Meet 'Diego'

Wow. So did these last four weeks go SO much faster than the previous four weeks for anyone else, or is it just me? :) Since the newest member of our family (who will hereafter be referred to as 'Diego') is celebrating 4 weeks of life today, I thought it was about time I mentioned it on the blog. It also helps that Little Man and Girlfriend are having a sleepover at their cousins' house so I actually have time to sit down at the computer. :) Yeah! for awesome aunts that invite my children to sleepover!!!!

Diego was born on March 31st. No, his real name is not Diego. (If you don't know his real name and want to know it, email me (jillbojo@gmail.com). If I know you, like you, and trust that you aren't going to harm my children in anyway, I will reply ;p. Fair enough?) Why will he be called Diego, you ask? Because that is the name that Little Man had chosen for him and called him for all 9 months of my pregnancy. So, the name Diego has a special place in our hearts and so it shall be his alias on this blog.

Okay, now that we have that cleared up, let's get back to the story... It was a snowy, March morning. I was scheduled to be induced and called the hospital at 7:00am to see if they had room for me. They told me to call back in 15-20 minutes while they sorted some things out. After a long 15 minutes, I called back and they said that I could come in and they needed me to get there as soon as possible. Uh...Okay, but I live 25 minutes away and we had to drop the other kids off at Grandma's house. Then there was the snow and the commuters and the school zones. So as soon as possible ended up being 8:30am. We were just a little late. :)

It was about 9:30 by the time we finished all the papework, etc. and I was started on the Pitocin. At check-in, I was dilated to a 3 and was 80% effaced. My doctor came in around 10:30 and broke my 'bag of waters'. At that point I had progressed to a 4. I joked with the doctor and nurse about being really hungry and wanting to get this all done by lunchtime. They laughed. I don't think they realized that I was serious. I was hungry!

I wasn't feeling any pain, but once my water breaks, I've gone really fast in the past, so I requested an epidural at this point and that whole process was completed around 11:15. The baby's heartbeat started dropping dramatically with each contraction, to the point where it wasn't showing up on the monitor. The nurse had me put on an oxygen mask to help get more oxygen to the baby, then inserted a heart rate monitor into the top of the baby's scalp so she could more accurately track the baby's heart rate.

At noon, the nurse checked me again, and I was dilated to a 6 and about 90% effaced. At 12:25 I told my nurse that I was really starting to hurt. She checked me and I was at a 10, fully effaced, and ready to push!

She had me push twice, then said, "Okay. I think we'll just have you stop right there." Then she called for the doctor. My fabulous doctor came, I pushed three more times, and at 12:41pm, Diego was born!

I started bawling and B asked me if I was okay. I was crying so much, I couldn't answer right away, and he repeated the question more urgently. I said, "Yes, I'm okay! I can't believe I'm already done! That was sooo easy!"

And that's the story of the easiest delivery I've had so far. It was awesome!

Diego was 9 lbs. 2 oz. and 20 1/2 inches long. Here are way too many pictures of our cute little bug:

(first bath--he wasn't a big fan)

(ready to go home--Little Man chose the outfit for him. He chose it because it had trains on the shirt.)

What we know about Diego so far:

1. He loves, loves, loves to eat.

2. He hates being naked. Diaper changes are not his favorite thing. And bathtime is pure torture.

3. He is a good sleeper.

4. He is a good pooper.

5. He has an older brother and sister who adore him.

6. He can go from calm to screaming in 1.2 seconds flat.

7. His mommy & daddy love him lots!