2 Months Old!

So, we really took 2 month old pictures, but I have not edited them yet. Hopefully that will happen soon, but feeding him seems to take priority. Anyway, I am going to add a few pics from my phone, hope you are all well!

8 Wonderfully Reflective Weeks

8 weeks ago today I was preparing to be induced. Too bad the hospital was full, so we did not make the cut that day, but in a lot of ways I was grateful. The extra 3 days gave me time to pull it together and resign myself to the fact that Pitocin and I were going to meet again. Somehow I survived, thank goodness for super fast deliveries, and we have had our beautiful boy for 8 weeks on Monday.

8 sleepless weeks...okay, not really. He is up to about 6 hours once per night now, but that usually starts at 11:30 or midnight. As a result there have been many days that I just have to get up and going when he is done nursing. I keep hoping he will either make it 7 hours or start sleeping a little earlier so I can sneak in another hour. I am so grateful summer vacation starts tomorrow. Hopefully by the time the kids go back we will be on a great schedule. (Wishful thinking, I know!)

Anyway, we have had some requests for more recent photos. I will try to get some up soon, but here are a few from his 2 week photo shoot:

Love you all! Hope you are well and happy!

Finally Here!

It's a BOY!
Stormond arrived yesterday (4-15) at 11:06 a.m. He is 9 lbs 2 oz (huge compared to the other 2) and 21 inches long. Happy, healthy, and sleepy!

We could not have asked for a faster delivery, I was induced at 9:40 a.m., so literally less than 90 minutes. We had a great nurse named Rachael who believed me when I told her that I go really fast, and did everything to support our process. I feel so blessed that we had such great staff! Dr. Smith (as always) was supportive and very calm, but got us through the process even when the baby's heart rate started to drop.

We are all excited to finally have our new little guy here. I will post more soon, but for now here is a sneak peek of the new addition:

 He has a Walther head! Dr Smith said he thinks it was a record for his office for a natural birth! 37 cm.

 Bruised eyes look much better today!

Update...

So we are still here, no baby yet. The hospital we are delivering at is running very full this week so induction has not been an option. I am grateful for that in a lot of ways, I really don't want pitocin. However, this baby does not seem to have any intention of coming out. After spending the entire pregnancy on my cervix causing contractions it has decided my ribs are a better place to hang out. We just cannot make contractions stick.

We even went to the zoo today and walked. All we seemed to accomplish was making my feet and ankles more swollen. I am so ready for a water pill, lol! Of course that would just make the bathroom my permanent home, so that is probably not a good idea either. Oh well! I am such a whiner!

Sorry we have nothing more exciting to report...we really have not forgotten to call any of you! We will let you know as soon as we have anything to report, meaning the baby is actually here. We don't want to get anyone's hopes up (especially our own) at this point. Anyway, the new goal is to have the baby before my brother's wedding on the 7th of May. I think that is the most realistic goal I can set. Lol!

We love you all and hope all is well for you! Between waiting to hear from the doctor all week and C having a nasty virus we are not getting out to see anyone. Hope you are all happy and healthy!

The Induction debate...

So, tomorrow we are 39 weeks, and it is time to start the debate over whether or not to induce this baby. My gut instinct is NO! I did not enjoy pitocin with C and feel like it will completely defeat my goal of staying drug free with this delivery. However, we really do have to address how big this baby may be. Both of the other kids were over 6 pounds at 35 weeks. when we look at the fact that most babies gain between a 1/2 and a full pounds per week from week 36 on this kids is getting BIG! Bare minimum, if it was 6 at 35 weeks, it is now 8 lbs. That is a good size baby, but if we had one week where it gained a pound we are over 9 lbs! So, last week the doctor told us he is concerned that after all this time of keeping baby in we may end up with a Cesarean birth because the baby will be too big.

Okay, so there it all is... what do you all think? I am terrified to deliver a 10 lb baby after two 6 lbs babies, but I am sure it is possible. I am just not sure that having any interventions will not lead to more interventions. The doctor said we can start by breaking my water, but 90% of the time he ends up giving women pit even after breaking their water...We can get up to 2 minute contractions when I go walking, but the baby is not engaging in my pelvis, so eventually my body gives up on the contractions.

I am really torn, so I would love to hear from anyone with great ideas or experience!

38 Weeks...

Still here. Who would have ever thought we would see 38 weeks with a pregnancy? I didn't, the doctor didn't, Mike definitely didn't. Crazy how the body works. I have been trying to analyze how we got here, but the truth is I really have no idea. I have a few theories, but Mike says I am just grasping at straws trying to find an answer. That is what I love about him, he keeps me humble!

We see the doctor tomorrow, he is finally back from his 10 day Spring Break trip. I'm glad he got to spend time with his family, but oh so glad that the baby seems to be waiting for him to be in town. I know it sounds crazy, but I was really apprehensive about who we might end up with as an on call doc. I want this to be a pleasant experience for all of us, not a battle with staff over our preferences.

I have been reading a lot of natural birthing sites and natural birthing stories lately. I feel like it is always better to be over prepared, and I know things don't always go the way we want them to. But I am certain now that educating ourselves as women about the birth process and the options we have is important, whether you want a natural or medicated birth. I know some of the natural birthing sites and books can seem a little "hippie" or extreme, but I feel like we all have the option to glean good information from them and be ready for any outcome.

Anyway, just some food for thought as I try to get everything around here ready...or not. We will all make it through one way or the other :)

We took some Easter pictures on Sunday, I will hopefully post some soon. Unfortunately I am having a really hard time getting up on the bar stools at the computer, so it may have to be after the baby...

Life is fleeting...

Just found out that a friend from our last neighborhood passed away this weekend. He went out for a jog on his lunch break and never came back. Wow!

I am heart broken for his wife and their two small boys, ages 5 & 3 I think. They are a sweet little family, and he was a super cub master! I hope and pray that they will be protected and comforted at this time.

Take and extra moment to hug your loved ones today, you never know...