Baby Brody is here!

What a whirlwind of a week it has been since Sunday.  So let's start at the beginning.  I basically cried all day Sunday since I was extremely nervous of what was to come, "the unknown!"  We check-in promptly at 5 pm.  They were expecting me!  I changed my clothes, got into a beautiful hospital gown, and get hooked up to some monitors...fun stuff. 

I was to be given something called cervidil that night to help soften my cervix (sorry if this is TMI) and begin a petocin drip in the AM to begin my labor (induce).  After about 2 hours of receiving the cervidil I begin feeling really strong cramping in my lower abdomen, this medicine is not to induce labor.  Gabe says I have a high pain tolerance, I am not so sure, anywho...this pain was getting more and more uncomfortable, putting me into tears.  Finally we decided to call a nurse and I was given nubane, which works instantly!  I could hardly feel the pain and was drowsy before she finished inserting it to my IV.  That worked for about 20 minutes!!!  Next thing I knew, an anesthesiologist was called into give me my epidural since I was in active labor...no petocin will be needed.  This is all about 10-11 pm Sunday.  None of this was to happen until the next morning.  We decided it was best to call the family out to McKinney, especially since one of the nurses said I would have a baby by 3 am!  (That by the way, didn't happen).Everyone shows up around midnight and no dilating progress.  We are up pretty much all night.  I dosed here and there, along with my mom.  Not sure if anyone else slept too much.  The next morning, I had made some progress but not much...still having regular contractions that I cannot feel (thank goodness!).  I was laying on my right side the whole time.  Every time they went to move me to the left side, Brody's heartbeat would drastically drop, which made me so nervous.  Early-morning it was decided to go ahead and put some monitors inside and on the baby's head to see how strong the contractions really are.  At this point we are really talking C-section delivery...which I am becoming more ok with.  My doctor had a scheduled surgery at another hospital that morning and she was heading back to deliver Brody shortly after.  Another doctor from the practice I go to came in to check my progress.  She gave me the best news ever, that I had dilated and we were going to have this baby the way I wanted to and shortly!  Dr. Chin, my fabulous doctor who I cannot say enough wonderful things about, comes in and we are ready to go. 

The L&D nurses had me already for when Dr. Chin walked in.  I began pushing around 10:30 am and Baby Brody entered this world at 11:09.  Gabe and my mom were so encouraging and helpful the whole time, I am so glad they were there to help me along the way, 15 hours of labor and 35 minutes of pushing.  Brody weighed in at a healthy 8 pounds 1.8 ounces and measured 20.5 inches.  He was a good sized baby.  

Gabe and I couldn't be happier and more thrilled with this little guy.  We are still adjusting to our new life and everyday we get more and more attached to the miracle that he is.  Here are a few pictures, there will definitely be more to come.