Caleb's Arrival

The wait is finally over. Caleb Andrew Conkin made his appearance Wednesday November 17th, 2010. He's currently dozing away. Maybe it's the hormones. Maybe it's because I've done this before so recently. Maybe it's because this is Thanksgiving week. Whatever the reason, I feel overwhelmingly blessed to have two happy healthy kids and the most amazing husband in the world. What did I do to deserve them? I really don't know, but I'll I think God is teaching me something about contentment and gratitude. This is all that matters. He's a bit about how Caleb came into the world.

Like I said in my last post, I think once every pregnant woman hits full term, she is just ready to have a baby already! I was no exception. However I feel like babies come when they're ready. Without getting too graphic, my body was "trying" to go into labor, but I just couldn't get there. So my doctor started to discuss induction with me. Since she has such a low C-section rate among other reasons, I really trust her opinion. I was 40 weeks and all indicated that lil C (as I like to call him) would be just fine if I was induced. She explained that inductions statistically go much smoother with subsequent pregnancies. Plus, I was already 4 cm dilated (yikes!) and pretty thinned out, so everything indicated that it would go well for me too. So we scheduled it for 6 AM Wednesday morning. I have to say I was nervous and felt kind of guilty. Nervous because I had heard so many horror stories about inductions, and guilty because I wasn't going to do into natural labor. It was so strange too, knowing when your baby was going to be born. I have to admit, it was nice to be able to make arrangements for Savannah, our dogs, the mail, etc ahead of time.

Luckily, everything was quick and successful. They started the pitocin around 7:30 AM. I was already having some mild regular contractions, so the really powerful ones started right away. I wanted to hang in there before I asked for the epidural until I was around 6 or 7 cm. I made it, but not without cursing, sweat, and tears! The epidural was just the right amount because I was still able to feel some pain and pressure which made pushing more successful. I was going to say easier, but it was not easy! Once I got to 10 cm, the nurse said we were going to push once to see how "good" I was at pushing...or a "practice" push. Well, I guess I was pretty good at it this time around as well because she told me I couldn't push (or laugh, or cough or sneeze) until the doctor got there. I was feeling the most powerful urge to push and then I started crying and freaking out a little. Then they gave me oxygen. About 5 minutes later, the doctor arrived, I pushed twice and he was born! Crazy right?

Of course he is perfect. Although he is just a few days old it is so neat to see how he's his own little person. Everyone immediately wants to figure out who he resembles, which is irritating, but natural I suppose. I can't help it myself, but for the life of me, I can't figure out yet who he favors. So I tell everyone he looks like Caleb.

His sister is amazed by him. She can't stop tickling him, putting his paci in his mouth (God forbid he doesn't have it!), giving him things, and trying to pick him up. It's very easy to become overwhelmed by managing the two of them...her idea of covering him with a blanket is more like suffocation! She doesn't understand the concept of inside voice yet, which is always fun. But yesterday she was eating oranges for a snack. Shortly after snack time, I went to get Caleb out of the pack n play and noticed 3 orange slices beside his head. That one's definitely making an entry in the baby book.

Now that I am on maternity leave I will probably make more blog entries. There's something about having a newborn that gives me something to talk about....and the second time around makes it interesting. I already have several topics running around in the back of my mind, but for now, I'll leave you with some pictures of some of his first few hours in the world.