Niles' Birth & Homecoming

On Wednesday, Rich and I went to the hospital for our scheduled induction. Actually, the induction was scheduled for Thursday, but we had the Wednesday option and I took it becuase I was feeling so worn out and didn't want another sleepless night before going through labor. [Plus, I just had a gut feeling I should go, and I am glad I did because they would not have been able to help me on Thursday because 4 other babies decide to be born that day!] So...at 9am, nurse Ruth hooked me up to some penicillin for GBS. When that was done, we started pitocin at about 1pm and I walked the halls like crazy, hopeful I could gitter done by dinner time. Little did I know...

I got stuck at 51/2 cm for several hours. Labor seemed to be following its regular (6-ish hours) path, so we had an intrathecal injection at 7pm, broke water at 8pm--but then during the water-breaking, my bp crashed and they had to give me an injection and some oxygen because I passed out for a bit. But they got me fixed and I kept laboring. Once the meds wore off and I was feeling it, I got up and sat on the bouncy ball because Niles was still not really engaged, which was slowing things down. Contractions got painful on the ball, so I got up on the bed at midnight and found I was only 7 cm. Then I started to cry because I was exhausted and couldn't imagine doing this for several more hours. After whining for a few minutes, contractions got serious. I probably had 10 fierce ones, half of them with pushing, and between 12:31 and 12:38 I went from 7 cm to delivering the boy. Thank heaven!

My nurse & friend, Mary aka Night-Mary, who did a great job coaching me through some fierce contractions.

My heroes, Nurse Mary and Dr. Burwell--THANKS for your great work!

My adorable husband/ super-proud dad with his boy.
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Aunt Debbie was our first visitor (after the kids, of course). We love her!

This pic of Addie always reminds me of my sis Lisa at first glance.

On Friday before I was discharged they served Richard and me a yummy steak dinner.

YUM!

Niles wearing the homecoming outfit the girls chose for him.

It was a cute gift from Papa Jim & Gramma Becky Layton.

Richard, Me & Niles heading home at about 2:30pm on Friday--38 hours old!

James and Niles chillin' on my bed.

Cousin Hannah with Niles

Addie and Cousin Danny with Niles

Addie was very fussy about putting Niles to bed. She insited he have his blanket from Great Grandma Lyn and his bears...so cute.

This picture never stops making me laugh. Niles looks like a total goblin!

On Friday night, the girls had a sleepover with the cousins across the street and my three boys had their first Guy's Night at home, drinkin' root beers and watching American Pickers...so CUTE!

PEEK-A-BOO! Niles with Heidi on Saturday morning.

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So there you have it. Now there are six of us and we are settling in nicely. Thanks SO MUCH to friends who brought dinners and did playdates with the kids this week. Your support means so much and it makes life easier for this very exhausted mama (having babies is NOT for old ladies! ;))