Nearly two weeks old

I never posted any of AK's birth story, but I will make small mention of the great feat it was bringing EH into the world. Like any ordinary Wednesday morning (except that AK was NOT in school), I was puttering around...minding my own business...waiting for the nurse to call me with a January induction date. At 4am, I had felt a strange pain that didn't seem to subside, but I attributed it to something else. At 9:30am, there was a cramp so strong it had me on the floor. My neighbor (with the 5 children) suggested I take a shower. Good idea or else it would have been a while. ha ha. At 11am, I began timing what were the contractions (I finally came out of denial). After the second one, they were all 3-6 minutes apart! I'll skip the next few details...by 2pm we were at the doctor's office where I was at 6cm. (NOTE: After the birth, my doc told me I had been at 7cm--she hadn't wanted to scare me!) 2 hours later (blood draws, IV fluids, and a dropped needle by the CNA), I FINALLY had my epidural. People, I was at 8cm!!

Well, I guess it was nice to experience a "natural labor" after having a "jump-started one" with AK, but please note, my plan was to have that epi at 5cm. The other nice thing was I got to keep my gum AND have ice chips throughout. I joke with J that he can no longer make fun of me....I may be emotionally soft at times, but I am woman and I am tough! :) If anything, it was a self-confidence-inducing day. :)

Well, enough of that. Here are the results:

 With our neighbor, who witnessed the birth and was a great support

 All ready to go home