Introducing the Young Mr. M - Part One

Picture this:

It's March 14th, and I am one day past my due date and M.I.S.E.R.A.B.L.E. I was so beyond ready to have this baby that I was getting desperate. I paid a visit to my doctor that Thursday afternoon at 3:45, and she could tell I was ready to pop. She volunteered to do a procedure called "stripping the membranes," and we jumped at the chance, since she said if it worked, it would probably be within 24 hours. We didn't think twice, just said, "Do it." After all, we had our hospital bags packed and in the car, so we were ready for just about anything. 

Note to readers: when your doctor says, "This is going to HURT," she probably means it. After the procedure, Chad pried my clenched hands from the table, and we headed home. By the time we arrived, my labor had begun.

I had been nervous that, since I was induced with Makenna, I wouldn't really KNOW that I was in labor when it happened. But oh boy, did I know it. The regular, painful contractions began by about 5:30, and I timed them on my trusty Contraction Timer app on my phone. Five to six minutes apart pretty much from the beginning. By 6:30, I knew it was go time. Chad suggested that we take a quick nap before we left, since it was bound to be a long night, but I nipped that in the bud REALLY quickly. We did not at all have time for napping. So we scarfed a quick dinner of baked tortellini, gathered the last few things we hadn't already packed into the car, and were off. On the way to the hospital, Chad had a scare that I was going to have the baby right there in the car on Highway 183. Thank GOODNESS that wasn't the case!

Chad dropped me off at the hospital door, and I was whisked away in a wheelchair to be admitted while he parked and brought Makenna in. The nurses were asking me questions mid-contraction. Um, hello? I can't talk right now, thanks. My insides are squeezed so tight I can't even think. Whisk me off to a room, gown me and let's get this going. They started monitoring the contractions and the baby right away, and it was clear this was it. We called all the grandparents to let them know, and the out-of-towners (i.e. Dallas and Frisco) headed our way. The in-towners stayed home, sure that nothing exciting would be happening until the next morning. HA! 

My best friend came to pick up Makenna and take her for the night, and then we could really focus on Baby.  Things progressed quickly, and though I had told myself I would try to do this one without the drugs, that went right out the window. How people can actually WALK AROUND during labor is utterly beyond me. The anesthesiologist hooked me up, and I thought it would be smooth sailing. Wrong! That epidural only took on my left side, so I felt everything - EVERYTHING - on my right side. Chad had the squished hand to prove it. My nurse never left my side, and I suppose that should have been the first clue that things were moving faster than anticipated.  Before long, I was feeling the pressure, and it was push time!  The nurse ushered the family out of the room and started pushing buttons to call the rest of the folks needed for the delivery.  We had been hoping to make it to midnight so that he could share a birthday with Makenna's best friend, but the nurse looked at the clock and said there was no way that it would take that long.  Um...WHAT?!?!?  We were REALLY having another baby!!!

And then...after maybe 10 minutes of pushing tops...there he was.  Our sweet, handsome, wrinkly, dark-haired, screaming, BIG baby boy.  I'll never forget hearing the doctor say, "What a TANK!"  Nine pounds one ounce, 22.5 inches of pure sweetness.  Luca Logan had arrived.