Mack Samuel

The day after my due date I finally go into labor! I guess technically only minutes into the 16th my contractions began. I started having consistent contractions just after midnight. Since I have been having Braxton Hicks for so long I waited until my contractions were consistent for an hour and a half before calling the doctor. We only live a few minutes from the hospital, so I wasn't too worried about not making it in time. By the time I call the doctor and grab my last few things and reach the hospital my contractions were already 5 mins apart! I was a little worried about how fast that changed. So then I get to my room and get hooked up and they keep coming faster and then they check and I am at a 6. I hadn't decided before about an epidural, but at that point I was pretty sure I wanted one. The nurse went ahead and ordered one since it takes awhile to get going. When the doctor got there about 45to an hour later I was at an 8. The nurse then informed me that there was no way I would get an epidural in time. Then panic set in! I thought I could do it before I was actually in labor, but once I was there I wanted relief. She gave me some other medicine that made me loopy and relaxed. It wasn't long after that that I felt the urge to push, which did not happen with Cale and Carter. It was kind of scary. For 30 minutes I pushed and finally had the baby! It was the longest 30 minutes ever and there were times when I really thought I couldn't do it. Then after arriving at 3:ooam he was born at 5:24am. After he came out though I knew it would be instant relief and it was. I also was like that's it, I'm done no more kids! There was no way I want to do that again.

When they laid him on me I couldn't get over how big he was. He weighed 7lbs 15 oz, but looked much larger to me. I surprisingly felt so much more alert and better than I did after I had Cale and Carter. I guess because my labor was so quick or maybe it was not having drugs. I don't know, but I sure didn't feel like I had only had about an hour and a half of sleep that night before labor started.

We were very relieved when it was over and we got to watch him get cleaned up and hold him right away. Since the twins were born in the operating room and 5 weeks early we missed everything with them. I wasn't away from Mack until that night when they had to take him to the nursery to do vitals and whatever else they do.

So far this has been a much better experience. One baby is definitely easier than two! It does help that Mack has been a really good baby, so far. He actually sleeps the whole time in between most feedings! The other boys never did that. They would sleep like 20 minutes at a time. Mack is also a great eater and I am so glad that nursing is working out.

Carter--the 2 seconds he held Mack before he realized what he had agreed to

The boys first reaction to the baby

40 Weeks...

Well here I am at 40 weeks and no baby yet. Yesterday I had a doctor appointment and I had made lots of progress since Thursday. I was 3 centimeters dilated, 90% effaced and the baby is at -1 station. Basically active labor starts at 4 cent and 0 station, that is how close I am. While I was there the doctor I had my appointment with had to leave about 5 mins after she walked in because she was paged to deliver a baby! Of course, but I then saw the doctor that delivered the boys. Then I thought what a great birthday present, yesterday was my birthday, when she said starting Wednesday I could be scheduled to be induced! However, I didn't realize that the hospital only allowed 5 women in Raleigh to be scheduled to be induced per day. So when I went to talk to the schedule lady at my doctors office she called and NOTHING was open for the next whole week! I was so upset. She said she would call everyday several times a day in case someone on the schedule delivers early. Good news is this morning she called and they got an opening for Monday the 21st. That is longer than I would like to wait, but end is in sight!

Well last night I had tons of contractions and some were slightly stronger and more painful. I thought, yes things are moving! I even called the doctor, but then they stopped. Of course that happens to me. With the boys my water broke, so I have no clue as to when I am in labor. I am really hoping my water breaks again. Good news with that is that the doctor said the baby's head is so low that it won't be a gush, so no embarrassing flood. I haven't had very many contractions today and that is very depressing to me. I went shopping with mom at Kohl's this morning hoping that walking around would help, but nothing.

Right now I am praying that either the super painful contractions will start and I will know I am in labor (the thought of pain doesn't bother me because I want to be in labor), that my water will break, or that someone scheduled will have their baby tonight. Maybe I will drag Andy out for a walk tonight.

Staying Busy

Another weekend pasted and still no baby. I really do feel like it is getting close though. We tried to stay busy this weekend and do lots of walking to help move things along. On Friday afternoon we went to Lake Johnson and walked and then fed the fish and a "sea" turtle and a duck. It was fun and I am glad that the weather has been a little cooler. Then Saturday morning we went to this big Bug Fest that the science museum was putting on. It was really big! The boys however were in a crabby mood because they had missed a nap on Friday (with school starting back they are napping better) and then they camped out with Andy in the backyard on Friday night. So they were going on a little less sleep. We ran into some friends right after we got there and walked around with them. The boys did getting a little better mood after the cinnamon teddy graham snack I brought. After all that walking we did when we came home all I was was beat and my hips hurt so bad! I don't know what I was thinking. That night Andy got lucky and was able to go to the NCSU game and sit in box seats. I guess I got lucky too, because when Andy isn't here I can put the boys to bed really early and never hear anything out of them. They were in bed and out by 7:20. Yet another peaceful night for me.

Today we had church and it was our Sunday to serve in the nursery. It will probably be our last one for a while. I have been having more intense contractions today, but still pretty irregular. since tomorrow is my birthday and I have hopefully my last doctor appointment, my mom decided to go ahead and come since I will surely have this baby soon. It was a pretty relaxing day after church. I napped and the boys played nicely. Then when mom got here we went and picked up the door we had ordered for the baby's room (we are in the slow process of replacing the interior doors).

Hopefully tomorrow I will have an exciting up date of at least a date of when they will induce me. I am trying hard not to get my hopes up too much though, but I really think this thing has to happen soon.

Not Much Longer?

I had my doctors appointment today. The doctor I saw today said that I was about 2 centimeters dilated and that at my appointment next week, if I was still pregnant, they would probably be able to schedule me to be induced. When I went to check out the lady asked me what day I wanted to come next week, so I told her my due date is Tuesday and the sooner the better. Then she gave me the first appointment they had for Monday. The doctor told me if they schedule me to be induced it would be before I was one week overdue, so I guess at most I have a week and a half left. Before the other doctor told me last week that I would go into labor within a week I had a feeling that I would go overdue. Although I am ready to not be pregnant I really do not want to be induced. Hopefully I will go into labor on my own and before Monday. I have walked a half a mile the last two nights. I should walk more, but Andy insists on letting the boys ride their scooters and that is about all they can do. Maybe this weekend we can get some more walking in.

Finally Success!

Finally this morning we had success at drop off!! Andy took the boys to school this morning. He was here late this morning from having to take Carter to the walk in hours at the doctor for yet another ear infection! This is the first one since Feb, but still will they ever grow out of this thing!! Anyways, Andy bribed them with being able to eat their "cow candy" (the Chik-fil-a cow pez they got last night at kids night at CFA). Their teacher also came up with a smiley face/sad face post it note for if they came in good and did what they are suppose to do. It seemed to work today! Tomorrow is another day, but I am hoping that they keep it up. I decided to pick up my own "treasure box" stuff like they have at school for when they collect 5 smiley faces. These kids are easy to please as far as stuff goes. They are happy with little cheap things which is nice, but sometimes rewards don't last long with them for some odd reason. I hope they do good in the morning. Please pray that they are making a turn for the good!

Eat This Not That!

I am not a fan of dieting. My thought has always been that you only live once and why not eat things you love (in moderation). This book, Eat This Not That! has been intriguing me for a while, so after seeing the author on the Today's Show several times I decided to buy this one and the one for kids. They are very informative books. This is a diet method, but all you are doing is buying the healthiest choice of certain types of foods. It is really hard to do with my couponing though, because the healthier options either don't have as good of coupons or are not on sale. Andy and I believe that is why Americans are so heavy especially with the economy the way it is. Anyways, I do my best, but do splurge right now. After the baby is born and I have a ton of weight to lose I will be more diligent.

We eat out quite a bit too, so these books have a grocery section and a restaurant section. They also have just a general information section for things that may not fit into the other sections. This "diet" plan is meant to help the fat at your midsection, which is my problem. There have really been some things I was surprised over. One, wasn't much of a surprise, was that Chik-fil-a is the healthiest place to eat. Even the regular chicken sandwich has less than 500 calories. Actually the wraps and salads were the worst! The chargrill was of course the healthiest option there.

This guy is very against dressing and especially ranch. He said that it is better for your kids not to eat veggies if they have to dip them in ranch. I was relieved since I always feel bad for not making my kids eat raw veggies. Andy and I think the boys eat healthy and are very against forcing them to eat foods. They are strongly encouraged to try a bite and if they don't like it then fine they don't have to eat it. Sometimes they do actually like the food though. I was happy to see that most of the eat this kids cereals were ones that the boys love, Frosted Mini Wheat, Special K, Life and grossest Bran Flakes. I am the bad cereal eater in the house. I like my Lucky Charms and Frosted Flakes.

These books have been helpful and next I need to get the one with just the grocery store stuff. Nutrition does interest me and I have made some changes to things we normally buy. I think that I am the only one that is having a hard time adjusting since Andy and the boys like bland foods.

Uneventful Weekend and 39 Weeks...

This past weekend was a nice long weekend without the boys and would have been a perfect time for me to have this baby, but I didn't. My parents wanted to take the boys to a car show at a train museum, so they went to Greensboro from Friday to Monday. It was nice and quiet around here and we got some stuff done and caught up on sleep. We went out for a couple dinners and went to a baseball game. I also finally got a new cell phone after 4 years of having my other one. I took the big jump and got a Blackberry. I was nervous since it would make my cell phone bill go up, but I really think that I will use it for my business or I hope it will come in handy with that. This weekend would have been so nice to have the baby though!! I have several people who have volunteered to watch the boys when I go into labor, but I was just hoping to avoid the stress of tracking someone down and then worrying about how the boys would do and what they would think.

Carter is already having a rough time getting adjusted to school for some odd reason. He didn't want to get out of the car again this morning. I just don't know what to do. I have tried every reward I can think of and still today it didn't matter. I guess once he is there and in class he is fine, but I just hate how he is in the mornings. I could tell this morning in the car that it was going to be one of those days and it was. The boys are asleep which means they must be really tired. Maybe that is what is wrong with Carter. Maybe he isn't getting enough sleep. Andy and I have a hard time believing that it is because I am pregnant and there is about to be a baby soon. He is just the one that seems to be more oblivious and we don't know that they really know what is going to happen to their lives. I don't know maybe we don't give them enough credit and maybe they can sense that life is going to change drastically.

I wish that the baby would hurry up and come already! Maybe that would solve some problems or might create new ones who knows. At least we can then move on and start adjusting to the changes in our lives. I have been having contractions for the past week!! Most of the time they come about one an hour, but sometimes more. This is getting to be very old. Mainly because it gets my hopes up that this might be it and then no I don't have another one for an hour or sometimes longer. I figured it would probably happen today just because Andy had to go out of town for work. That would be my luck. I go back to the doctor on Thursday, but I feel like what's the point? They are not going to tell me to go to the hospital and have the baby. I really hate that Andy was right about what the doctor said about me having it in the next week and it was a full moon on Friday and he said that wouldn't be true either. I hate it when Andy is right! I am really starting to feel depressed about this. I am not miserable, but just ready to be done! I hate the anticipation of when is it going to happen. The wait is killing me! I have been trying to work and stay busy, but it is hard since my mind seems to be elsewhere. Hopefully it will happen soon!