HE'S HERE!

Isaac Brian Poulsen finally came Thursday, March 19 at 7:21 pm. He weighed 9 lbs 14 oz and was 22 inches long.

When I woke up on Thursday morning I felt a little different, but I couldn't explain how. My midwife had told me to watch for consistent contractions, but I still was feeling just cramps and random contractions here and there. I got up and got breakfast for William and myself and debated about what I should do. I went to the bathroom and there was a little bit of show, so I decided since that was new we should go to the hospital and just see what was going on. I called Greg at school and he called his mom to come up. Greg got here about 15 minutes later and we worked on packing our bag and cleaning up the house, then I took a shower. When Barbara got here we left Will with her and left about 10:15 for the hospital which is only 5 minutes away.

My midwife had told us several times that if we got tired of waiting we could go to the hospital and fib a bit about my dilation so they would admit me. I had been a 5 on Tuesday and I didn't think it had changed, so we told the nurse I had been a 3. When she checked me she said I was a 5+ or 6, so I was in. They told me if there was no change in dilation in 2 hours they would start Pitocin, which dismayed me; I didn't think there would be a change because I felt pretty much the same as I had for the last 3 weeks. So we started walking the halls. Two hours later they checked and I was a 7! I was able to be the first person to use the hospital's brand new birthing tub, which was so cool! Greg was showing the nurse how to work the doors and drains becuase she didn't know. Then we walked some more, then I was an 8, then we walked some more, and then I was a 9. I still felt the same as I had all month long. Then my midwife broke my water and we walked some more. Then there started to be defined, strong contractions and we went into the delivery room. I spent some time sitting on the edge of the bed with my arms around Greg and some time on a birthing ball. I was so glad for Greg and my midwife, they were both wonderful. We were so blessed to not have any complications with the delivery.

Isaac is a sweet little boy with a mild temperment. He spends a lot of his awake time looking around and making really funny faces. We came home from the hospital on Friday night and have enjoyed getting to know him since then. William thinks he is ok and will give Isaac a kiss and help burp him, but he's not too interested beyond that (can you blame a 2-year old? The baby doesn't really DO anything!). We are thrilled to have him here.

... bleh...

We decided instead of inducing yesterday we would have my midwife Karen strip my membranes and see if that started anything. It didn't. Yay for Karen, though. She came to the clinic twice on a Sunday to do it, once at noon and once at 7:00 pm. Now that we are nearing the end, all those horrible contractions and cramps I had for 3 WEEKS that made everything almost unbearable are gone, so it's nice I'm not in pain anymore, but now how am I going to get this kid out?! His growth has slowed down so I'm not so panicked about his size and more willing to wait it out. A little. My midwife is amazed I haven't had him yet- everything looks so favorable she told us she didn't know what was holding him in. I guess this little boy just wants to come when he wants to come, which I guess is ok. As long as it's soon.

William decided enough waiting for the baby, he has a life to live. Go figure. He dressed himself up entirely on his own in this little get-up the other day. I think my little boy thinks he is a white rapper or something.

.... and Waiting

Well, here is the deal. The baby measured almost 9 pounds on Wednesday, so we want him born as soon as possible (before it's IMpossible!), but my midwife said she has to have a medical reason to induce me before 2 weeks. But, she said as soon as a baby measures 10 pounds they are labeled macrosomic and that is a legitimate reason to induce labor. I know we will hit 10 pounds next week. As much as I would like to not be induced, I am SO uncomfortable carrying around this bowling ball on my hips, and also worried that the longer we wait the more difficult the delivery will be. We have an appointment Tuesday, so we'll see where we're at then. At the longest we will have wait until next Sunday (2 weeks early) and induce then.

Meanwhile, Greg and I have been researching and I have been trying anything that anyone has ever said could possibly induce labor. This includes: eating hot peppers, pineapple, spicy food, and Chinese food, drinking raspberry tea, acupressure, massage, different stretches, long walks, housework, and gardening. The last resort is castor oil, which I've head works, but I've also heard it just makes you really uncomfortable intentinally speaking. That, and the fact that we haven't been able to find it in any store yet leaves that option untried.

As soon as the little man gets here, there will be many pictures here to enjoy as Greg is eger to put our new camera to work (a bad economy may be bad for retailers, but Circuit City going out of business is good for us!)

While we're waiting for the baby, enjoy this cute pic of Will. This was taken mid-yogurt cup. I don't know what he loves more- yogurt or getting his picture taken.