SURPRISE!! This one word summarizes this entire pregnancy and delivery! Andrew decided to make his debut into this world almost two weeks early, and came at 38 weeks and 3 days. All Praise to God for a healthy baby boy and delivery!
Andrew's Birth Story
On Friday, September 25th I woke up in the morning completely not knowing I would be having a baby by 11 pm that night! I fully expected to have to be induced like I was with the girls, and showed no signs labor was approaching at all. I didn't even bother asking the Dr.'s when to go to the hospital if contractions began on their own. LOL.
After picking up Lindsay from school, I began feeling what I thought might be contractions, and so I thought, "I bet if I move around these will go away." So I proceeded to get the grill some chicken and make dinner. By the time Jarrett got home around 5:45 pm, I told him, "I don't want to freak you out, but I think I have been having contractions since 4 pm. They will probably stop after I eat dinner. By the way, have you by chance packed your hospital bag yet?" He hadn't. Mine wasn't fully packed either. So we ate dinner, and Jarrett gave the girls their shower while I did the dishes. By this time they were getting a little more uncomfortable and definitely not going away. So being the crazy lady I am, my first thought was, "If I am going to the hospital tonight to be checked for labor (because it was probably just a false alarm), my neighbor will stay with the girls and I need to clean house."
The sweet ladies at church were throwing a baby shower for me the next day, Saturday, and my second thought after I cleaned house was, "I need to take a shower and blow dry my hair so it looks good for the shower tomorrow!". I put on my pajamas and then it started getting real. After J packed his bag and I finished up packing mine, we talked to the girls before bed and told them that Miss Liz might be here when they wake up in the morning. The girls were excited Baby Brother might be coming tonight, and then Madison's lip quivered and she said, "If I miss you Mama, I will just look at your picture!" Aww. I held it together ok, but a few tears slipped out ;)
Jarrett and I began to time the contractions around 8:30 pm, and after about 15 minutes coming 2.5-3 minutes apart and becoming more uncomfortable, I was thinking I would like to have some pain meds sooner rather than later. J called the hospital and the Dr. and they 'calmly' told him to get to the hospital NOW since it was my 3rd baby. So I called Miss Liz, but she didn't answer. Yikes! We waited 10 more minutes and I told J, run across the street to our neighbor and see if she can stay with the girls until Liz can make it over. Luckily, my neighbor Nancy was home and came right over.
We pulled into the hospital parking lot around 9:42 pm, and I slowly made my way to the ER. They offered me a wheel chair to get to L&D, but I refused because I was thinking, "If I walk, maybe I will be dilated enough and they won't send me home!" Well, after getting to my room and putting on a gown, things were getting increasingly uncomfortable, and I was ready for an epidural, but couldn't get one until they admitted me and started my IV.
When they finally got around to checking me, I was at a 6 cm, and they were working on completing admission paperwork. Five minutes later my water broke, and then the room got really busy! They called the Dr. (who was already on his way) while tables and scales with delivery equipment rushed into the room. My hopes for an epidural passed by quickly when the checked me and said, "Get the Dr. in here, she's ready to push!" Jarrett said it was about 12 minutes (felt like 12 hours!) later and he was here, arriving at 10:47 pm! Hats off to all you ladies out there who do this L&D thing without pain medication... it is not fun. So happy to have a beautiful, healthy baby to make it all worth while ;) Afterwards we could hear the nurses laughing and filling out admission paperwork... they asked, "Can you sign this that it is ok that we delivered your baby?" LOL.
 |
| The Dr. asked me how big my other kids were before he put him on the scale. (8 lbs 1oz and 6 lbs, 9 oz) Then told me, "Well, this guy is going to be your biggest! Whoa baby.. and he was EARLY! |
 |
| Hi Daddy!! |
 |
| Daddy and his look-alike |
Saturday morning Jarrett picked up Lindsay and Madison from our house where they were staying with Miss Liz. The girls both wore their Big Sister shirts and were thrilled to stop by the gift shop and pick out two cute stuffed animal presents for Baby Brother. They couldn't wait to love on him ;)
That night we saw fireworks from Princeton's football game from our hospital window!
 |
| Handsome boy in his going-home outfit! |
Late Saturday night Nonna arrived, thankfully she was able to change her flight and come sooner! Sunday morning we came home from the hospital and saw this adorable sign the girls and Nonna made for Baby Andrew!
The girls were so excited when he came home, and said, "We really get to keep him!" They couldn't wait to take turns holding their new baby brother!
 |
| Big Sis Madison |
 |
| Big Sis Lindsay |
Things have been super busy around here, and Andrew has been such a sweet, mellow little personality! He is nursing like a champ and is quite the little snuggler. Andrew fits right into our loud, crazy bunch and is the perfect addition to our family! xo
Children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Psalm 127:3
