The Short Version for the guys and those with lives

Went to the hospital at 12:30pm on Wednesday and things got underway immediately. Once I got my epidural, I felt great and just hung out for the next 7 hours as I dilated and contracted. We had family visitors and watched tv intermittently. Then at about 8:30, it was time to push. My epidural was wearing off quickly, so I was in pain and was more than happy to get this over with. Daniel was a complete champ and could not have done a thing better. Carson was born at 9:30 and was completely healthy. He was welcomed at the hospital by a family audience including his Granny and Papa (my parents), his Grandma and Grandpa (Daniel's parents), his Aunt Ashley and Uncle Lee, and his Great Aunt Ande! The next day we had about 20 visitors at the hospital, and then weren't allowed any the day after because we were so tired :) Tomorrow we go home with the little guy and are ready to learn how to be parents!

The Long Version (mostly for my memory's sake)

We woke up at 5 am on Wednesday to call the hospital (as we were instructed) to make sure there was a birthing room available ... well, there wasn't. Apparently all the pregnant women in the city decided to go in to labor that day - and the hospital did not feel that Carson's induction was as important as these "walk ins" who had NOT made a reservation! So we waited until noon when they finally called back and asked us to be there at 12:30. I was shown to the delivery room right away and made quick friends with Sammy, the delivery nurse. She was soooooooo wonderful and made us feel very comfortable. She also went and tracked down the greatest anesthesiologist in the world, Dr. Owens, who spent the hardest hour of his career administering my epidural. It was really complicated because of my back surgery 11 years ago which has left a slew of metal scraps and fused bones in the way of my spine! I was hooked up to machines and IVs immediately which showed that I was already having contractions (though I couldn't feel them yet). I finally started feeling them around 2:30 which is when the epidural took effect - so that was lucky. From that point on, until around 8 it was smooth sailing for me. For Carson, not so much. The contractions kept causing his heart rate to drop, so they would have to take me off the pitocin for hours at a time which of course slowed the whole process down. Fortunately, he was able to hang in there, so the threat of a c-section never became too real. I couldn't feel anything below my waist so I welcomed family visitors in and out of the room, we watched TV, and movies. That all went by really fast, and then, around 7:30 my epidural began to wear off (yikes) - which was a risk with the complications of its insertion. They tried to increase the dosage, but without success. By this time I was dilated beyond 7cm, and made it to 10cm in about 30 minutes. I was definitely starting to feel the pain, but had to wait about 30 mins to push for Dr. Jansky to arrive. Also, at this time the nursing shifts changed so I had to bid farewell to my beloved Sammy and was introduced to Sandra - who was completely different, but the Lord's perfect provision for this next phase of labor. We began pushing at 8:30. Sandra instructed me on exactly what to do, Dr. Jansky was a perfect mix between encouragement and business and Daniel was in the zone - doing more than I could have ever dreamed! I pushed for an hour - an hour I wouldn't mind forgetting one day, though parts of it make me laugh now. Eventually, Dr. Jansky went in w/ the forceps and fished him out. She kept exclaiming, "LOOK AT YOUR SON!" But I was kind of out of it and wouldn't say it was the most sentimental of moments. Daniel cut the cord, and got to hold him for about 30 mins before they took him to clean and test him. So, that's about how it went - or all I can remember, at least.

Getting Close

So I suppose that a week from today we should have a baby. This is one of the strangest feelings in the world to me and it's hard to process. I'm at an emotional crossroads of wanting to have this little guy out of me, but worrying that I might not be able to handle it once he is. I know that I will receive God's grace as I need it - so I'll try not to draw on something that will come when the timing is right. Life is changing so much already and we seem to mostly just be twiddling our thumbs waiting to meet our son.

My appt with Dr Jansky went well yesterday. I'm now more than 2cm dilated and 90% effaced (Lynn, I won't go in to details, but it's part of a lining in you that needs to thin out all the way b/f the baby can be born). I really wonder if I'll go in to labor before Wednesday and wouldn't be surprised if I do. We'll see I guess.

It is so awesome that God knows the exact moment when Carson will come into the world and that He planned it from the beginning of time! We hope to introduce him to you all soon!

Getting ready

I woke up this morning with some braxton-hicks contractions around 6:30. They were getting progressively worse so I started timing them. They were consistently 10 minutes apart for about 2 hours, but then they went away. It's so cool the way my body is getting ready for labor - I find it really fascinating - and wonder if I'll even make it to the 24th.

Dr. Jansky and me (36 weeks)

Today was a great checkup. Normal blood pressure and my pelvic exam revealed that I've only dilated a small bit over the past week (she said I'm "at a loose 1"), but I'm 75% effaced. Sooooo, she scheduled an induction for Wednesday morning, Sept 24!!! She wants to give his lungs a couple more weeks to develop, but is suspecting his weight to be around 8lbs right now - so the sooner we deliver the better -- and I agree! It's so fun to have this knowledge and puts my mind at ease knowing we've got 2 weeks to finish getting ready. I know anything could happen, still, but it's nice to have a plan :)

Belly Time

When I was in WI last month with my roommates, Holly and I did a little prenatal photo shoot. Here are my favorites - enjoy!

Dr. Jansky and Me (month 9)

Big news after this appointment!
Apparently, I've begun dilating - around 1cm and I'm 50% effaced??? (is that how you would say it?). Carson has dropped and is hangin out head down waiting to come! The Dr said that I could very well have this baby at 36 weeks - which is next week for those of you keeping track. So crazy!
Forget nesting - I am way beyond that -- more like building (or whatever is more intense than nesting). We have so much to do this weekend to finish getting ready. Of course the baby could still hold out for 2-3 weeks, but I wanna be ready just in case.
I really can feel the pressure "down there" and do feel a little like a walking time-bomb waiting to pop. It's all so weird.

Carson's Friends

This has been a year filled with more than just our baby. Many of our friends have been going through the same thing - and we can't wait for Carson to meet all of his soon-to-be playmates!

Abigail Hope Morton - Jan 18
Born to Matt and Shannon who I've worked under in college ministry for 3 years - and who live in our neighborhood so we'll get to see a lot of them!

Addison Grace LoSurdo - Mar 9
Born to Joey and Beth who have been close friends since college.

Zoe Karis Miller - Apr
Born to Kendall and Karis. Karis and I worked together in youth ministry at Grace for a year and have been friends ever since.

Elisha Dane Wilson - May 9
Born to Eric and Erica. Daniel and I were both close friends with Erica in college. We're now all blog buddies

Hallie Parker Bryant - May 27
Born to Jamey and Heather who we've known longer than we've known each other. We have worked together in college ministry for the past 3 years as well.

Adelaide Anne Peters - June 17
Born to Jon and Holly. Holly and I were college roommates and friends forever since then!

Owen Guy Mery - Aug 11
Born to Nate and Krista who are my sister's in-laws. We get to see them all the time and love having families growing together.

Juliet Caroline Sledge - Aug 11
Born to Toby and Lisa. Toby was one of the "older guys" in college Daniel always looked up to and its fun to still be running in the same circle today.

But wait, that's not all! After Carson comes, our close friends from college, Nathan and Melissa Hall will be expecting their son Pierson in mid-October.