Welcome Baby Dalton

Baby Dalton decided to come a little early. I really did not expect to go in to labor on my own but am so glad and happy that I did!

A little about the labor and delivery. I woke up around 4:00 a.m. to go to the bathroom and noticed my underwear was a little wet. Not wanting to wake Dustin up, I went in to the bathroom on the other side. I was having some weird pains and wanted to see what was going on. I wanted to get in the tub but could only fit in the one in my bedroom and again, didn't want to wake the MR up. I tried laying down on the couch but couldn't. After a little over an hour, I went to wake Dustin up. I didn't want to be in misery alone. He wanted to take me to the hospital right then and I told him no because I didn't want to get sent home. Less than 30 seconds later, I was on my hands and knees because it hurt to sit, it hurt to stand and it hurt to lay. All of this, I didn't realize I was in active labor.

Finally agreeing to go to the hospital, I started gathering all my stuff to take with us, we were in the car with a few minutes. Good thing the hospital was only 5 minutes away because again, I could not bear to sit down, not even for that long. I was on my knees bending over into the back seat, as much as I could. We called my parents on the way to the hospital. My dad could tell I was in a lot of pain because he left to come out right then. We got to the hospital and finally made it upstairs to labor and delivery. Because of the tight security, you have to pick up the phone on the wall to have the desk let you in. Dustin said this is the only time I yelled at him because he didn't know where the phone was. (I was in the middle of a contraction.) We walk to the desk to begin the check in process but could not finish because I had to drop to my hands and knees again. The nurses were fabulous! They said, let's have your husband finish this and we are going to take you back to a room and check you sooner rather than later.

I was dilated to a 3.5 and 100% effaced. Again, the nurses were fabulous!! I was a screamer during every contraction. It was the only thing that helped me with the pain. Good thing it was a slow night and they didn't have any other patients... so they told me. The anesthesiologist was there within minutes, which I was SO grateful for. Probably any longer, they wouldn't have let me get it. He had to give me so much to catch up to my pain. After the epidural was in, which was only about 30 mins of getting there, I was dilated to an 8. One of the nurses laughed when we told her I didnt want to come because I didn't want to get sent home. She said, Honey, whem your water breaks, you should hurry and come in. I said, Oh, my water broke? Yes, Im a genious. My dad got there right after the epidural kicked in. He and Dustin gave me a blessing. The Dr got there less than 30 mins later and I was ready to push. Only 1 problem, we had to wait for my mom. Luckily, she had just gotten there and was in the waiting room with my dad.

After pushing for about an hour, Dalton P. made his debut on Feb. 8th at 7:51 am. He was 7lbs 4 oz and 19 inches long. He had lots of hair and loves to put his hand up by his ear, that's even how he came out. Mom and Dad have been loving having him with us. He is smiling and cooing and really finding his voice. For the past 4 or 5 nights, he has started sleeping through the night, with a minumum of 8 hours, but usually a little longer.

When we left the hospital, he was 6 lbs 9 oz. At his 2 week appointment, he had surpassed his birth weight. At his 2 month appointment, he was 13 lbs 3 oz, which is the 82%! When did my little man get so big?? He was blessed last week by his daddy. Another post on that later.

 I LOVE MY LITTLE MAN!!!