Preston's Birth Story:
On Thursday Michael and I hit the pavement for some labor inducing stroller walking. Dr. M had told me the day before it wouldn't take much to get me into labor (I was dilated to a 2, 70% effaced), so I was willing to try anything and everything. I REALLY wanted him to deliver this new baby boy, especially because with Michael he let Kyle deliver him. The chances of him being the doctor to deliver my baby (without me being induced) weren't good since he's in a clinic and they rotate who's on call. He had told me at my appointment to come into the hospital on Thursday afternoon if I noticed any change, and he would see what he could do to keep me in there. After our long brisk walk, I was starting to feel more contractions, and more pressure. My mom came to the hospital with me and Michael, and when the nurse checked me, she said I was still a 2 and 70% effaced. Dr. M happened to come in as she was finishing up, and he re-checked me. He said I was dilated to a 3.5 (he wasn't happy with the nurse), but still just over 70%, so they said I couldn't stay. As we were leaving, the Doc told Kyle to have me call him. I was really sad because the chances of Dr. M delivering this baby were slimming by the minute.
So, that night when I got home, I got busy walking around the neighborhood. I was definitely feeling like I was in the early stages of labor after my walk. Between that and my "exam" at the hospital, things seemed to be picking up. I called Dr. M, but he didn't get back to me for a few hours. He told me that I could come back in, or wait until the morning, but he was off of his shift at 1 pm Friday afternoon. I woke up at 5 after not sleeping very well, or for very long, and started walking around the neighborhood again. By the time I was done walking, I was definitely feeling like I was close to having this baby. Luckily my mom had taken Michael for the night, so Kyle and I headed to the hospital around 6:30 am. Dr. M told us to make sure to call him so he could check me. We weren't able to reach him once we got to the hospital, so for the next hour Kyle and I walked around the hospital. I was having pretty heavy contractions, but kept walking because I knew it was the only way this baby was going to come that day. Dr. M called us back and said we could come up to see if I had progressed. He checked me in the exam room and I was a 4.5, and 90% effaced, but the catch was the hospital didn't have a room or a nurse for me. So they told me that we needed to walk around for another hour. Are you kidding me??? I've never walked so much in my life, and I was in labor doing it. The contractions were picking up big time, and I was in quite a bit of pain and discomfort. I was ready for my epidural, but knew it would be a while before I got it.
Finally a nurse showed up and they got me into a room at 9:45 am. Dr. M came a while later and broke my water, and that's when my contractions really picked up, and I still didn't have my epidural. By the time I got the epidural it was about 11:15 am and I was feeling like I was in heavy labor. When the nurse checked me after the epidural she said I was a 6. I guess she decided that I wasn't going to go anywhere fast, so she took a lunch break. Around 12:35, I called the nurses to tell them I didn't think my epidural was working because I was feeling a lot of pain, and the need to push. Well it was too late by then because when the nurse checked me she said I was dilated to a 9. She had to call my nurse out of her lunch break, and get the doctor in the room. Everyone got scrubbed up (including Kyle) and the show was ready at about 12:50. At around 12:55 I started pushing and boy was I in pain and knew that the epidural didn't take like it should have. At this point, Kyle is where the doctor is supposed to be, and the doctor is where Kyle is supposed to be (at my side). I had one of those deliveries where I was yelling in pain; quite embarrassing actually. They kept telling me to push harder. At one point, Dr. M is by my side telling me to look in his eyes and concentrate. I'm thinking, I can't concentrate, my husbands at the wheel by himself! I'll never forget having my doctor be my labor coach. Needless to say, thing went fast, almost too fast. He was born at 1:07 pm, and when he came out he was purple and bruised from the quick delivery, but everything checked out fine. Kyle held the baby while they had me cut the umbilical chord. I'm telling you, we do things backwards! Then they laid him on my chest, and instantly I was in love with my newest baby boy. It's such a surreal experience to know that one minute this baby is in your belly, and the next he's laying on your chest. I said, "he looks small," and everyone quickly responded with, no, that is a big baby. They were right (8 pound 11.5 ounces)! I'm so glad he came 2 weeks early because he would have been nearing 10 pounds by the time July 2nd rolled around. We had three names we were choosing from, so when Kyle saw him for the first time and said he looked like a Preston that's what we went with, and I couldn't be more happy.
Preston is an AMAZING baby. We can hardly believe how good he is. He sleeps, sleeps and sleeps. He is good to his momma, and instantly knew how to nurse. Totally opposite from Michael who took months to get it down. Preston also has slept good every night. I have to wake him up to feed him during the day, and the night is not any different (the last two nights he slept all night). Let's hope this keeps up! Michael is a very inquisitive older brother, and hasn't quite learned how to be soft, but he's learning. Michael loves putting all of his balls in the swing with Preston. Lucky for us we had Kyle's mom here for 4 days to help keep Michael entertained, which was a lifesaver since my mom was at girl's camp.
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This pool has been a lifesaver. 
Michael is up in his brother's grill, ALL DAY LONG. Luckily Preston doesn't seem to mind..jpg)
