Here's the story...

Okay now that it has been almost a month since Andrew was born, I will tell his birth story. I am morbidly fascinated with others' birth stories, so if any of you are like me, here you go. If not, just skip this post. But I promise it's pretty mild and I won't give too much gross information all right?

So luckily for me, I had a doctor appointment on the day he was born (side note: I have just happened to have a doctor appointment on the day all 3 of my children were born, and as you read on you'll realize how lucky that really has been). So I went in, and lo and behold, I was dilated to a 6! No labor pains all day, no way I would have thought I was in labor. I swear if I have any more kids they'll be born at home because there is something wrong with me! So my doctor tells me he better send me over to the hospital because at a 6 I won't last much longer. Although, due to a staffing shortage there, they did have me wait 1 hour to check in.

What did I do in the meantime? Well of course I headed over to Firehouse Pizza to watch my sweet brother-in-law Matt take on the 32 inch pizza challenge. I also helped myself to some focaccia bread and salad. Mitch and a whole bunch of other Jones Simkins employees (slow day at work?) were there eating lunch and watching the event. At this point, I did start having a few contractions. But nothing painful, nothing that I would think "Huh, I better go to the hospital."

So I waited my hour and checked into the hospital. Then I waited awhile for Mitch to drop Marin at my sister Avree's (Kate was already there). Then my doctor came in and we chatted for awhile. When he checked me again, I was at an 8. Seriously still not feeling my labor pains at this point, can you believe that? So I thought I had better get my epidural and so I got that. In retrospect I should have saved my $300 anesthesiologist fee because it didn't really work. Around 7:00 p.m. I started feeling some intense contractions. Like the worst pain I've ever felt in my life. I kept clicking my little epidural thingy that gives more meds until I maxed it out and it wouldn't give me any more. I was still feeling contractions, one on top of the other. I was trying to be tough, but dang! I've never felt those pains before and I told Mitch to get my nurse stat! She came in, sure enough it was time to push. The doctor came in, chatted with Mitch for awhile (I was ready to KILL HIM at that point) and then I started pushing. Oh heavens, was I motivated to get him out of me! I've never felt that part of labor before, having always had epidurals that actually worked. So luckily, I only pushed about 10 times before he was born or I swear I would have turned into that crazy lady you see on TV that is screaming profanities at her husband!

And then there he was. My sweet little boy. They brought him to me and I just snuggled him (I'm crying as I type this) and I was just overwhelmed with how much I loved him already. He is the sweetest little addition to our family and I can feel his sweet little personality already. He is such a good baby so far and is really chunking out. I just kiss his chubby cheeks all the time and I can't wait for him to start smiling (oh, and sleeping through the night). So although 3 kids has been HARD, and I'm sleep deprived, he's OH SO WORTH IT! So there's the story of Andrew James Moncur's birth.

(Sorry Jaren, I know this kind of thing grosses you out, but that is what babies look like a few seconds after they're born)