Announcing Michael's Birth!!!

Michael Paul Weeden was born on October 15, 2007 at 4:17pm. He weighed 7lb 2 ounces and was 19 inches long. He is in perfect health and is absolutely beautiful! Everyone says he looks just like his daddy. On Sunday around 9pm Adam and I went to bed just like any other night because we had to work the next day. Baby Michael had other plans. I tossed and turned and just felt uncomfortable. I didn't want to wake Adam so I headed to the living room to watch TV. About 11pm I started having contractions. They grew stronger and stronger and all night I was laying over my birth ball wanting to cry out in pain but not wanting to wake Adam up. I had a false alarm the week before and I didn't want to go to the hospital again just to be sent home and they were planning to induce me on Wednesday. Finally Adam woke up for work around 5am and came into the living room to see me laying on my birthing ball moaning and groaning in pain. My contractions were about 2 minutes apart. Adam made me eggs because he wanted me to have my strength and knew that they wouldn't let me eat at the hospital. I got through one bite of the egg and wanted to throw up. So I got a bowl of cereal and couldn't even look at it. I packed some crackers and we headed to the hospital. Although I was only 2 cm dilated when we got there, I was about 85% effaced and since I was going to be induced in 2 days anyways they hooked me up to the meds that make my contractions stronger to help me dilate more. After a little while a doctor came in a broke my water. The contractions were nearly killing me so a very wonderful nurse invited a very wonderful man in to give me an epidural! Unfortunately my epidural only numbed my left side so I could still feel everything on my right side (VERY strange feeling, but they said that sometimes that just happens). My dilation happened VERY slowly, but finally about 3:45pm on Monday I told my nurse I needed her to unhook me because I needed to use the restroom. Since she knows more than I do about these things she wanted to check my dilation first....sure enough I was 10 cm dilated, 100% effaced and the baby was on his way! I couldn't believe how fast everything happened. The doctor was there, my nurse was there, Adam was there, my legs were up and they told me to push! I pushed and pushed for 20 minutes straight (exhausting!) I was also extremely sick to my stomach and Adam had to hold a bowl next to my head so I could throw up in between pushes. (Not my most attractive time) :-P Finally, I got my final push in and right when I was ready to start pushing again my doctor told me to look down and there was my little boy! He was perfect! They laid him on my lap and both Adam and I cried for joy. He was finally here! After doing all the old wives tale tricks (spicy food, walking, jumping, bouncing, etc.) to get him to come early, he was finally there. 10 fingers, 10 toes, perfect!

After Adam and I got a chance to bond with him we invited those waiting in the wings to come meet him: Grandma Tobler, Grandma & Grandpa Weeden, Uncle Larry, Great-Grandpa Tobler, and Aunt Janelle.

The first night I was scared to death and made Adam stay at the hospital with me because I had no idea what to do. My motherly instinct didn't kick in like it was supposed to. :-P Adam was great! He was older when his baby brother was born so he knew what to do with the diaper and I had great nurses that instructed me how to feed the little guy.

After 2 days we were released and made our way home. It's been heaven ever since! Even with all the sleepless nights. ;-)