought it would have been! Now I don't have all the time details... but a low dose of Pitocin was started because I got stuck at about 7 and was making slow progress. Got really tired about 3:30-4 and got the most amazing drug Stadol-- it took the edge off and I got to "sleep" in between contractions and Kymm and Nick both got a break too. Did a lot of chair and toliet sitting to help getting things moving-- aparently since he was face up there was a section of my cervix that had a small "lip"-- so that is why it took me a few hours to get to 8-9. Doc didn't want me pushing him out face up and wreck my cervix.. so by this time we had some decisions to make... I did NOT want to have pitocin, epidural or a c-section.. clearly by this time.. the pitocin was running.. talked with the doc at about 7:30 and she said that we needed to increase the pitocin and wanted to start an epidural- more for medical neccessity than anything else..(need me to relax the muscles). Well by this time I am exhausted and have no idea what to do... I just want to be done. So the pitocin got amped up and we waited for the anesthiologist to get in. I was not a happy camper during that wait. The pitocin kicked in and the contractions were at least 1 min apart.. Cried for more Stadol and my lovely nurse agreed! That was amazing... more relaxed and finally had my eyes open for longer than 2 min. Got the epidural-- apparently I didn't even move- even during the contraction when he was putting it in! Got myself all numbed up and was a happy camper... well lil mr wasn't at all happy with this new change... about 8:30- my doc brought in another OB for a second opinon about my face up babe and and uncooperating cervix... Dr Taylor is my new hero!!! He checked me out... still the same. but he had me do a little pushing... babe TURNED and the little lip DISAPPEARED!!!!! He said the magical words-- she's good to go!!!! and during this time which I was oblivious to what else was going on in the room-- they were clearing out some of the baby stuff and preping for a c-section! Luckily that was not required. We got the bed torn apart.. Kymm took one leg, Nick took my other leg and the pushing began!!! Up until that point I was wishing the contractions to go away-- but when it was time to push with them they couldn't come fast enough!! I couldn't feel them at all unless my hands were on my tummy.. so we went with it. 25 min later and about 5-6 contractions - out popped a baby! It was amazing.. I watched a lot of it from the mirror and was practically sitting after he came out.. I looked at the babe and yelled "oh my god it's a BOY!" Nick was so enamored by the whole process and the umbilical cord he didn't even pay attention to the parts ;) Of course the tears started flowing.. I finally did it.. HE was out at 9:39 pm Thursday the17th!!!!!
Jackson Robert 8#11oz; 20 1/2in
Nights take on a new meaning now.. we are trying to sleep as much as we can.. it's hard for me to sleep during the day... granted I can't and am not supposed to be doing a whole lot.. but with the holidays... that wasn't happening... and of course I am paying for it the last few days... a little sore down there!
Nick has been home- he doesn't go back til the 11th of January and it is a major help-- He is LOVING being a father-- and is sooo adorable with lil man! The dogs of course had no idea what to think at first... they have settled down a little now.. they snuggle a lot together on the floor by the couch now.
Tuesday we went to the docs for Jax's follow-up; his circ site healed up nicely already, his weight was the same as when we left the hospital 8#3oz. We go again in January.
I can't stop loving him and of course taking pictures!!! He is perfect. We are so blessed and happy. I don't want him to grow up and Nick can't wait for him to be a toddler already!
He is such a smiley lil guy already!
Our first family picture. 
Our cute christmas present
Momma and her lil guy. Til next time... I have to go find some kleenex ;)
