He's here!!!

Hello all! Sorry this took so long! The site I was using for hosting pictures wasn't working and I couldn't post about Steven's arrival without posting pictures along with it!
Steven made is arrival on Monday, November 10, 2008 at 3:44 in the afternoon. He weighed 7 pounds, 11 ounces, and he was 20.5 inches long. He's absolutely perfect and we are so in love! Here's how it all went down:
We arrived at the hospital for my induction at 6:oo am Monday morning. I got registered and got into the room I would deliver in. They had me change into my hospital gown and hooked me up to the contraction and fetal monitors. You could see the contractions I had been having all weekend and the nurse said they were "moderate" in intensity. She checked me and I was at 3 cm and 80% effaced, up from the 2cm and 70% I was at my appointment the Wednesday before. They started an IV and shortly after they started me on pitocin to get the contractions going- and did they ever! Within just a few minutes I could tell it was working. These contractions were MUCH more painful than the ones I was having and within a few minutes they were 4 minutes apart. My doctor came in around 7:15am. He checked me and broke my water. At once he could see lots of thick meconium in the amniotic fluid, which means Steven already had a bowel movement. It's not a serious complication, but if the baby were to aspirate it into his lungs he could get a bad infection and get really sick. It can also mean he wouldn't tolerate the labor well and has an increased chance of a c-section, so they watched us both a little closer than they normally would. It also meant that he would not be placed on my chest immediately because a special pediatrician would have to suction his lungs and stomach really well right away. This made me sad, but I knew it would be the best thing for Steven. I was nervous about the meconium, but kept thinking positively.
Breaking my water made the contractions come on even more strongly and soon they were about 2 minutes apart with sometimes only a short break in between. It was around 8am when I asked for the epidural. I was never so happy to see an anesthesiologist!! I actually told Matt right before the epidural kicked in that I wasn't sure if I wanted to do this again. :)
The epidural worked great and within a few minutes I was very comfortable. I could still feel the contractions but they didn't hurt. I could move my legs but they felt like they weighed about 1000 pounds each! So I was able to rest and I think around 10am the nurse checked me again and I was 4cm. The epidural made me really relaxed. My mom and Matt were both in the room with me and mom and I rested and Matt played on his computer and read about the new camera.
At 11:30am Dr. S came in and checked on me. I was 6cm and 90% effaced and the baby was doing really well. He was very happy with my progress and told me just relax and he would be back later. Shortly after that Matt's parents got to the hospital. I rested, but they all sat and visited with each other.
After lunch Matt and his parents walked down to find the gift shop. While they were gone around 2:30pm the nurse checked me and I was 10 cm, completely dilated, and the baby was at a +1 station! She looked at me and said "Wow, you're complete and +1, we're going to start pushing so call your husband and get him back up here!". So I called Matt and he came right back up. She called my doctor and told him we were going to start pushing soon. My mom and Matt's parents wished us good luck and went to the waiting room down the hall. I got so nervous when I saw the nurse turn on the baby warmer!
At 3pm the nurse had me start pushing. The doctor and other nurses don't come in until the baby is about to crown, so it was just the 3 of us for a little while. I pushed for about 30 minutes and I was really close! The nurse called Dr. S back and all the other medical staff, plus the special pediatricians and nurses because of the meconium and pretty soon I had a room full of people! Things were happening a lot faster than I thought!
Everyone got set up and within just a few minutes I was pushing again. It didn't take long and before I knew it they told me his head was out and one more push and he was here! I could feel him come out and it was such an amazing feeling. I didn't get a chance to even see him they took him over to the warmer so fast. The pediatrician got working on him so quick and they had to stick a skinny tube all the way down into his stomach to get all the meconium out. Despite the thickness of it the pediatrician said there wasn't very much in his stomach at all. I can't even tell you how wonderful it was to hear him cry. I so badly wanted to see him, but there were too much equipment and people in the way. Things looked wonderful and he scored 9 and 9 on his APGAR scores. Matt wasn't sure what to do, but they all yelled for him to come over and start snapping photos. Since I couldn't see the baby I watched Matt's face and he was all smiles, so it made me feel better. After a few minutes of making sure all the meconium was out they weighed him. This was the first glance I got of him from across the room. 7 pounds, 11 oz!
I finally got to hold him and it was amazing! What a beautiful baby we had, I just couldn't believe it. I really could not believe they were handing me MY baby. OUR baby. It was incredible. We had a little bonding time before our parents came back in. We shot lots of pictures and oooed and aaahhed over him. He was just perfect and so awake and alert! After some quality grandparent time they left to go make calls and I nursed him for the first time. He latched on well and was really hungry! All that pooping I guess. :)
Matt then went with Steven to the nursery to get bathed and they took me to my postpartum room. Matt came back with the baby and he was all clean and we could see how light his hair was and there was SO much of it! It was really strawberry blonde!
The first few nights were interesting to say the least. I don't think either Matt or I got really any sleep, but things have calmed down now. Steven is such a cutie and a great baby so far.
Here are some pictures from our journey into parenthood!
The last picture of me pregnant, right before the induction started:

Steven is here! His first picture!

7 pounds, 11 ounces!

Meeting my son for the first time!

A very proud Daddy and his little boy!

Our first family photo:

Us with my wonderful doctor!

I promise to have more pictures and updates in the next few days. I got the photo thing fixed so there will be lots to look at soon! Steven is doing very well and mommy and daddy are having a blast getting to know our little guy!

In just a few short hours....

I'll be a Mommy!!! And Matt will be a Daddy! CRAZY!!!

Despite all the painful contractions I've been having ALL weekend (since Friday morning, some even 6 minutes apart) Steven isn't quite sure if he wants to meet us yet, but tomorrow morning his mind is being made for him! We have to be at the hospital at 6am and things will get rolling!

I woke up Sunday morning at 2:30am to contractions 6 minutes apart that I could no longer sleep through, but they spaced out around 8am and they've been pretty far apart ever since. I really thought that was it and almost got Matt out of bed! Oh well, tomorrow he is coming whether he wants to or not!

I'm very excited and nervous and scared and happy and weepy... I just can't believe how fast these 9 months have gone by. I have to say I think I've had a pretty easy pregnancy and I'm so lucky things have gone so smoothly.

We'll be keeping family and friends updated. I hope to update the blog shortly after Steven is here.

Thanks for all the well wishes and we can't wait to introduce you to the newest member of our family! :)

38 weeks- check!

I had my 38 week appointment this afternoon and everything is still looking good! I'm now 2cm and 70% effaced- moving right along! My doctor was actually kinda surprised to see me; he thought I would have gone by now. Baby is measuring around the 8 pound mark already! Big boy!

The doctor stripped my membranes (for those of you who have no idea what this is, you can google it. It's not pretty or pleasant) and it was pretty darn painful! He did this because often times it can bring on labor in the next 48 hours, so we'll see! His other suggestions were the old wives tales- long walks, spicy food...you know, the stuff you always hear. We took a walk tonight and I've been busy doing things around the house. I guess we'll know in a few days if it worked!

He tentatively set an induction date for Monday, possibly Tuesday since I'm making so much progress on my own and my cervix is favorable, but he really doesn't think I'll make it that far. It's nice to finally see the light at the end of the tunnel, so we'll have a baby next week for sure! I can't wait! :)

Another great appointment!

I had my 37 week check up today and everything looks wonderful! I'm now 1.5 cm dilated and 50% effaced! Baby is about as low as he can get before I go into labor. I had NO protein in my urine this week (yea!!), my blood pressure was normal and I even lost a few pounds, probably fluid. Doc thinks I have about a 20% chance of going into labor this week and next week about a 50% chance! I could have a baby next week!! Even though my due date isn't until the 17th doc said he is fine to come at any time now! YEA! I'm having lots of contractions, but not anything regular or timeable. They aren't all that painful, so as long as I keep progressing I'm don't mind them.

We had another ultrasound and the baby looks great! He's measuring about 7 lbs 2 oz, and very healthy. We could see him opening and closing his mouth, kind of in a sucking motion and the nurse thought he was probably trying to suck on his hand because it was right up near his face. So cute!! I CANNOT wait to see him- I'm getting so anxious!

He's still very active, although I can tell he's getting cramped in there. I can feel him almost constantly and he's now started keeping me awake at night....a preview of what's to come, I guess!

His room is pretty much complete! I need to get a few things on the walls and I'm waiting to get his wall letters in the mail so we can paint them. Other than that it's ready to go! Matt got the Pack N Play put together this past weekend, so he has 3 places to choose from to sleep- the cradle, the crib and the Pack N Play. Do you think he's spoiled already?! :)

even more progress!

I had my 36 week appointment on Wednesday and everything looks good!

I'm now a "loose" 1 cm dilated, and 20% effaced! Dr. S was so excited I was 20% effaced I thought he was going to start jumping up and down! His head is low and "engaged" at a -3 station. I'm still ahead of the curve, but it doesn't necessarily mean I'll have the baby early. It pretty much just means when I do go into labor I'm that much closer to meeting Steven!

My blood pressure was fine at my appointment, but there was a little bit of protein in my urine this time. Doc said that's to be expected when the swelling gets bad, but still something we need to watch and I still have to "take it easy" and monitor my blood pressure at home.

That's pretty much all the news I have. Our next appointment is Wednesday and I will have another ultrasound to check his size. Doc thinks he will be 7 pounds by the end of this weekend! YEOWZA! And I feel every ounce of that. :)

the whole shebang

Lots of people have asked me things I have learned so far about Baby Steven. Food he likes, food he doesn't like, when he kicks the most, etc. I thought I had it figured out until the last few weeks.

The first few months of his life in utero all I pretty much listened to was Dave Matthews. I used to think he liked the funky upbeat rock- that was until I played him a Shedaisy CD.

I put in "The Whole Shebang" a few weeks ago for the first time since I'd been pregnant. It's an older CD that I still love, just don't listen to much anymore. Well, I've been afraid to take it out of my CD player. Every.Single.Time I start singing it Steven starts 2 stepping all around my belly. Seriously, this kid LOVES it. I'd like to think it's because I'm singing it, but he doesn't react like this with any other music. He can be fast asleep (or so I think) and the second I start singing he's all party. And it's not even a specific song, I just start at the beginning with track #1.

I think Matt's pretty disappointed he's not taking after him and rapping to Bone Thugs in Harmony already. I'd much rather he like songs about break ups and insensitive men. Maybe he's learning early and he's going to be a very compassionate little boy. :)

To listen to the CD, click here.

Progress!!

My follow up appointment went great! My blood pressure was normal, no protein in my urine, and baby looks great! He's making breathing movements and in the right position. He's measuring 6 pounds already!

I'm a finger tip dilated and my cervix is soft! In other words, things are moving along! I'm a little ahead of schedule, but that's fine. Dr. S thinks I'll have no problems giving birth to an 8-9 pound baby.

Here is a picture from our ultrasound today! If you tilt your head to the left you'll be looking straight at our sweet baby's face!