Dane's Birthday!

I realize I am super late posting this.  I got started and then, well its been alittle hectic around here. 

My sweet precious Dane Jeffrey Arsenault was born September 22, 2013 at 3:18 am weighing 7 lbs 2 oz and 20.5 inches long.

His entrance into the world couldn't have been easier.  I am so so thankful!! I have been praying for weeks/months about his delivery.  I knew in the end it was up to God how his story would go and when he would come, but I prayed over this moment with great fervor.  I guess partly I was alittle afraid of a 48 hour labor and 4 hours of pushing like with Laila, or a c-section.  Not that either is the end of the world.

My contractions started Friday September 20th, about 11:30 pm.  I had been having braxton hicks for months now, so I was being cautious to make sure they were true contractions.  I slept off and on that night and by the morning the contractions still had not subsided so I  knew it was the beginning.  I also knew I didn't want to go to the hospital too early and get sent home (got sent home twice w/Laila), so Laila went to Mamaw and Papaw's house for the day, I rested, walked, did squats and lunges.  By about 1:00 pm I called my doctor to let her know where I was at with the contractions (5 to 7 minutes apart) and she said to go get checked at the hospital, just to be safe, as 2nd babies generally come faster.  I knew the contrations weren't that bad yet but I went anyway.

I was only 2 cm so they monitored me for 30 min, his heart rate dipped so they sent me for an ultrasound.  Turns out it was only because he had fallen asleep and then woke up.  I walked an hour and checked again.  A little over 2 cm, so we went home.  After all that we didn't get back home until about 4:00.  So I put on my tennis shoes and went for a 45 minute walk around the neighborhood, texted family letting them know Dane would be here withby the end of the weekend.  After I got home I did 30 lunges and 30 squats, showered, layed down, and then that's when the contractions changed. 

You know the realllllllyyyy painful kind when all you can do is bend over and moan?!  It progressed so fast right after my "workout", which I was so grateful for.  I was afraid I would be in contraction mode for another day or two!  My sister Samantha arrived at my house at about 8pm, D.J. got home from the gym about 8:15 and I was ready to go back to the hospital.  I called my doctor and told her how bad they were and she said ok I'll admit you.  HOOOORAY!! This was going so fast!

We arrived and I couldn't walk 10 steps without a serious bent over contraction.  They check me and I'm 4cm dialated, YAY!

I love him so much, he is so awesome and supportive in all the right ways.

 Let me tell you about this girl, my sister. She was so awesome! Taking pictures, getting me ice, she was so great.  She also made this baby blanket for Dane.  I LOVE the colors and it is so soft!  I gave her the choice to be in the room with D.J. and I if she wanted to be.  No one was in the room with us for Laila, so I thought this time around, why not.  My sister is also a nurse so I knew she was used to this sort of stuff.  She's not a labor and delivery nurse but still, she knows things!  She definitly wanted to be there and wasn't grossed out by any thing, so that was great. 

She also Face-timed with my other sister Suzanne so that got to "be in there too".  Her phone was situated where no real um you know stuff was showing LOL But it was so cool having them both apart of it.

Just waiting

 

About 30 minutes after I was admitted to a room I got an epidural.  My poor nurse, I probably asked her at least 5 times how long it was going to be until I got an epidural LOL.  My doctor got there shortly after and broke my water.

 

After that we slept off and on for the next few hours.  I feel sorry for my family, everytime I have a baby it is in the middle of the night!  This time my parents and Aunt Becky came prepared with blankets and pillows!

 

At about 2:00 am the nurse said I was 9 cm and just going to wait about another hour for him to "labor down" which means to let your body push the baby lower before trying to push.  At about 3:00 am I was 10 cm and we started to push.  I probably pushed 5 times and he was ready for the doctor.  She got set up and 2 pushes later Dane was born!  I couldn't believe it.  I think I said you're here! That was so easy!

 

 

 

 

He looks a little like Laila, but he still has his own look. Currently, his eyes are greyish blue still.

Going home with our kiddos!

At Dan'es 1 week check up he had gained a pound since leaving the hospital!  I'm breast feeding and he is great eater, we haven't had any problems so far.