Welcome to the world little man

This is my third baby. I knew what to expect. I was prepared, I knew it was going to be painful but I would get an amazing reward in the end. A baby! A sweet little boy or girl (this was our surprise baby, remember?) would enter the world soon and a family of four we would be no more. We were all anxiously awaiting the arrival of this little one!

The day before my little man was born. 39 Weeks pregnant

I was 39 weeks 1 day pregnant, I was fully expecting to go past my due date. I had my 39 week appointment at 11:30 am, I was surprised when he said he fully expected the baby to come in the next day or two. But he still set up the induction, just in case (I, for some reason, was still convinced I would need this appointment).

Now let me tell you, I don't feel contractions. I had what the doctors and nurses called "silent labor" with my first two boys. I went in to get induced with both of them, 3 cm dilated, never having felt a contraction. I was hooked up to monitors to discover I was having contractions every 3-4 minutes. I was given medicine to induce labor with both of them and felt contractions for about 30-40 minutes before they were born. Maybe 20 minutes of serious painful contractions.

So after my 11:30 appointment, I went back to my parents house to pick up my boys. But, because I was almost 40 weeks pregnant I was exhausted. I decided to just let them run around outside for a while longer before I started the battle of getting them in the car. I sat on the couch with my hands on my stomach.

 "Mom. I think I'm having contractions"

"You're feeling pain?"

"No, my stomach feels tight every few minutes"

So I sat there, timing the tightening in my stomach for about 20 minutes. 8 minutes. 7 minutes. 8 minutes. 10 minutes. 4 minutes. Didn't seem to regular. But my mom was convinced I was in labor. I calle dlabor and delivery, told them my story about my silents labors, they said it was up to me. I might just get there and be sent home but if I wanted to come in I could. I didn't. I was convinced it was nothing. I couldn't feel anything. It's not going to happen any time soon.

12:00- I texted my husband to let him know what the doctor said. Be ready anytime in the next few days for this baby to come.

1:00 pm- I finally start getting the boys ready to go. I needed to get home and get my hospital bag ready  in case this baby really decided to come soon.

1:05- I ran to the bathroom one last time before the 5 minute car ride home. I sit down to pee and it just kept coming out... I thought to myself "I haven't peed this much in forever!" (my bladder was squished by that big ol' baby, remember?) Then I stood up and there was a gush... This can't really be my water breaking can it? Did I just pee my pants?? There's no way I am really in labor. I am not even ready. I haven't even installed the car seat. I have so much I was planning on doing before the baby showed up. There is no way this is real. I'M NOT READY.

1:10- I finally left the bathroom. My mom was standing out in the living room "What happened? You're in labor aren't you??" I said quietly "I think my water just broke. Either that or I peed my pants. That's probably what it was. I just peed my pants" She was not convinced. I still insisted I was fine, kept getting the boys ready to head home and finish packing for hospital and install the baby's seat and clean out the van.

1:20- "You're not having this baby in my living room. We are going to the hospital!"

"fine Mom, they are probably just going to send me home but lets go"

1:30- I called my husbands work to let him know my water broke and we are going to the hospital. "No way" he says. "yes way. we are getting in the car now"

1:45 I get to the hospital and I am 4 cm. About the same as at my 11:30 appt. "see" I said, "they are going to send me home" then they checked my water.. sure enough. My water had broke. I still just couldn't believe I was about to have this baby. I was so anxious. I wanted to know if it was a boy or a girl. I wanted my favorite sweats that were still in the washer at home. I was NOT ready!!

Last pregnant picture! Walking into the hospital

2:00 My husband gets to the hospital. "You couldn't have waited a little longer? I'm off at 2:30!" Yeah thanks babe.

4:00- I got the epidural. I didn't feel contractions yet, but I knew they were coming. I waited to long with my first two and wasn't able to get it. I was getting the epidural! No way was I delivering another baby with no medicine."If I don't get the epidural, I probably won't ever want more kids" I told my husband.

5:10- The contractions were almost stopped, they decided to start pitocin to help things along. The nurse checked me, I was about 6 CM. "I hope this doesn't take all night" I said "I don't want to be in the hospital an extra day" The nurse said she would be back in an hour to check me, to give her a call if I started feeling pressure.

6:30- The nurse came back to check me. i said "I think I might be feeling some pressure. I can't really tell, it just feels weird" She checked me."Yep. You're 10. Let me go get the doctor so you can push!" My husband was in the corner on his phone. Probably on Facebook. "Did you hear her?" I asked. "No change?" He replied without looking away from his phone. "No, I'm ready. She's going to get the doctor so I can push" he was shocked "No way! You're not even in pain! This is way better than naturally, you are definitely getting an epidural from now on" "you're telling me!" I sat and talked about cloth diapers with doctor as I was getting ready to push he said. I don't really remember much. It was all a blur.

6:40- I text everyone, I am about to push!

6:53- "there's the baby" said the doctor "tell her what it is Dad!" ITS A BOY!" He said, obviously excited that he was getting his wish, 3 sons! "No way!" I said back I thought for sure it was a girl. I was excited. I wanted a boy. Just didn't expect it :)

My sweet little boy

Big brother Josh

Big brother Samuel

So there you have it my friends. 3 months later, I am finally finishing the story of my little surprise baby. I have replayed that afternoon in my head many times. I need to write it down so I don't forget, I kept thinking. Now I have. It took me about 2 hours. 15-20 minutes several different times. You know how life goes with kids. But I did it!

I stayed at the hospital 24 hours, I got to relax a little and enjoy some one on one time with my little Joseph. I loved it, but I was ready to come home to my boys! We got right back into our groove, stopped at the park with McDonald's on the way home from the hospital. Didn't miss a beat. I was out walking to the park the next day with my neighbors I felt great! "It really does get easier every time" I told myself. I LOVE EPIDURALS!