He's Here!!!

First of all, I meant to add this picture to the bottom of my post "Ready for Tanner".  This 3D image was taken at about 30 weeks.  This was the first 3D image I've had done of any of my babies.  I switched doctor's offices this time around (from Dr. Huish to Goodman & Partridge ~ just to be closer) and this new office just automatically did one.  Sweet!

I didn't post much about my pregnancy.  It was...a pregnancy. Ü  Each pregnancy I seem to be sicker longer and more uncomfortable throughout.  Still I can't complain and I made it through.  We had a small scare around 30 weeks when I had the 3D ultrsound done.  Tanner's head and body were measuring at 80% but his legs only measured at 30%. The doctor reassured me that it was most likely an error in their measurements and had me come back in 2 weeks for another ultrasound.  If the measurements still came back abnormal they would send me to a high risk doctor.  Tyler and I were obviously worried but tried to stay calm.  Sure enough, at the next ultrasound everything came back normal.  Thank heavens!

My due date with Tanner was January 3rd.  We went back and forth a bit about whether I should be induced or not.  I kind of wanted to go on my own.  I was induced with Ben and it wasn't very fun.  I was nauseus, cold, had the shakes, Ben's heartrate kept going down, I was put on oxygen and kept having to change position, and it took a long time.  Well, not terribly long but 10 hours is a long time to lay there sick and freezing! Ü  Of course this probably could have happened if I wasn't induced but that is what I associate with an induction.  On the other hand inductions definately have the benefit of planning!  Tyler was going to be starting school again on the 2nd so it would be nice to have the baby before then.  Also, Tyler's mom was coming out to visit on the 5th so we kind of needed a baby by then.  We decided I would have my membranes stripped at my appointment on Wednesday the 28th and then set my induction date for Friday the 30th.  I was sure I would have had the baby by mid December(since they took Ben 2 weeks early for being so big!) but nope!  He was comfy in there. Ü

Stripping my membranes worked ~ thanks Dr. Offor!!  When I went to bed Wednesday night I was feeling "weird".  I woke up for about an hour and a half in the night with cramping and by Thursday morning I was pretty sure I was in labor.  Tyler still went to work - the stinker - but I called him home around noon. My mom came over about 10 in the morning to help.  I felt bad ~ she missed going out to lunch with her mom and sisters for my Aunt Jerrilyn's birthday ~ but I was so grateful to have her there.  We took Abby over to get her blood work done (she gets her blood drawn every 3 months before her appointments with her rheumotologist), got Little Ceasers for lunch, got some Christmas decorations down, and I decided to go take a shower.  During my shower (it was around 1pm) my pains started getting stronger.  After my shower - and a little visit from my friend Kathy who found us a tire to put our tetherball in ~ Thanks Kathy!  Love that you saw me in labor! Ü - I went to lay down.  The contractions stayed steady at 7 minutes apart and lasting 90 seconds each.  They got more and more intense and by 3:15 I told Tyler it was time to go!  Even though the hospital is only like 3 minutes away we checked in right about 4pm after getting the last few things together, Tyler giving me a blessing, and saying goodbye to the kids.  I was pretty out of it by this point.  I hurt!

The ladies at the reception desk could tell I was in a pretty good amount of pain and took me right upstairs while Tyler finished our registration.  At my appointment on Wednesday I was barely dialated to a 3 and not effaced at all.  Now I was at a 7, 100% effaced, and baby was at a -1 station.  They told Tyler if we had waited much longer we could have had a baby at home!  I doubt that but I am pretty darn proud of myself for making it that far on my own.  I'm a wimp when it comes to pain so that's pretty awesome for me!  They got me my epidural right away and by 4:40 I was good to go. 



Me looking like a beached whale Ü



Tyler thougt it was pretty funny that one minute I could hardly function and then 20 minutes after my epidural I'm texting my friends. Ü



  I tested positive for Group B Strep and needed 2 doses of antibiotics before delvering.  The doses needded to be 4 hours apart.  I wish I had remembered that when I was laboring at home!!  I got my first dose in at 4:15pm which made the next dose coming at 8:15pm.  My nurse, Beckee, was sure I was not going to make it to 8:15 and even predicted we would have a baby before 7pm.  I'm pretty sure we could have too, but Dr. Kingra really wanted me to get that 2nd dose in.  If I didn't then Tanner would have to have extra tests done to make sure he didn't have an infection.  She moved the 2nd dose up to 7:30pm and it took 30 minutes to finish.  The pressure and urge to push were really strong ~ almost getting as painful as my contractions. (After Tanner was born Janelle, the baby nurse, still had to draw his blood and do some tests since the doses weren't techincally 4 hours apart so I have no idea why they made me wait!!).  Dr. Kingra came in right at 8pm and broke my water.  I started pushing right away.  With my other 3 deliveries I've had episiotomies but this practice doesn't automatically do episiotomies - only to prevent you from tearing.  Pushing and delivering in the past have been a breeze.  This time around - IT HURT!  Remember, I am a wimp, but seriously, it did not feel good.  Tyler told them I'd had episiotomies in the past but Dr. Kingra was certain I didn't need one.  I pushed 3, maybe 4 times, and Tanner was born at 8:08pm!!

     

Dr. Kingra looked at me and said, "Well, you tore."  Swell.  I had a 2nd degree tear - both upper and lower.  I guess you get stitches either way huh.  At least he's cute. Ü 



I swore I was going to have a 10 lb baby but guess not.  He is our 2nd biggest.

He was 21.5 inches





Both Tyler and I think he looks most like Andy.  Well, he obviously looks like both twins but he has the same head shape as Andy.









with Dr. Kingra ~ Tyler kept waiting for her to look at the camera but she never did Ü
The nurse who helped with my deliver (after Beckee) was Emily



His stats
His head was 14 cm ~ apparently that is big ~ Dr. Kingra said the biggest she's seen is 15 cm
And they didn't think I needed an episiotomy??



Tyler got to see his first bath in the nursery



All Clean and Bright Eyed



Snuggle Time with Daddy



We are so happy he is here!  He is loved to pieces!!

My newborns

(I couldn't get them to come out in order so we've got...)

Tanner (left), Andy (middle left) Alex (middle right), Ben (top right), Abby (bottom right)

I have 5 kids!!!