Pictures and Recap

Greetings from Mommyland...

OK, I know I said I was working on the birthing story... and I am (all 2000 words of it. More for me than for you, obviously).  It's just such an emotional thing for me that every time I sit down to write it I get like 2 paragraphs in, start crying and then I miss holding my baby... so it's coming... 

But in the meantime, some "highlights" (readers digest version):

• My cervix never dilated (ok, it dilated to a 1.5 after 24 hours of medical interventions; does that count?)
• Hypnobirthing worked (and Danny was a rockstar). I mean, it helped me relax, and even though I had to be induced, I used it up until the decision was made to cut me open and get baby out
• That's right... I ended up getting a cesarean (Long live Caesar! Oh wait, that's a different battle cry...)
• They broke my h20 after 4 1/2 hours of pitocin, and then I labored another 3 1/2 hours (yes, I could definitely feel it) before my "spinal tap" premier (I never opted for the epidural, thus the spinal for surgery instead...so I really think there's something to be said for the hypno thing)
• Holden was in distress for who knows how long?!? Once they got the internal fetal monitors in place (after breaking my water) they could see I'd have a contraction every minute 1/2 and his heart rate would drop at each peak
• They put me on O2 early, but after breaking my water it revealed he had also passed meconium(sp?) in his amniotic fluid and they were worried about him aspirating
• "Hard Labor" was manageable (about 3 1/2 hours) until the decision for the c-section was made. Unfortunately, I "came out" of hypnosis and had another 45 minutes before surgery, and the pain was like nothing I've experienced before (apparently the "drip" was on a 19 and the highest dosage they go up to is a 20?) Yeah, I could feel it. 
• But Baby is safe, and eating well now (totally lazy eater btw... no offense to Holden, but he kinda sux and sucking...) but I'm pumping milk like a cow so at least it's "mother's milk"... and Mama is doing fine.
• I also would like to note that yesterday I almost put Burt's Bee's Diaper Rash Cream on my nips instead of "Tender Care Lanolin" (yes, nipple cream).  In my defense they do both come packaged in a yellow tube...

Anyway, I have a lot of mixed emotions about what happened through L&D, with my pregnancy being so easy and all, and then to have such an odd turn of events (I didn't even read the chapters on cesarean in "What to Expect" so I was into it blindly.) But I've been working through those (emotions, not so much  the book's chapters...though I've read those now too) this past week and a half.  Like many of you have said, it doesn't really matter as long as he's here and ok.  And he's not just ok -- he's a perfect little squish. 

So some pictures to celebrate (you may have already seen these on facebook if we're "friends," but anyway: 

Daddy and Holden: Day 2 I believe.

Yep, definitely Day 2 after Holden's birth...Daddy has not been getting much sleep... oh and the Pink Blanket was a gift from Danny before we got married (he made it for me) and I took it to the Hospital to be comfortable... so that's why our son has a pink blanket (and because he's totally metro and comfortable with his sexuality)

Single's Ward After Party last Sunday with Holden's Surrogate Uncles and Godmother -- Lindsay Morgan

Holden, Parker and TIgg (Tigg will only be smiling for a moment and then freak out about 5 seconds after the picture as he sees his first umbilical chord... I think he thought it was Holden's circumcised "guy." 

Yesterday: Holden was sleeping... I was picture taking; he was saying "Mom, that's enough."

I don't think he likes the Bear hat... but I think it's adorable. 

Too much work... time for rest.