Baby Jacob Has Arrived!

I was due Tuesday June 14. And the day came and I still didn't have a baby. I was so bummed! My three other boys all came a few days early, and so I never imagined that my due date would come and go, and that my baby would still not be here. My pregnancy was so uncomfortable - I had serious heartburn, my tailbone hurt all the time, even at night while sleeping, and I had contractions for almost a week before Jacob was born. I just wanted my baby here! And, if you remember, Bryan and I didn't find out the gender before, so I really wanted to know who my baby was!
Tuesday afternoon I fell asleep and Bryan went out and got dinner for everyone. He got me a Subway and made me eat the whole foot long, saying that if I had the baby that night I was going to want to have eaten something. I ate it, thinking to myself I was going to be pregnant forever. So that night after the boys were in bed Bryan and I watched Brian Regan  - who is a very funny guy. His show had me laughing so hard! And then a few hours later, around 1am, I started having serious contractions. I swear it was Brian Regan who put me into labor! It should be noted that I watched Jim Gaffigan the night before I went into labor with Bryce. Laughing brings on labor people!!! Anyway, the contractions were constant, starting at about one every ten minutes, and getting closer together. By 3:30 am I texted my sister Kelli to come over to watch the other three boys - we were going to the hospital!

By the time we got there and checked in, I was in serious pain. I sat through triage counting every four minutes, knowing that at the four minute mark I was going to have another contraction. By the time they got me in a birthing suite, they had the nurse ready to give me an IV and the anesthesiologist was there too, ready to give me an epidural! That is my kind of labor!! And, of course, like my last two births, the epidural only worked on my left side, so I felt everything on my right side. It was painful! I've never cried through delivery, but I sure did with this one! They didn't give me pitocin or anything to speed up labor because I needed some antibiotics for an infection, and they wanted to get as much in me as possible, but I started pushing a little before 11am. My usual OB, Dr. Nickel, who delivered both Bryce and Cole, just happened to be unavailable during this time. He even told me "Don't go into labor on Wednesday morning because I won't be able to come." So when do I go into labor? Wednesday morning. But another doctor, who was very nice and patient with my tears, came to my rescue, and about ten after 11am, I heard the words I'd waited nine months to hear...

IT'S A BOY!!!

Honestly, the first thing that came to my mind was instant relief. Of course I would have loved to have a girl, but a know boys, and having another was like coming home - I didn't have to learn anything new because I can raise boys (at least I'm trying to!). And the first thing I said to Jacob was "Sorry buddy - we don't have a name for you yet!" The nurse I had was a-maz-ing. When Jacob was born she placed him on my chest (we didn't worry about him peeing on me - he peed all over the doctor the minute he was born so he had already taken care of his business) and I got to snuggle with him while the doctor and nurse took care of business. When the epidural made me shake too much the nurse let Bryan hold Jacob skin to skin. Bryan took off his shirt (woowoo!) and held our new baby. He has never got to do that before! Our nurse was in no hurry to get us out of the birthing suite. We probably held Jacob for over half an hour before she took him to get his weight and stuff. It was a great experience. My "half" epidural made it so my left leg was completely dead (and it stayed that way until late that night) so I couldn't walk or anything, which made things a little difficult, but around 1pm we got moved to a recovery room.

Jacob was such a good baby in the hospital. He didn't like being left alone (and still doesn't) so as long as Bryan or I was holding him, he was an angel. We had family come and visit us in the hospital, and it was so great for Rix and Bryce to meet their new brother (Cole did not come - he's too crazy!). My mother-in-law Karen flew in the next day, which was such a relief knowing that the boys had someone to watch them while we were in the hospital. With my other pregnancies I loved being in the hospital and spending that time with Bryan and the baby, but this time I was anxious to get home and see my kids and get back to life. We left the hospital without naming him but that night when we got home we decided that Jacob Lynn (the middle name is my dad's middle name) was the name we liked the best.

Jacob is such a good baby. He cries of course when he's hungry or tired. But he's pretty patient (which is why I think he was a day late - he's in no hurry!). He loves to be held so at night he usually sleeps with me, and for naps during the day too. So between feeding him, holding him, and snuggling with him, I don't have time to get lots of things done, but I'm sure loving this time with my sweet baby!

The very first picture taken of Jacob!

Bryan holding Jacob - he'd only been born for 15 minutes!

Getting weighed and checked out.

Finally in the recovery room - yeah, I know. I look tired! We'd been up since 1am!

Nana came to visit! She has a way of putting babies to sleep (maybe she should come stay the night with us??)

He was thinking deep!

Jacob chilling in the bassinet.

Kelli brought Rix and Bryce to visit. Bryce didn't really want to hold Jacob, but Rix couldn't wait! I have more pictures of this, but they are on Carissa' camera. I'll post those later.

Loves sleeping on mommy!

He also loves sleeping on daddy.

Daddy loves it too!

On our way home!

Isn't he cute?