He's Here!!

Stetzen is finally here!!  He arrived quite dramatically on August 31, 2011 at 7:39 pm, weighing 6 lbs 13 oz and was 20 inches long.  I went into labor on Tuesday, the 30th.  I spent all afternoon trying to decide if I was really having contractions or just Braxton Hicks, and after being convinced by Zach they were a little more than the BH, we headed down to Ogden.  We got to the hospital around 10:00 pm and found out I was still only 80% effaced and 1 cm dialated.  My doctor was gone getting surgery, so the on-call doctor said in order to admit me, I needed to dialate at least 1 cm in an hour.  Well, an hour came and went with no change, even though my contractions were 5 minutes apart.  Both Zach and I were a little, maybe a lot, frustrated because they knew we drove 2 1/2 hours and my contractions were regular and close together.  Zach was convinced that if it was the middle of the day, we would have been admitted.

After being rejected by the hospital, we decided to get a motel and wait it out.  I can honestly say it was the worst night I've ever had.  My contractions got a lot worse and still came every 5 minutes.  I was dying to get some kind of relief.  By the morning, I was hesitant to go back to the hospital from fear that I'd be sent home again.  So, Zach and I walked around the malls for 2-3 hours.  Around 11 am we headed back to the hospital, and I was relieved to hear I was 90% effaced and 3 cm dialated.  With that they admitted me and the count down commenced!

Zach waiting patiently (lol) with me in Labor & Delivery.

Around 7:30 pm, I had 3 contractions right after each other, and I guess they put too much stress on Stetzen because his heart rate dropped to 45 BPM and then my blood pressure dropped.  Seconds later my room was flooded with nurses and the anesthesiologist.  They tried moving me from side to side to get his heart rate up thinking his blood flow may have been blocked but, with every contraction it would drop again.  So after bombarding me with shots to stop the contractions, oxygen, and other meds, they decided I needed an emergency c-section.  At this point I was terrified and my whole body was shaking.  I would say I went into shock because I knew what was going on, but it was like it wasn't real.  Within 10 minutes of the whole ordeal, we had Stetezen here and crying up a storm. 

After only seeing him for what seemed like 2 seconds, they took him into the ICU to moniter him and get his breathing better.  Apparently he had some fluid still in his lungs and wasn't breathing like he should.  While they took care of Stetezen, I was sent to recovery and waited what seemed like an eternity to finally get to hold my little man. 

And for the best part, pictures!!  Sadly we don't have any of him being born or right after, but we mustered some other cute ones :).

Stetzen finally in the room with us!

First time holding him in our room.

A close up...

Me looking oh so wonderful with Baby Teddy.

Burp time :)

Sleepy, always sleepy...

His not so cozy bed...

A close up through the glass...

Stetzen and Daddy

Sweet little kisses!

Eskimo Kisses!

Precious!

We're going home!!

Daddy and Stetzen getting ready to go home!

Stetzen's going home outfit!

His favorite place for his hands, his mouth!  Nothing's changed, lol.

Our new family headed home to Wyoming!

In my car seat and ready to go!