Merry Christmas!!

Today was a great day spent with family, including my three wonderful blessings. Although M decided to stay up for several hours during the night, and the twins woke up bright and early, the day went very well.

S received many Imaginext items with Dragons and Dinosaurs and LOVED them. Right now he is so into imaginary play and has already spent a few hours today playing with his new sets.

K got a Karaoke Machine and some pop CD's. She loved singing along to her favorite songs first thing this morning. She also got some Zhu Zhu pets and a Starter City which took all my energy and money to find, and while she enjoys them, they are definitely not the highlight of her day.

M spent the whole morning sleeping and barely making a peep. Since he is so little, a right now need absolutely nothing, I didn't get him anything for Christmas this year. He did get an outfit and an ornament from family though.

Tomorrow life with return to 'normal' and we can start to get into a better routine. My parents will be leaving soon and the four of us now need to figure out how to function day to day.

Just Some More Pics

For My 400th Post

Just going to post a pic...enjoy :)

One Week Old

Max was one week old yesterday. Time just flies when you're having fun.

I really have to say that Max is such a good baby. He rarely fusses, sleeps as well as can be expected and is nursing like a champ. There is really nothing bad I can say about my first week with him. I am totally in love.

The twins have also done wonderfully. S is a little whiny at times and still wants to have his cuddle time. I try my best to hug and kiss on S while constantly telling him what a great big brother he is. He loves to talk to Max and constantly refer to him as his buddy. S also likes to hold Max but that usually only lasts a few seconds. K is much more maternal and wants to help with things like diaper changes and getting him dressed. She is very curious about all his actions and also loves to hold him. K however would probably hold him all day if I let her.

I am doing okay. Delivery wise I think I am healing and recovering nicely. I still have some cramping and of course the residual SPD pain. It might take up to six weeks for the SPD to heal, but at least without an 8lbs baby sitting in my pelvis, the pain is much more manageable. Unfortunately the day I came home from the hospital, I also came home with an upper respiratory infection with cough and sore throat. Within a few days it had spread to a double ear infection as well. If I could shake this illness...I think I would almost feel completely normal.

Enjoy the pic of Max. I had a professional photographer come to the house to take pics and I got a little sneak peak. I will post more when I get them :)

He is Here!

I went to my scheduled doctor's appointment on the 9th and had several tests. My blood pressure was up for the first time and Max was now measuring almost 9lbs via US. After talking to my midwife about my options, it was decided I would head to the hospital to be induced.

I went right over and got to my room about 5pm. I was having some mild contractions but to speed things along, my midwife broke my water at 6pm. At that time I was still only 4cm and 80% effaced. After 1.5h of irregular and fairly weak contractions they started pitocin at 8:30pm. At 2am, and SEVERAL bumps of the pitocin, labor was getting pretty intense so I asked for some Staydol. Before they gave it to me they checked my cervix again, and I was still only 4cm and 100% effaced. About 10 minutes after the Staydol labor began to get intolerable and with not making any cervical change I just couldn't keep going. While prepping for the epidural I think I kinda 'lost it' pain wise and it was unbearable. I wasn't handling things too well at that point. Well...when they laid me back down once the epidural was in, they went to check me again...and could see the babies head! Apparently in about 45 minutes I went from 4cm to 10cm and I guess the reason for the intense pain near the end. The epidural only took effect once I started pushing, so...I guess I went basically med free for the labor and got a nice pain free 2 minutes of pushing.

Max was born December 10th at 3:14am weighing 8lbs 0oz. I was able to have my VBAC and he came in just one or two pushes. He is nursing well and seems to be a good baby - as much as you can tell in the first 36 hours The twins were unable to see him until I was discharged, on Friday (11th) around noon due to hospital restrictions on children under 18. They have been super excited and cute since he got home. Right now they are totally in love with him and curious about all his actions. I just wonder how long that will last.

I'm sure any updates right now will be few and far between, but I will try to post at least once a week.

I Guess I Should Update...

With the fact that absolutely nothing has happened :(

I went for the membrane stripping on Thursday. Painful but not horrible. Felt crampy and a little sore that day...but nothing much. Before she even did the procedure I was 4cm dilated, 80% effaced, head was fully engaged and my membrane were bulging. My midwife felt like I would go into labor soon regardless of what she did. Well, here it is 3 days later and I'm still waiting.

I have gone shopping. I have taken EPO. I am doing everything I can imagine. This child needs to be born before I go crazy.

My next appointment is Thursday but I might try and call tomorrow and see if I can move it up to at least Wednesday.

Any suggestions?? I will try anything!!!

Last Belly Shot

Here it is. Hopefully there will be no further opportunities for another shot. I am hoping and wishing that this Thursday will be successful and that Max will make his arrival that day or soon after.

On a kind of positive note I have been super crampy today with lots of cervical pressure and pain with a dull back ache. These, I'm told are all good signs for impending labor. So...if I don't go on my own, at least I am hoping that my body will be ready and compliant for this Thursday!!

I should have my laptop with me, so if I have the energy, I will try to update here when he arrives. I'm really hoping that I won't need to post anything from now until his arrival.