Leo August - the Virgo born in September

As you can tell from the photo Omar shot out there yesterday, we had a baby! It's kinda crazy that after waiting 280 days, on the evening of my due date, little Leo started the process right on schedule. Not that I hadn't become a little mental waiting for my due date... and then went a bit more mental when early labor turned out to be what they apparently call "latent labor" - up to 20 hours of contractions without really getting the ball rolling. But after ~3 hours of sleep, Omar and I finally headed to the hospital at 9am... not entirely sure they weren't going to send me home.

They decided to check me into the hospital after verifying I was in fact contracting, but I hadn't dilated one bit since my previous 2cm measurement in the office visit the day before... a reality that almost brought tired tears. "Seriously, all that contracting for the past 13 hours and NOTHING to show for it?!?" But I was thrilled they decided to keep me, because that meant we were gonna have a baby at some point soon. One way or another.

I continued to contract, started to get more and more incomfortable, and by 1pm my dear friend, neighbor and OB-on-call Roxie was able to give me the first good news that I was 3cm. Then she sent my folks and in-laws away for lunch and worked her magic by breaking my water.

Let the tsunami of labor begin.

Instantly I was thrown into contractions every 2 minutes, and these were those real-deal doosies. Within 10 minutes I was clutching the siderail of the bed, needing cool towels on the forehead, wretching, getting IV anit-nausea medications and begging that the anesthesiologist high-tail it out of the c-section he was in to get his keister into my room for the epidural. Since I knew an epidural was the smart option having previously had a c-section, I hadn't mentally geared up for a tough-guy Max-style medication-free labor. I wanted some pain killers and I wanted them now! I could have kissed the man who placed the epidural 15 minutes later. By the time my family got back from lunch, I was laying there with a peaceful smile on my face... they had missed all the fire works.

The nurse checked me at 3pm, and informed me I was 10 cm! Since I was comfy and still contracting every 2 minutes, we let a bit more time pass to "labor down," trying to avoid the 3 hours of pushing I had with Max. I started pushing at 4:30 and Leo arrived in the world at 4:52pm!

Welcome to the world little man! May you not be smothered with love by the big brothers who already think you are ready for football style shinanigans. Tomorrow I take you home to the first day of the rest of our lives. We love you.

Leo August Ansari 9# 3oz. Everybody good

Incredibly frustrated

Well, as noted before, my contractions started at every 7 1/2 minutes, and that lasted for ~2 hours.

Then they went to every 8 minutes. Then 11.

By 11pm, they had slowed to every 20 minutes. My OB said to get some sleep, so from 12-3:30am I napped in my clothes with contractions waking me every 45 minutes.

It is now 4:30am, I am back to ~15 minutes, but it seems the only one who is going to be crying like a baby is me, not an infant. I think this is how they invented Chinese water torture. Maybe a hot shower will help...

Maybe...?

Well, as I write this (9:45pm monday) I am getting pretty convincing contractions every 8 minutes or so. I have had so many false alarm contractions along the way that I don't know whether to believe this or not. I think we are heading for the real deal... stay tuned.

Don't bring me down

This weekend was full of what seemed to me to be "false alarms." Many contractions that were certainly on the uncomfortable side, but nothing that turned into anything. There were other signs I will keep to myself for fear of grossing out the reading public, but I was getting very hopeful. After realizing I really didn't want to miss Max getting on the bus to Kindergarten, I tempered my enthusiasm long enough to get him going... then I marched off to my OB appointment to see just how much progress had been made.

Last week I was dilated 1 cm, and that little head wasn't really pushing down much.

This week, I was dilated 1 cm, and that little head wasn't really pushing down much.

My OB called in one of her colleagues, given that she is the queen of stripping membranes. She basically couldn't even attempt it and said "Oh, this one isn't ready yet... how far along are you??"

Let the many hours of complete disappointment begin. We started discussing if and when to schedule my repeat c-section instead of ever going into labor. Ever. Ever again in my life. This is the last hurrah, my last chance at having that "Honey, I think it's happening now!" moment. I know to some that sounds stupid, and they likely would have already had a c-section and be holding their baby... but that isn't what I wanted.

Granted, life frequently doesn't hand you what you wanted (how many times have I already said that to my children). I guess I am just born to birth healthy term (and late) babies. My due date is Monday. So, after a long nap and some zen-like thinking yesterday, I am trying to be calm and cool with whatever happens. I have completely ramped down my eagerness, and now just hope to avoid the section if possible. We also have the freedom to say "go" at any time since I am repeat section... very strange. And my dad leaves when I am 40wks and 6 days... seems stupid to not have the baby before he goes.

So these are the things I am thinking about as I sit at work, hoping that mother nature will take this choice right out of my hands in the next few days. Afterall, Grandma arrives tomorrow, and Grandparent's day is Sunday. Maybe this little one is just good at saving up all the fireworks for one big day.

Off he goes!

Today, my first born kiddo, the one born almost 6 years ago, jumped on his first school bus and barely looked back. He was happy, easy going, and smiling as he took off...

... and I survived too.

I can just look at my little guy, smile at how confident he is becoming while still being a very caring and sensative friend to his family and buddies. Way to go Small Guy. We love you so very much.

Still pregnant...

... in case you were wondering....