Man Date

This is my sweet boy.

He's an OG.

From St. Louis County.

Monday night Scott and Blake had their first man date.

They watched the National Championship BCS game. They were cheering for the Oregon Ducks. Blake moved or twitched sometimes when Auburn did something good that he didn't like.

This is what their date looked like.

Fun huh!

Now if only we could convince Blake that it's way more fun to be awake during the day and asleep at night... :-) We sure love this guy!

The Story

I started having contractions around 7:30 am on Thursday. They started getting pretty regular by 10, and by noon they were about 5 minutes apart and getting stronger. We were counting them wrong so we thought they were 3 minutes apart so we called the hospital and they said to come. When we got there we were sent to an evaluation room and I was only at a 1. So they hooked up a fetal monitor for 30 minutes or so and then had us walk around for an hour, then repeat. We got in that room around 1pm and we were there til around 5. It was pretty stressful for me. I didn't get along with the nurse very well and had a hard time communicating with her and was really anxious to leave. Our doc wanted to send us back home right away but she wanted to try and keep us. So they did. Around 5:00 I was at a 3 cm and they admitted us to labor and delivery. That room was so much better!! The contractions started getting MUCH more intense and painful and seemingly close together. Around 8:30 we decided to have them check me, see what had progressed and then maybe sit in a tub. Well, after all that I was still only a 3! So we talked and decided it was probably a good idea to get an epidural since I was in so much pain and had literally not progressed.

It turned out to be a really great decision.

They administered it just after 9 PM. By 11:00 I was still a 3, maybe 3.5. So they decided to break my water around midnight. They found it to be stained with meconium (baby pooped in it) and called the NICU to be ready and present for delivery. A couple hours later I was only at a 4. So they started me on pitocin. A couple hours later I was finally a 5. Another couple hours I was a 6. Then finally 7 cm after they were giving me the highest dose of pitocin and gave me a shot of valium cuz I started feeling sharp pain from the contractions through the epidural. Eventually around 8:30 or 9am on Friday morning the nurse said our doctor wanted blood work done in case we had to do a c-section. I was a little nervous. I hadn't eaten anything since noon the day before and I could only eat jello and apple juice (why not just give me a bucket of straight sugar? same thing, right?). I asked if the blood draw would make me nauseous and dizzy because I hadn't eaten. They said no because I was on an IV. Well, a minute after the blood nurse came in I said "I'm gonna throw up" and not more than 4 seconds later I did. So they waited to draw my blood. I think that jolted the baby and my body into action because I jumped from a 7 to 9 cm by 10 am. Soon after that check I started feeling new contraction feelings and felt like I wanted to push and that would help. So she checked me less than an hour later and said I was at a 10 and we could get ready to push.

Luckily, I had the sense to not push the epidural dose clicker (that gave more through the tube) when she checked me at 9 cm and when I started feeling the pushing contractions. My legs were completely numb from the valium and I couldn't move them, so I didn't want to click it. So, for the last 2 hours of labor, including an hour of pushing, the epidural was wearing off alot. Enough that I could feel the pushing contractions and know when to push and could feel the baby's head and feel him come out. Our doctor was super patient and worked with me and the baby's head so I didn't have to get an episiotomy. I only had a very small surface level tear.

Blake came out with the cord wrapped around his body and neck once so Scott didn't get to cut it. He also was kinda blue and not really moving when he came out. The NICU team grabbed him right away and started working on him right in the room. I was pretty nervous because he wasn't crying at all. It didn't take long for them to get air to him and for him to breathe. His oxygen levels were really low and they had to clear some gunk from his lungs and tummy. They said real quick that he was getting good color and making great progress. It was still really emotional and scary to watch. After they finished we got to spend about 30-40 minutes with him before they took him to the nursery for more observations and all that. We picked him up about an hour or so later and he was great!!

He was born 1/7/11 at 11:52 am, 7 lbs, 8 oz, 9 3/4 inches long, dark hair, dark eyes, good colored skin. He's gorgeous and SO sweet! We came home on Sunday afternoon. Things are going very well. He had a hard time eating at first, but now that we're home he's a champ. Our first night was really long, he was confused and thought it was day time. We'll see how he is tonight.

We sure love this guy and it is so fun being parents! I love watching Scott change diapers, clothes, swaddle and cuddle with him. He is the best dad ever. I'm feeling pretty good and moving pretty good. Feels a little like I got hit by a truck, but hey, I birthed a baby! Life is such a miracle and we feel so very blessed.

Introducing...

Blake Steven Dodds made his appearance into the world this morning at 11:52 am.

It was a very long, tough, and medicated labor, but we are very blessed that we did not have to have a c-section or episiotomy.

He's 7 lbs, 8 oz, and 19 3/4 inches long. Absolutely perfect and beautiful in every way! Pictures and the story to come.

For now? Cuddling, snuggling and resting.

Hmmm. Ow?

New Car seat

So we bought a car seat over a month ago. We thought it would be great and it was really inexpensive, so we thought it was a good idea. After we'd had it that long, I suddenly started thinking a couple days ago that I didn't like it. It seemed too small, squishy and an uncomfortable angle for the baby. It also fit terribly in our car! The latch system allowed about 3 inches of wiggle space on both sides, and only one of our 3 seat belts would get tight enough to hold it down, and it still didn't fit that great.

So, last night we decided to see what other options there was a Babies R Us. We had a coupon and some time. I wanted to original one we got because of the triangle handle. But then I realized that was something I could live without. We also realized at the store that it weighed 15 pounds compared to the new one we got which weighs 9 pounds. So, we found a sweet Chicco travel system we really liked, estimated the cost with our coupon and decided it was worth it to have something that we liked better, felt was safer, and fit in our car easier.

At the register we got another surprise. The first car seat we bought we used a $20 off coupon. When they exchanged it, they gave us the full price back. So, we actually got $80 off the new set vs. the $60 that we were thinking. So, it turned out to be what we thought was a great deal!

The funniest part is that this travel system was the original one we registered for (except in a different color), but decided not to get because it was expensive. However, with the coupons and the money we have been saving for the baby, we could afford it. So, YAY! We have a sweet new car seat and stroller.

Now the baby can officially come. Anytime. Really. Any day. Any second. in fact, now would be great! Seriously, baby, I'm not joking. :-)

Lessons Learned

I learned two things yesterday after a very disappointing doctor's appointment.

1. I have the most incredible husband. He is so sweet and loves me so much and will do anything to make me feel better and be happy. He totally took care of me last night and made me forget everything that was going on. Pizza, Dr. Pepper, a chick flick, Edy's ice cream and some football. It was perfect and very therapeutic.

2. I am not in control. Heavenly Father can see a much bigger picture than I can.

We had a wonderful and very spiritual experience of which I will not share because it was very personal for us. I am incredibly grateful for the power of the Priesthood in our home.

Here's to thoroughly enjoying the last few days together before Scott goes back to school!! :-)

Football

So I must admit, I really like TCU. I'm not sure why, I just like them alot. And I loved watching them play against Wisconsin last night. It was a great game! Definitely exciting up to the last minute...

Oklahoma on the other hand, not so exciting. Now that Sam Bradford left they're just not as much fun to watch play (helps that he is way more attractive than Landry Jones. And who names their child Landry? It looks like Laundry.). But at least they won. They should've completely killed UConn, but that didn't. I don't like their defense that much. Offense isn't spectacular either. I'm hoping this season they vamp it up again and actually live up to their name instead of being overrated again. But, of course, I was raised a Sooner fan, so I have to like them even when they lose and play crappy. (which is not as fun)

Now back to TCU. One of their guys was named Tank. We joked about who would name their kid Tank. But then, he swatted down a ball at the 3 yard line on a 2 point conversion attempt and won the game for his team. We decided Tank was a pretty sweet name for him. Also, Andy Dalton threw some amazing passes. It was just a really really good game!! I really like watching TCU. They're super fast and strong. Especially considering their defensive line averages 6'1" and 271 pounds while Wisconsin's offensive line averages 6'2" 321 pounds. TCU was definitely at the disadvantage size wise but they figured out how to tackle low and were able to take the bigger guys down. Great game. I'm glad we got to watch it. :-)

Our baby is not getting a car for his 16th birthday. That was Scott's deal to him if he came before last night. Hehe. I guess he didn't understand how good of a deal that would was. I like how my mom put it yesterday "maybe he is still downloading his "how to deal with life on earth" manual and you wouldn't want to interrupt that!" I'm crossing my fingers for something big to happen today and to have a baby by tomorrow. That was my first instinct guess, the 3rd, so we'll see.