Our last 2 weeks have been a blur! Seth and I are so excited and happy to bring home our little Christmas Beau! He is a happy and healthy little guy and we love him so much! It's amazing how your life can totally and completely change in the blink of an eye when you bring that little one home! Seth made me laugh- on our first family car ride home (Christmas afternoon) Seth said his fingers hurt...from using his blinker so much! haha- the parental precautions have kicked in! Beau is a good little boy and STRONG too. He sleeps pretty well, eats really well:) (he gained 8 oz. in 2 days:) ), and is bright eyed and bushy tailed for the majority of the day. Every cute little sigh he makes puts me on edge for fear that his breathing will hesitate again, but I think I'm just paranoid. Here is an updated mug shot of Beau:
This is my favorite face Beau makes- it's the "I'm just waking up and I need to stretch every muscle in my body" face.
So, here is how the whole production went down (in a nutshell):
Seth and I went in for the BIG induction (to which I was opposed) on Dec. 20 at 7:00 p.m. I was barely dilated- barely at a 1. So we began Cytotec to hopefully speed up the process- one pill every 4 hours. So after 12 hours of minor non-labor contractions almost every minute and a little low back pain, I had only dilated to a 2...UGH!!! So we began the pitocin drip. Typically, pit works pretty well to kick start induction and is increased by 2 mL per 15-30 minutes. Usually, it's time to push after 10-12 units (max is 24)...by 3 p.m., I was at 18 units and still only dilated to a 2... Basically, the induction didn't work. So Yoli, my super cute cuban doctor gave me a 3 hour break- finally! I was able to eat some real food!- while she debated c-sect, cytotec, or pit...Seth and I did stairs at the hospital, and tried our best to pass the time and at 6, she decided to give me one more chance with the cytotec. Miraculously, it worked! 4 hours later, I was at a 4, so they started pitocin again. At 1, she broke my water and the real contractions began. At 330 a.m., I was hooked up with the epidural (a GIFT), and at 7 a.m., it was time to push.
After 1 1/2 hours of pushing, 2 vacuums, and 3 doctors, Beau made his way into our hearts forever! Seth was the best coach and partner. I LOVE my husband and I am so lucky to be with him! He seriously kicked some butt and he is the cutest dad ever. It is so amazing how your heart can change so fast. We love our little boy! (and he loves his grandmas!):
For Beau's side of the story- poor little guy- after his rough trip into the real world, I was trying to feed him and he wouldn't suck, so I held him for a minute. He made the cutest little sigh, then he did it 4 or 5 more times. So I checked to see if he was breathing, and it was really shallow- so I did the hand off to Sethro and when I did, his blanket fell open and his legs were blue, legs and arms limp. Fortunately, our nurse walked in at that moment, swooped him up and took him to the NICU where he was given oxygen and hooked up to several monitors:
They tested him for infections, meningitis, and blood on the brain. He had 6 blood tests, 1 spinal tap, antibiotics, and an IV in the right and left hand and his little noggin' before he left the NICU. After he conquored breathing, he had to learn how to suckle so he could eat on his own. Then Beau had to pass a car seat test before they would clear him to come home on Christmas day. He passed! So Seth and I were able to take the best present ever home with us that evening.
To make this saga even more exciting- Beau developed jaundice! So he had to be under the bili lights for almost 3 days. It was so hard for both Seth and I to not be able to hold our little guy for almost one entire week! I'm sure it wasn't enjoyable for him either.
Both Seth and I are so thankful for the outcome of this pregnancy. We have a studly, strong little man who we love. Portneuf was amazing. Family and friends...THANKS FOR EVERYTHING!!! We appreciate all the prayers, support, and love sent our way!
One last exciting note: Seth and I are Uncle Seth and Auntie Hai again!!! Casey and Andrea had their little baby girl 5 days after Beau. Her name is Ali Noel Clinger and she is a cute little thing!
We just can't get enough of this little guy!
