At my last appt. my doctor gave me the option to set up a time to get induced because I have been having strong contractions since 26 weeks and my cervix was "ripe" at 4 cm and 70% effaced. I couldn't decide whether or not I wanted to, but had a day set up just in case. When they called me on Sunday to tell me that they had room for me in the hospital I couldn't help but decide to go, especially since I hadn't been able to sleep for days thanks to the extra strong contractions I had been having. So after the phone call we got ready to leave right away, dropped Preston off at a friend's house and drove over to the hospital.
They took their time getting us to our room and ready to go. Here I am in the hospital bed waiting to be induced. Around 11:00 they started me on a low level of pitocin because I was already having a lot of strong contractions. They just needed to get them to be more regular. After they became regular my doctor came in and broke my water.
My contractions were getting a lot stronger and our wonderful nurse helped me stay relaxed through the whole thing. She told be good positions to stand in and got me a labor ball which was my FAVORITE thing! I finally got to a point where the contractions were hurting a lot so I asked the nurse to check me to see if I was anywhere close to delivering. If I was, I was going to go without an epidural, If I wasn't I was going to go ahead and get one. When I had Preston I got an epidural as soon as I was getting uncomfortable so this was a big deal for me! I was at a 6 1/2 and 100% effaced at that point but we had no idea how much longer it would be so I decided to go ahead and get the epidural. I think I could have made it, but I was too lazy to breathe through the contractions anymore, I just wanted to relax. Here is our nurse Cindy and the anesthesiologist.
Gabe was very helpful during my hardest contractions. He did just what I needed. He kept quiet, and let me squeeze his hand. I don't think I was very happy when he took this picture of our hands during a contraction. ;)
He was glad when I did get my epidural because he could spend more time on the computer since I was comfortable. :) I was glad that the epidural wasn't too strong either, I was still able to feel my toes and move my legs on my own... kind of. My epidural with Preston made me too dead in some areas, and didn't help with the pain in others. This was a much better experience.
I could feel Carter drop as I was getting my epidural and about an hour later, while I was wishing my younger brother Kyle a happy birthday over the phone, I started to feel like I needed to push. This was at 6:00. We paged the nurse, who paged my doctor who was on call that day. He came in right away which I was suprised at because they don't usually come until you're ready to push the baby out. I'm glad he did though, because after about 10 minutes of pushing he was able to help me ease Carter out with no tearing! I love my doctor, he's such a happy guy. It was a fun experience! Everyone kept commenting on what a great job we both did and how happy we were throughout the whole thing. How could we not be happy and keep smiles on our faces when we knew we would soon have our little one in our arms? Gabe was excited too because some blood sprayed onto his shirt when I was delivering the placenta (sorry kind of gross), so he said he practically delivered the baby. I'll spare you the picture. He also took a picture of the actual placenta which I think is disgusting and don't even like to look at, so I'll definately spare you that picture too. :)
Carter wanted to eat right after he was born, and hasn't stopped since. He was actually weighed a while after he was born and a few feedings later. He was still wanting to eat when he was on the scale. He kept turning to the side and clinging onto the scale.
They documented is cute little footprints soon after.
We wanted Preston to come see Carter before he went to bed so it made things kind of crazy. He came about an hour after Carter was born. We tried to get him to sit in the chair to hold him, but he just said "No... hold mommy."
So he sat up on the bed with Carter and I. I still have my epidural in at this point, the medication is no longer running through it, but my legs are still numb and tingly. I just love how Preston looked at Carter. He was obviously interested, but confused. We've been telling him about Carter for a while now so I feel like he was prepared for it. He was just kind of look "hmmm... he is here, I wonder what took him so long."
He has a short attention span too. I few minutes later he was already climbing up onto the window sill.
Our good friends Mark and Amy were nice enough to take Preston for the entire hospital stay. Amy even did his hair for us! We were glad that their family was able to see Carter too, we just felt bad things were so crazy, and all Carter wanted to do was eat. ;)
A fewer hours later, after Carter was mostly done eating he finally got his first bath, and hated every minute of it. He is extremely sensitive. If he's left alone he's just fine, but the minute you start messing with him he gets upset. As long as I don't change his diaper or clothes he's just fine. This is a change for me because Preston was always so easy going. He loved baths and never minded getting changed.
He actually did suprisingly well while he was getting his hair washed.
Here is getting his first piece of clothing put on. A shirt with those mitten things on it. He hated the mittens too and was much happier once I took his hands out and he could have them by his face.
He was much happier and more comfortable once he was all bundled up in bed.
He spent a little bit of time hanging out with mommy...
before bedtime. He did great all night, I just wish I could have slept as well. Those darn after pains were keeping me up, especially with his nursing so much.
A side view of his little head. He has less hair than Preston but it's the same color and texture.
The next day we were finally able to go home. It really wasn't that long but it felt like forever! We were anxious to get home to Preston. Here's Carter getting dressed in his first real clothes.
He was ready to leave the hospital too... See you later alligator.
Once again, he doesn't like to be handled, so he didn't like getting put in his carseat, but once he was left alone he did just fine.
We made it out to the car and were ready to leave. Carter really is in the carseat, you can at least see the top ofhis head. ;)
We were able to pick up Preston on the way home from the hospital because he had just woken up from his nap, and go home together as a family. :)
Here's a wonderful picture of me, right after I got off of bed rest lying on the garage floor painter primer on.
Here's the whole built-in entertainment center now. (before the plastic was off of the tv.) What do you think?
Here's Gabe practicing during a break.
I wish I could hit the ball like that. ;)
I think Preston does too. A friend of ours let him play with his ball the entire time and he wouldn't let go. He just kept saying "No, mine volleyball! Preston do'd it!" It's probably not good that he's so possesive especially with a little one coming soon, at least the baby won't want to play with his toys for a little while, we'll have to work on it. :) Preston also kept running out onto the court because he was convinced he could play too, I guess he has no concept of how small he is.
After the volleyball games were over Gabe went out to do some serious yard work. His lead from work came with his chain saw and demolished one of the trees in our backyard. It went so fast, I was only able to snap this picture out of the window afterwards. His 15 year old son Kyle also came and helped Gabe move rock and week for about 6 hours. Preston was confused because he has an uncle named Kyle so he would say "Uncle Kyle, backyard too?" and look at me with a confused face. I tried my best to explain to him that there were two Kyle's and only one of them was his uncle. I think he might kind of get it... maybe.
Of course, what did I do while they were "slaving away" as Gabe would put it? Napped and cooked of course! At least Gabe was glad to have the fruit pizza I made by the time he was done out there. We did share with our helper too.
While I finished the fruit pizza Preston had fun coloring. He made basketballs, planes, trains, fishes, circles, and triangles. They all looked the same to me though. :)
On Monday we went with some friends on a hike. It ended up being 3.6 miles round trip. Once we got past the buzzing power lines it was all worth it.
Preston saw a lot of people with walking sticks along the trail so Gabe gave him one of his own. It only lasted a few minutes though, until Gabe decided he didn't want to get poked in the head anymore. I think his eyes are half closed in this picture. ;)
I decided the next time I go on a hike I'm going to try roughing it like this girl. Who needs hiking boots anyway? She was seriously going FAST too!
We spent time to look at the scenery
and a lot of it asking to get out because he wanted to walk like the bigger kids.
Just in time to save my picture. :)
All of the dad's had fun hanging out with their kids.
After a little while Bradley didn't want to ride in his backpack anymore
so his nice daddy let him walk/get carried the rest of the way up. He was a trooper too!
Finally we made it to the top... well the middle falls at least. You can kind of see the upper falls at the top of the picture. Gabe and I hiked up there before we had kids, we weren't going to try it this time. :)
and Mark and Amy's family. They decided to start eating right away, a great idea if you ask me!
Preston was obsessed with Tessa the entire day. He just wanted to be where she was the entire time. I thought this picture of them was cute (ignore me and my swollen body). 
I think he has his first crush. She's only 2 1/2 years older than him, that's okay right? I was just glad when he finally decided to eat his sandwich. It was the first time he ate an entire one by himself!
Overall we had a lot of fun and are glad we went! Preston fell asleep on the way down the mountain for about 20 minutes and did pretty good considering that was his only nap of the day. Afterwards we got yummy ice cream and shakes and then went home and relaxed the rest of the day. It was definately a good and productive weekend!
I feel REALLY wide too!
Now we're just waiting for the baby to arrive. At my appointment today my doctor told me that in the last week I went from being a 1 and 70% effaced to being almost a 3 and still 70% effaced. The doctor also stripped my membranes so we'll see if anything comes from it. My doctor also said that if I haven't gone into labor by next weekend (the fifth) he would be willing to break my water while he's on duty since my cervix is already "ripe." No matter what there's not much time left! Luckily we've got everything important done around the house and are just finishing little things while we wait. I was so excited I finally got to get a pedicure two days ago! Unfortunately it didn't put me in to labor, but at least my stubby toes look pretty now! Let me tell you, it's not easy to take a picture of your toenails with a big belly in the way. ;)
