Catching Up!

Okay, it has been three weeks since I went into labor and finally decided to write a short (it will actually be long I'm sure) post about it all. If you are completely uninterested you can just skip this post... I lost my mucous plug at work just before lunch. By three I was having really mild contractions. I finished my day at work and then headed to the doctor. She said that even though my contractions were fairly close together that I was only dilated to a one and that it would probably be another couple of days. So Bob and I went home and made dinner and got all ready for bed. I laid down for a few minutes and decided that it hurt too much when I laid down. My contractions had been consistently three minutes apart for a couple hours but I really didn't want to go to the hospital and get sent home. I decided I couldn't take it anymore and we left for the hospital at 10:30.

This was taken a couple hours before we went to the hospital! I kind of miss the belly.

When we got there I was only dilated to a two so they had me walk around for a while. After about 45 minutes of walking I was dilated to a 4 and they admitted me. When they put in the IV they blew my vein on the first try and I think that hurt worse than any contraction, at least when it was combined with a contraction it was awful. We were then transferred from triage to Labor and Delivery, I was getting set up for my epidural and they had Bob leave the room. The first one didn't work but it was pure bliss after the second one. It was about 4 am and I was now dilated to an eight. They told us to get some rest (yeah right) and left us alone until about 6. Ezra's heart rate kept dropping and freaking them out, so they made me change positions a lot which is really hard when you are completely numb from the waist down. By seven they checked me again and I was fully dilated so they shut off the epidural (for Ezra's sake) and had me start pushing. About five contractions and twenty minutes later we had his head most of the way out. The doctor wasn't expecting him this quick and they made me stop pushing so the doctor could get some gloves on. The moment he came out and they stuck him on my stomach was the sweetest moment of my life.

Bob holding Ezra for the first time!

I had my new little guy and Bob was in tears and we just kept wiping him off. I then spent the next hour and a half getting stitched up. Apparently getting him out so fast takes a toll on you. It was totally worth avoiding hours of pushing though.

Sharing the wealth

We just wanted to post a few pictures for everyone who can't be here so you could all get to know Ezra a little better. He is still proving to be very strong and is becoming more and more alert and expressive. He cracks us up with all his faces, his crazy little arms and his skinny chicken legs.

Our little champ!

Well, good news. Ezra is a big strong baby! The hospital staff was very impressed with how well he did. They were wondering if he would have any breathing trouble and if he would be able to eat okay so he spent his first night in the Newborn ICU. He had no trouble breathing and is a pretty good eater so he got to spend the next night with us (though we eventually sent him to the nursery so that mom could get some sleep).

Suckin' it down!

He did lose a little tiny bit more weight than they would have liked but he did such a great job that they let him come home with us yesterday!

Oh son, are you smiling? Nope, I'm just pooping.

He has really big feet like his uncles on both sides, so I bet he will be tall like them too. His strength is impressive. He already moves his head around on his own some and if he wants his hands in his face, he puts up strong resistance if you try to move them. He is continuing to eat well at home and he even lets us sleep (sometimes). He has a nice loud cry, but it starts out with a cute little baby bird like screech. He is super great and has already enjoyed a few visitors.

I wore my Chewbacca pants home! (Mom's favorite pic)

Dad's favorite pic

Shout Hooray!

It is my distinct honor and pleasure to present to you Ezra Robert Bowling!!! Our new addition arrived at 7:30am yesterday (the 4th). He weighed in at 8lbs. on the money, and he is 20in long. He has lots of hair and is absolutely wonderful! He and mom are doing great. Here's some photos and we'll probably blog again soon.