This blog will serve as a record of your life. I hope that you will enjoy looking back as you get older. I want you to know, here at the beginning of your life, how much I love you. Now that I have you, I don't know what my life would be like without you. You smile now, you coo, you have already rolled over once (I'm sure on accident, but still), you eat like crazy (at 8 weeks, you weigh 15 pds 11 oz, healthy boy!), you have been sick with your first ear infection, you have slept a whole 7 hours straight already, I call you Bubs (because of all the bubbles you blow out of your mouth) and Whoopi (just because I like it), and we just can't get enough of you. I love you my sweet Henry!!!
Your birth story:
You, my boy, were actually a week late...yes, you did not want to come see the world on your own. My original due date was May 25, 2013. I was induced that following Thursday (May 30). Your dad and I were supposed to go in at 10:30 pm (we got there at 10:20, we were so excited/nervous) and the nurse took us right in to the labor room. I was already contracting on my own and dilated to 2 before anything was started. They started the induction process around 11:00 pm and at 8:00 am Friday morning they started the pitocin. Unfortunately, the pitocin slowed my contractions and I was really feeling them. I tried my hardest to go as long as I could without an epidural, but you were just not wanting to come out anytime soon. Around 3:30 pm I made the decision to get the epidural. We waited and waited. 6:00 pm the doctor broke my water...which came out green. That meant, you had poo-ed inside. The nurses warned me that since this happened, you might not come out crying and they would have at least 3 neo-natal nurses in the room when you were born for that reason. They would take you right away and suction your lungs and nose and I wouldn't be able to hold you for a little bit. The nurse said, on the other hand you might come out screaming and everything would be fine, that's what I was praying for! Still waiting and nothing was happening. My contractions were slowing and I was only dilated to 4 at 9 pm...so by 10:00 pm, Dr. Rohn came in and discussed c-section with us. I was not too excited about this idea, neither was your dad, but since things were not progressing at all, we decided to have it done. At 10:30 we called Dr. Rohn and said we would like to have the c-section. By 11:00 I was down in the operating room with your dad outside waiting to come in. (Side note: Your dad fainted back in March on our Labor and Delivery tour. Not just fainted, but hit the cement floor with his head, two stitches later and a couple of hours in the ER, we were able to go home. So your dad was simply going to sit behind the curtain and focus on me while they were delivering you).
Once the doctors were ready to go, they went out to get your dad, as soon as he sat down they started. It only took about 10 minutes from start to finish. The nurse came around to tell me that your head was sideways and you were face up, so we made a good decision in going forward with the c-section. I remember the doctors telling me, "Okay Shannon, you are going to feel an extreme amount of pressure for about a minute. If it gets too hard to breath, let us know, but otherwise just go with it." They were not kidding. I wouldn't necessarily describe that as pressure, more like an elephant sitting on my chest. Then we heard Dr. Rohn say, "So what do you think your baby is?" I yelled out, "BOY!" your daddy didn't want to guess (he didn't guess the entire pregnancy!) and the doctor said, "It's a boy! He has the LONGEST eyelashes!!" You were not making any noises, so that's when the NICU nurses stepped in and worked on you for a good 20 minutes. Once we finally heard your cry, it was the most beautiful sound! The nurses handed you over to daddy while they finished up on me and you were so content. I was able to hold you while they wheeled us into the recovery room. The nurse cleaned you up in there, got your footprints and then we were able to have skin-to-skin contact. You were so warm and cuddly. We were then taken to another floor for our permanent room while we were there. It was a long day, but so worth it! Here are some of your visitors while at the hospital.
Once the doctors were ready to go, they went out to get your dad, as soon as he sat down they started. It only took about 10 minutes from start to finish. The nurse came around to tell me that your head was sideways and you were face up, so we made a good decision in going forward with the c-section. I remember the doctors telling me, "Okay Shannon, you are going to feel an extreme amount of pressure for about a minute. If it gets too hard to breath, let us know, but otherwise just go with it." They were not kidding. I wouldn't necessarily describe that as pressure, more like an elephant sitting on my chest. Then we heard Dr. Rohn say, "So what do you think your baby is?" I yelled out, "BOY!" your daddy didn't want to guess (he didn't guess the entire pregnancy!) and the doctor said, "It's a boy! He has the LONGEST eyelashes!!" You were not making any noises, so that's when the NICU nurses stepped in and worked on you for a good 20 minutes. Once we finally heard your cry, it was the most beautiful sound! The nurses handed you over to daddy while they finished up on me and you were so content. I was able to hold you while they wheeled us into the recovery room. The nurse cleaned you up in there, got your footprints and then we were able to have skin-to-skin contact. You were so warm and cuddly. We were then taken to another floor for our permanent room while we were there. It was a long day, but so worth it! Here are some of your visitors while at the hospital.
Your Nana, loving you. And so far...her "onie-boy"!!!
Jo, giving you some loving as well. As a mother of two girls (we still don't know what she is carrying right not, I think boy), she thinks you're a pretty cool little guy. Although a little thrown off when she has to change you!
Grandpa and Grandma getting to meet their first grand baby!
And here are more pictures of your first few days:
What you looked like the night we left for the hospital...I was nervous!!
Daddy holding you for the first time.
Your oldest cousin, Abbie. She held you as much as possible the short time she was there. And cried when she had to leave you. Abbie now wants her mommy to have a boy in a few short weeks :)
Nora wasn't sure about you. I think she was more worried about her mommy holding another baby then anything else!
This was the night your dad fainted at the hospital while on the labor and delivery tour. I just found it and thought you might like to see it :)
Nana, with all of her grandchildren.
We were ready to leave the hospital! Looking pretty tired, but excited to get home!!
Nana bought your going home outfit, I think it's pretty darn cute.
Such a sweet post, Pugsy! You'll be so thankful to have this blog. I can't tell you how much time we spend looking back at our's! It's a labor of love, for sure, but one I suspect you'll never regret.
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