Welcome Baby Owen!

On induction day (Tuesday, September 20th) - at 39 weeks we got a call at about 6:15am from the hospital telling us to be there at 7:30.  My parents had come up the night before to help out.  So, Grant left for a half day of work (with me promising to give him updates every second) and mom and I got ready to head to the hospital (Dad was going to stay with Olivia and get her to daycare a bit later, then join us at the hospital). 

Mom took some belly shots for me for my week 39:

We got to the hospital at about 7:30 and by the time we got checked in, brought to our room and I got into my nifty gown it was already almost 9am.  The nurses had to get the order from the doctors for my pitocin and antibiotics to start my IV - and they got it all going at about 9:30 am - so let the clock begin!  I was already 3 1/2 cm before they started my pitocin and I had been having some contractions through the weekend (remember I was only 2cm that Friday) so, the nurses think I was already going into labor naturally anyway.

It didn't take very long for my contractions to get to 3-4 minutes apart.  They were planning on breaking my water around lunchtime, but I wanted to get my epidural first.  Thankfully, Grant got there around 12:30 and just in time for my epidural.  Fortunately this epidural worked for me - Yeah!! 

They broke my water at around 1pm.  not too long after, I was 5-6 cm.  After Grant had gotten there, mom and dad left to go get Olivia and bring her up to see me.  Meanwhile, Susan arrived. 

The family all left around 5 or so for dinner, and I was beginning to be quite uncomfortable with the pressure and pain breaking through.  The epidural definitely helped, but there was still quite a bit of pressure.  They checked me shortly after and I was about 9cm.  A little after 6pm, I got to 10 cm and the nurse called in Dr. Gunter (the same doc that delivered Olivia!).  He arrived and while he was getting his gear on, we did a couple "practice" pushes and he was already crowning!  So, I was told to hang on for the doc and when he was ready, he told me to push at my next contraction . . . so I did and he popped out in one push!!!!  OMG!  I could not believe it!  He was perfect!

He was born at 6:37pm, weighed 6lbs, 11 oz and was 20 inches long.  Here are some of the first pictures of him:

The proud big sister:



Olivia has done so good with him!  She was absolutely mesmerized by him when she first saw him.  It was so cute!  Here is a family shot from when they first moved me to my room after delivery:



 The proud grandparents (Alan was out of town on a hunting trip and would have to wait until the weekend to meet him):

Another big sister moment:

 Olivia also got a special present from her brother as a big sister gift.  He got her a Pandora bracelet with a couple charms on there.  She really liked it and now she has one just like mama's!

 It was a long day, but we wound up with a beautiful baby boy!  Welcome Owen!