Austin Thomas

Our little baby is here. Actually he has been here now for a little over 2 weeks. I woke up on Sunday morning (Oct 2) at about 5 AM feeling some contractions. I was four days late at this point. They weren't too hard, but they were definitely contractions, and since I don't ever get Braxton Hicks, I was pretty sure they would eventually turn into some action. I got out of bed at around 6 AM because they were getting more and more consistent (not hard, just a little more regular). I got dressed and started to pack my things. I wanted to wait things out at home for as long as I could, so I just hung out at the house and waited for things to get more serious. A couple hours had gone by and the contractions weren't getting any harder or closer (they were still very easy to get through). They they actually started getting farther apart (this was a little annoying). I decided to take a walk down the street - which definitely helped while I was walking, but when I got back home and sat down they were irregular again. Sean kept asking if I thought I was ready, but the labor didn't seem hard enough or close enough to go in. We live 30 minutes from the hospital so I also didn't want to wait too long, but I had never waited too long before (my labors have never been super speedy ones or anything). So, at 10 AM we turned on General Conference and started watching the morning session. After the hymn in the middle (around 11 or 11:15 or so) I felt a good one, and then another one right after. I actually had to get up and brace myself for these. I went upstairs and had another one, and another one after that. At this point, I thought we had better head to the hospital. We dropped the kids off at our friends house at 11:45 and headed to Albuquerque. I had some good contractions on the way there, but still very manageable. We checked into the admissions desk at 12:33 AM. They sent me into the triage room to monitor me and this is when the seriousness began. The contractions started coming right after another and were getting harder and harder. They hooked me up to the monitors (which are totally uncomfortable - I mean I know why they do it, and especially this time when our little guys heart rate dropped pretty low at one point - but sitting up with monitors around your belly is not a very comfortable way to be in labor). I knew I didn't want an epidural but I asked about getting something else for pain. The nurse said that the midwife was on her way and would check me and then we could do something about the pain. The midwife came in - I had another strong contraction at which point my water broke. She checked me and said, "You are ready to have a baby." I was fully dialated and the baby was in position. They wheeled me up to the delivery room and had me change beds (YIKES). Pretty much the moment I got on the other bed I started pushing - the feeling to push on this labor was stronger than any I have ever had. I even gave a little yell (which surprised Sean - I'm usually not too vocal when I'm in labor) and then I pushed that little guy out. He was born at 1:00 PM (27 minutes after we got to the hospital) - BEST LABOR EVER (mild and easy at home and then BAM - painful but quick at the hospital). Sean said the room was kind of chaotic - people setting up and getting things ready - I didn't notice a thing....he he he. Everyone there was great - pretty much let me do things how I wanted and were just there to help me in any way they could. There was some meconium in my water so they had someone from ICU come up just to make sure everything was fine with the baby (it's procedure). He came out quiet, but then did some good screaming and yelling (the nurse from ICU quietly left). He laid on my belly right after he came out and while I finished up. He was perfect! He weighed 7 lbs 8 oz and was 21 1/2 inches long and had the longest fingers. We stayed in that room for a couple hours and then moved up to my recovery room. He was a great little eater - nursed for 40 minutes like a champion. I went home the next day at 1:30 PM. It was a great hospital stay: nice and fast. Sean went and got the kids and they came to visit on Sunday evening. They were all in love and wanted to take turns holding him. We didn't really have a name picked out and weren't even sure about one until later that night when we decided on Austin. And his middle name, Thomas, is also Sean's middle name. He is a perfect little guy: usually very calm. He has moments when he is so alert (especially for a newborn) and just looking around taking things in. He sleeps okay at night - gets up to eat often but then goes back to sleep until about 6 or 6:30 in the morning when he likes to wake up for a good couple of hours. We are so happy to have him here and healthy.