Introducing Boston Morgan VanOrden

Here's the L&D story for those interested in all the details! ;) Monday night we finished packing bags and warmed up some leftovers for dinner. Mom and Dad stopped by on their way home from Rexburg to pick up Blake for the night, since we had instructions to be at the hospital at 5:30 a.m. Tuesday for the induction. Dad helped Doug give me a priesthood blessing, and Blake took off with Grandma and Grandpa. Doug and I seriously weren't sure what to do with ourselves. Where Boston was already overdue, everything under the sun was ready and waiting. No to do list of any sort. So we picked up the house a little and turned the TV on. Just before 9 p.m./Jay Leno, I started having contractions. They were about 8-10 minutes apart and very mild. We watched Jay, and turned in for the night. I slept until about 2 a.m., and at this time contractions were 4 mintues apart, but still very mild. I took a bath and went back to bed. Doug and I got up about quarter after 4 to shower and finish packing for the hospital. My contractions had slowed down to about 8 minutes apart, but slightly stronger than before. I didn't time them while getting ready, I figured when we got to the hospital, they would put me on monitors and see if they were even real or what. We got to the hospital about 5:30 a.m., checked in and they sent us upstairs.

The nurse had me change and get in bed, and then put the monitors on, asked a few questions and said they were about to do shift change, so my nurse for the day would be in in a few to check me and whatever else. We got settled in our room, and the nurse came in. It took us about an hour to get an IV (for antibiotics for Group B strep), and then she checked me. She said I was a good 5 and since I was contracting on my own, she'd call the Dr. to see what he wanted to do. Dr. came just before 8 a.m., checked me again and said I was a 7, and quickly broke my water. Pain was manageable, but figured if I was already a 7 and my water was broke, I better get the epidural before it was too late. They got there quickly and before I knew it, I was pain free. Thank heavens for modern medicine!

We made a few phone calls to update family, and then I turned on a movie and thought I'd relax, thinking we'd have a baby by 12 or 1. The nurse checked me again a few mintues before 10 a.m. and said I was fully dialated. I started laughing, and she laughed too cause she said everytime I did, she could feel the baby move down even farther. Dr. Larson walked in at 10 a.m. and got the last few things ready, along with the nurses and then it was time to push. The first push was a learning session (its been 3 years since i've done this, okay) and by the third, we had a baby!

It was so quick and effortless, I feel like I cheated at Labor and Delivery! We had a mirror set up in front of me, and I got to witness the coolest miracle ever. Delivery time was 10:17 a.m.

They got Boston cleaned up and started all the newborn testing, while I got stitched up. He weighed in at 7 lbs. 2 oz. and is 20 inches long. He swallowed a bunch of junk on his way out, and was having hard time keeping his oxygen up, so they took him to the nursery to put him on oxygen. He was there for about an hour and then he was all ours. He has the softest skin and beautiful brown hair. He feels like a little pug with all this extra skin on his head. Boston is a very good baby. Doug and I got lots of sleep last night and are grateful for the fabulous care we are getting here at the hospital.

We are checking out of the hospital this afternoon about 4 and then we're headed home so Blake can meet Boston! I can't wait to see this little reunion happen: it could be interesting!

Boston is such a beautiful baby and after being scared to death of the newborn stage, I'm loving every second I get to snuggle with him. He is so sweet and so fresh from Heaven. We love him so much already! We'll try and take a few more picutres the next few days and post them soon. Thanks to all our families who have helped us get ready for Boston's arrival and have helped keep Blake while we're at the hospital. We couldn't do it without your love support!

Here we sit like frogs on a lilypad...

I guess I feel more like a whale than a frog, and i'm usually leaned up against an extra pillow and my corn bag, but you get the idea. Still waiting for baby Boston to make his arrival.

Not sure there's anything more depressing than visiting your own blog and see the floating fetus say you have 0 days left, and then look down to remember that he's not here yet. I might have to remove that soon.... Anyway, the clock is ticking for this baby to come on his own. If he doesn't make an appearance this weekend, we're still scheduled to be induced Tueday a.m., so watch for a more exciting post sometime next week!

As for due date plans: clean the church in the morning (this better put me into labor or Doug will be in big trouble for saying yes), rake the leaves off our lawn (if its not snowing) and then take Blake to Grandmas and try and get a little Christmas shopping done, since we know the odds of going Black Friday shopping are dwindling unless this little one comes out sooner than later. Hoping a busy day will result in something more than an extremely tired, grouchy, and sore mom to be!

Dear Boston,

Dear Boston,

I think its time for you to make your arrival. Your brother is anxious, and your dad is so excited, and my stretch marks are stretching. Your crib set is finished and there are clean clothes and blankets folded and waiting for you. There are meals in the freezer, the car seat is installed, and your diaper bag is packed for the hospital. I've monogrammed your blankets and Aunt Jan has already started on your Christmas stocking. I've scheduled your newborn photos, and have arranged subs for Primary. We're ready when you are! We already love you so much and can't wait for you to come to our family. See you soon!

Love,

Mom

p.s. Don't forget Dad has tests this week, so he wants me to remind you that anytime after Thursday morning is a good time to come ;)

39 Weeks, 1 Day

Baby Update

Went to the dr. today... and here is a little TMI for those that care:

Belly still measures 35 cm, but it seems to be growing in every direction as far as i'm concerned. I lost 2/10 of a pound this week, so my weight gain total is still at 17 pounds. My dr. predicted this would happen... he said months ago that i probably wouldn't gain much weight the last month, due to there being no room for food, and its very true. In fact, i'm wondering where exactly my stomach is right now? Hmmm....

Baby's heart rate was 147 ish, if i remember right. He is definetly head down and i'm dialated 2 cm. In two days (Saturday) i'll be 39 weeks, man time flies. Seems like just yesterday we told our families we were expecting!

Anyways, now down to business: the plan. We have scheduled to be induced Tuesday, the 24th, thats 3 days past my due date and just in time to check out of the hospital for the Thanksgiving holiday. That is, unless he chooses to come on his own before the 24th. I'm having mixed feelings about whether i want him to come before that or not. Doug has a crazy week at school next week and so i'm actually crossing my fingers that Boston will wait until his dad can get a big presentation and 2 exams out of the way first. Doug's already explained his class schedule to my belly (in plenty of detail) so we'll see how well this little one obeys right?

By the way, back/hip pain has gone away and i've been sleeping much better lately. (knock on wood, right?) Feeling great and trying to enjoy as much one on one time with Blake before i have to share my time with 2 boys. I better run, gotta get a few last minute things done, i'm hosting Girls Night tonight at my house! We're having a holiday feast recipe swap, so i'll pass along the best of the best recipes i try out tonight!

And my mom thinks I'm weird?

So my mom is always making fun of me because I seem to have a song for everything. Well, this morning I was up at 4 a.m., taking a hot bath to relieve some miserable back pain and I get back in bed and asked Doug if he would put some icy hot on my back. Although he was hardly awake (pretty sure he hadn't opened his eyes yet), I told him sorry I had to wake him in the middle of the night. He suddenly bursts out in song "We're all in this together...." from High School Musical! I was laughing so hard, cause he was singing it just like they do in the movie. I'm not even sure if he realized he was singing, cause he was totally asleep again two minutes later. I might break out in song somtimes, but never in the middle of the night!

By the way, the bath/icy hot combo must have worked because I got back to sleep by 5 and slept for 2 1/2 hours! I really don't mean to whine, but I think I would rather be up in the night with a newborn than deal with this back/hip pain that seems to come from sleeping on my sides.

Speaking of baby, at my Dr. appt on Thursday, Doc says baby has dropped a little (which makes sense why this back/hip pain has recently come about) and is definetly head down. I've gained 17 pounds so far, and my belly was still 35 cm. Dr. says thats because he's dropped some, and didn't seem concerned at all. We don't plan on inducing to get him here early, so unless he comes early on his own, we probably won't meet him until at least his due date. I'm 38 weeks today, thats 14 days to go! Wahoo! The three of us can't wait to meet this little guy!

Happy Halloween

We had a fun week and weekend and I can't wait to post these pictures of my adorable tiger! Thursday Blake got all dressed up in his costume and we headed to the SR Library for the costume parade at story time. Blake loved all the little halloween rhymes and songs and thought it was so cool that all the kids were in costumes.

Saturday we headed out to Sheila's to make applesauce! Curtis was fabulous help and ran the Victorio Strainer and we kept busy washing, chopping, cooking, taste testing, bottling, and steam canning 30 quarts of applesauce. We had yummy apples, some from the local Isom's Fruit Farm and others from Doug's parent's apple trees, and we hardly had to sweeten the applesauce at all. We wrapped up the applesauce project and headed home to get ready for the trunk or treat.

Blake dressed as a Tiger, I was a pirate, and Doug an egyptian. We handed out lots of candy and got to see lots of our friends and neighbors in their creative costumes. Then we went home, popped pizzas in the oven and played games for the rest of the night with our friends, Lloyd and Sunni, Travis and Angie, Nate, and Cole. I totally spaced taking pictures, but we had a great time catching up with all of them!