Goings On

We've had an incredibly busy September! Thankfully, the Lord brought things together for us like a beautiful symphony. On Labor Day weekend we moved into our new condo (with the help a few good folks!), thoroughly cleaned our old apartment, unpacked, and went into labor the next day.

For seven hours through the night (Labor Day) my contractions were 3-8 minutes apart. We arrived at the hospital early Tuesday morning. After a near panic-attack (hospitals are scary!), the contractions really slowed down. I was only 2 cm dilated and totally exhausted and demoralized. The doctors gave us the option of getting pitocin to get the labor going - or to go home and come back when the contractions were more frequent again. For a number of reasons, we asked for pitocin, and an epidural, which gave us the assurance that the baby would arrive that day. I can't say too much about labor except that what St. Paul says seems about right to me now that I've actually gone through it. My point of pride is now that I made it through three hours of pushing. That is all. And Rich felt bad enough for me that he promised me a nice trip ... some place with palm trees. :) Here is our weekend in a few pictures:

Dinner with Rich & Dad at Clyde's - I'm including this mostly because I wish that I was as happy as the woman behind us. I was pretty scared of labor at this point.

And pretty big - Love how Rich has to bend his body to get his arm around me. Thankfully, I've already lost 25 lbs (thanks to the nursing) and have about 10 left to go!



We'll just skip the labor photos and focus on the prize - Here is our little man getting his first bath. He didn't like it at all, but he was really good for me for his most recent bath!




Here we are on day 2 of Isaac's life ex utero. The hospital had to keep him for 7 days to treat what they thought might be an infection brought on by a fever I had during delivery. We were with him most of that time. Now he's healthy and home with us!



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Capitol Tour

Isaac is a curious little guy. He loves to look around and take in his surroundings. So we decided to take him for a stroll along the National Mall and take a tour of the Capitol.

He slept through the tour, but enjoyed being carried by daddy in the Ergo very much!

It looks darker than it was here. It never rained even though we had flash flood warnings all day. The weather was about 70 and breezy - completely pleasant! I love the weekends with my boys!

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Our Sweet Boy

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Look What I Can Do!

Head lifts, butt lifts, and 45 degree turns!

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He Has Arrived!

The Firstborn arrived on Tuesday, September 6th at 10:22 pm, weighing 6 lbs 13 ozs, 20.75 inches long, 14 inch head. We are so thrilled to finally see him!

Things we remember about the birth:

• Labor started the day after we moved into our condo -- lots of walking up & down stairs by mom.
• When we arrived, triage was not impressed by how little dilated mom was (3cm). We were given the option of going home or being induced (circa 6am) so the baby would be born that day.
• We chose induction after a long, way-too-fearful (mom) discernment. Was there any way to have the baby without going through labor?
• Mom chose an epidural because she did not want to attempt a pitocin-induced delivery without it.
• The LaMaze classes were still helpful in terms of breathing and calming exercises.
• After the epidural was installed, mom fell asleep for a while.
• We had the best nurse ever, an African woman named Catherine. (Other friends who've had her during delivery confirmed how amazing she was.) She asked me if I was scared and why. Then, she calmly talked about how delivery is so much better in America, that I was going to be able to relax/sleep with the epidural, and enjoy all the moments of my first baby being born.
• The next shift's nurses were also amazing -- very kind and encouraging.
• DH's friend brought him dinner and unfortunately was told to wait right outside the delivery room b/c when he arrived, mom was "pushing." Then, they forgot about him. Finally, someone asked him why he was there. (Thanks for the chicken wrap, Peter!)
• When mom was fully dilated, baby's head was still -2. The OB later confirmed babies' head sizes make a difference in how well they can engage in the birth canal. His head was huge.
• In 2011, the general recommendation was to push when baby was -2 as long as the mom was fully dilated and effaced. Now, they let moms "labor down."
• We made the wrong assumption that pushing would last 15 minutes. It lasted 3 hours. (My sister lucked out and pushed for 15 minutes for all of her labors; we thought ours would be the same.)
• We had a lovely, competent doctor from India, who kept coaching with the line, "Get angry and push!" She gave me a hug after delivery. We all felt like a team in that room.
• An episiotomy became necessary; baby was delivered almost immediately afterward.
• They placed him on my chest right away. I wasn't ready for the love/surprise/delight that filled me immediately. I was a changed woman, filled with inexplicable love. Life would never be the same.
• DH had this expression of surprise/joy/delight (above) that's just not something one can explain. Parents know. It's an amazing privilege to parent this baby.

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