Samuel Parker

I know... everyone already knows about my baby... but I feel like I need to get a record of the birth... even if it's just for me.

We went to the hospital to be induced on June 5th at 7am. They started me on Pitosin and I was a little scared that my epidural wouldn't work again. My anesthesiologist told me that it was probably because my tail bone had broken years ago and I might have scar tissue that made my last epidural not work from the waist down... I got one anyways hoping that it would work. He was very careful putting it in and doing all the tests to make sure that it was working. So far so good... but then the baby's heart rate kept going down any time I had a strong contraction... my mom (who was also my wonderful nurse) said that her and the doctor thought that he might have the cord wrapped around his neck. They had to slow down the Pitosin until the baby was more stable. I wasn't dilating either... but I didn't dilate very quickly with Ada either so that wasn't a surprise for me. When I was only a 5 by 7pm... everyone was feeling rather sorry for me... I was doing fine... a little nauseous, but fine. I made a joke that Sam was jealous of his big sister... she was born on 10/10... and that he wanted to be born on 6/6. I told Jer that would help him remember our kids birthdays... but we all thought that I would have the baby soon. When I hadn't by 11pm, my doctor took a closer look at my cervix because all my contractions were strong... I was dilated, but not in a circle... it was more like a flat heart shape so the baby couldn't come out. He stretched me out a little bit and 2 and 1/2 hours later my body was finally ready to have the baby. They got me ready to push... and again... I was scared to death because I had to push for 1 1/2 hours with Ada... I started contracting, they had me push and there was the baby... That was a big surprise for me! They got the cord unwrapped from his neck, stitched me up (which I didn't mind this time because my epidural really did work all the way! YAY!) and they laid him on my chest. I was glad to see him safely here and I am very grateful for doctors, nurses and all those involved for all their patience and expertise. My doctor didn't rush for a C-Section just so he could go home and go to bed... my mom worked a 21 hour shift so that she could support me in my labor... and a great anesthesiologist that knows what he's doing. Yes it was a 16 1/2 hour labor, but it was much better and easier than the 28 hours I spent trying to get Ada here!

He's beautiful, looks like Jer and is a very calm and sweet baby. He had to spend a couple of days in the NICU... he had a low blood sugar, an infection, and was jaundiced. He absolutely LOVED the lights that they put him under... any time they took him out from under them he'd get mad. He doesn't want to breastfeed, but neither did Ada... so that's not a huge surprise either. Everyone has made this first week so easy for me... from taking over at my job, providing meals, entertaining Ada, and helping with house work... (Ada's was another story... When I got home on Monday... she'd lost both sets of shoes, eaten something that made her break out into a rash that she's still on medication for, and had lost her daily routine... she's in love with her brother though... she gives him hugs, helps change his diaper and loves to play with his toes.) They've all been amazing and I love being a mom!