Coming at You From the Baby Factory

This place has quite literally churned out a record number of babies over the past week. I'm fairly certain that if I hadn't gone into labor on my own, I would still be pregnant and at home today. I'm very glad my induction was so delayed so that baby G could get the party started on his own time. The whole point was to get the baby out before he was too big and also to make sure Dylan could be at the birth. Both things happened just as we'd hoped without the help of Pitocin.

I woke up at midnight Friday night/Saturday morning and tried to ride out the storm for an hour before trekking into town to see what the professionals had to say. Yup, labor. Labor which was pretty far along. And at that point in time, 2am on Saturday morning, I was the fourth lady to walk into Scottsdale Healthcare Shea in labor in 15 minutes. After using some choice words and squeezing Dylan's hand while trying to find any level of comfort from the awful triage bed, I decided to go with the pain relief. I put in one hour and one centimeter worth of pain, and then rested and relaxed my way through the toughest part.

Baby Gavin James met the world rocket-style. I spent a long time working hard to get him out, and then all of a sudden he appeared, all of him from head to toe, all at once, catching everyone by surprise. It was definitely the most amazing thing that has ever happened to Dylan or I, and sweet Baby G is the best thing I have ever seen. All 8 lbs 8 oz and 22 inches of him. He's a big boy, and he's really amazing. Nobody can believe he came five days early. He's got a full head of dark hair, long fingers and toes, wrinkly hands and feet, and he's perfectly pink all over. He's a baby hoover, and as long as my body cooperates, I have a feeling he'll have no problems eating.

Baby's first FaceTime with Uncle Cody

Just a few minutes old!

Everything's going great for Baby G, and I couldn't be more grateful about having a healthy baby. He continues to pass tests and exams, and he's just waiting on me to get my act together so we can get out of this place. I damaged my femoral nerve during the delivery. I guess I was too numb to know that I was compressing something in my leg or hip a little too much, which is yet another drawback to getting an epidural...but I'm still kind of glad I got it. So, I can't move or feel my right leg, which means I can't walk. Yesterday I spent over 24 hours in bed because the day nurse was too afraid to try to get me up. Too much of a fall risk. So I'm stuck here with a Foley catheter and some stylish compression stockings. But luckily I have some more ambitious nurses today who have already gotten me up once, and later they will take out my catheter...then hopefully my IV port...and then I can TAKE A SHOWER. I haven't showered since Friday. Is that the most awful thing you have ever heard? It's definitely the longest I've ever gone without bathing, though Dylan has helped me with a waist-up sponge bath. I apologize to my many visitors for looking like a train wreck and probably smelling even worse. Gavin's cuteness makes up for it, I think. The OB, neurologist, and anesthesiologist all gave me exams yesterday, and the OB says my leg is better today and hopefully we'll be out of here by tomorrow. I sure hope so...it's getting a little claustrophobic in this room!

Millers in love.

Aunt Angie, cousin Hudson, and Baby Gavin.

Sweetest baby boy.

Dad does it all!

Dylan has been such a champ. I can't get the baby in or out of the bassinet, so every time he fusses or is ready to eat, Dylan's quick to hop to his feet and attend to Baby G or hand him off to me. All day and all night long. And that means I'm about 0 for 7 on the diaper changes, and Dylan's done them all except for one or two by the angelic night nurse who has attended to me (and who endured the same injury during her delivery). Our families have been great, bringing us treats and food and sticking by our side most of the time. The Millers headed back to Oregon just now after extending their trip, and my sister-in-law and nephews have been a huge help letting out the dogs and holding down our fort. My mom has been around for most of the time helping us with whatever we need. Man, are we lucky.

I can't wait to get the baby home and to start our new way of life. I've already gotten a taste of the sleeplessness having gotten very little and very interrupted sleep, starting with the three hours I got on Friday night before I went into full-blown labor. It will be interesting and difficult I'm sure, but this sweet baby boy is the coolest thing that has ever happened to me.