He's here!

On Thursday we went from looking like this...

... to looking like this!

And it happened quicker than we could have ever imagined. Holy Cow. We are still in a bit of shock as to how quick the labor progressed. Here's the story (G-rated):

I was set to be induced on Friday, May 14 because I had been measuring small and it looked like I had low amniotic fluid levels. We always knew I could go into labor on my own before that, but after having waited so long we didn't think it would happen. On Thursday afternoon, I started to feel some mild contractions but they were short, unpredictable and didn't last long. So I tried to ignore them and just prepare for the next day when I would be induced. Well around 7 that night I could no longer ignore the contractions and at 8 I started to time them and they were rapidly getting closer together and I was growing more uncomfortable. I called labor and delivery and they told me to come in they would check me. So we got there around 9:15 and they did a quick check and said the head was low, I was fully effaced, but only two centimeters dilated. So they said I was still in early labor, they would check me again in a few hours and I was just to walk around to see if I could get things to progress on my own. ha ha ha... famous last words.

They moved us to a laboring room at that point and as I changed into my hospital gown I told Dave that I was feeling a lot of pressure. So he told the nurses and they brought in a doctor to check me. He did and at that point I had progressed to six centimeters dilated... just a few minutes prior I was only dilated to two! Immediately a few more nurses came in and they started an IV and tried to get blood drown so I could get can epidural which was what I had really wanted. But then my contractions intensified very quickly and I was at eight centimeters. Two more doctors came in quickly and they were all trying to coach and prepare me that this baby was coming quick and there would be no time for any medication. I saw one nurse rush to the baby warmer to turn it on and get all the supplies and I realized that this was really going to play out fast. I became really scared and told the nurse that I was so scared and didn't think I could do it. I thought at one point i was going to die, and I made that known. Our nurse though was wonderful and really coached me through it. Everything progressed very quickly, and after four pushes, he was out.

So a total of 24 minutes passed from when I was six centimeters to the birth. Crazy. They didn't even have time to admit me to the hospital beforehand. I never ever in a million years thought I could give birth without any medication, but I guess you have to do what you have to do. I will say that for about two hours afterward I was in shock. Complete shock to what had so quickly transpired. Dave was great and totally cool through the whole thing. However he comments that it is as if he has PTSD about it, that when he thinks about it now it is traumatic.

We are home now and things are going well so far. We would appreciate your prayers for continued good health for Adam, healing for me, and wisdom as we deal with John during this tough transition for him.

Thank you for your support!