Caleb makes his way into the world...while Jason is in Maui...

Hooray!  I finally popped out baby #3!!  Caleb Anthony was born on February 19th at 1235am!! He's our biggest baby yet-weighing in at a whopping 6lbs 15.9oz!!  Small babies are the best! Jason's genes are just one of the many things I love about him!!  ;)  One of the things I don't love though - is the fact that Jason missed the birth of his baby!  I've already failed at one of my many New Year's Resolutions - which was waiting to pop out this baby until Jason was back from his conference in Maui!  Argh!  I am grateful though that Caleb decided to at least wait until Jason's Mom was here!   

 

So Jason flew out February 15th early in the morning to attend a national conference in Maui (something he needed to graduate his residency program next year) and Jason's Mom and his sister, Joanna, flew in the evening of the 17th.  My contractions started the following day on the 18th first thing in the morning.  They were pretty consistent throughout the day, but I didn't want to believe it!!  I needed to wait 2 1/2 more days, so Jason could see his baby born!!  I tried to ignore it and just go about our day as usual, so we went to my eye appointment (that was scheduled that afternoon) and we went grocery shopping at the commissary, and after missing Kristin's gymnastics and giving it much thought, I decided it was safe to go out to dinner at our favorite Greek restaurant (when I thought my contractions/cramps were getting less frequent and irregular).  After dinner, I also decided to go ahead and keep my hair appointment, so I went to that too!  I had about 7 contractions during my 1-hour appointment, so my hair dresser worked fast under the pressure!  We finally got home with plans of putting the kids to bed, so we could watch a movie and relax (in the hopes of slowing down my contractions).

Well-relaxing must have done quite the opposite because 20 minutes into our movie, I felt a little stream of water leak (before I realized my water was about to break).  For fear of drenching my couch with amniotic fluid, I threw myself onto the ground just in time for my water to explode in a huge gush!  Jason's Mom ran a couple of towels out to me.  All I could do was sit and wait for most of the water to stop gushing (whilst crying to myself as I called Jason to tell him my water broke).  I was so sad that he was going to miss this!!  :(  I tried to change my clothes and keep a towel inside my jeans, but by the time we got to the hospital, it didn't really matter much.  I had to wrap another towel around my waist, so people didn't think I had wet myself!  At least it was late at night and there weren't very many people around.   I was also grateful that the girls were already in bed and that Joanna was there to watch over them while Jason's Mom and I were gone.  On our way there, my contractions started getting more frequent and intense.  I was getting just a bit nervous!  My legs and arms were shaking and my teeth were chattering.  I was mostly just sad that Jason wasn't there.  :( 

By the time we made it to Labor and Delivery, I was already 6 cm dilated.  They had me waddle down to my room at 1145pm, where I changed into my gown and got settled into my bed - complete with IV, blood pressure cuff and fetal monitoring band (I hate that thing!).  

Making my way to the bed after getting changed

After about 20 minutes of contractions, I had dilated to 9 cm and I started getting the horrendous urge to push, but I had to wait 1 more flippin' cm!!  Jason's Mom was right by my side, holding my hand while I said the same thing over and over with each contraction - which was, "Dear Lord Jesus please help me" and then, "Mom, Mom, I really want to push!"  She only had great things to say - like, "You're doing a great job Tricia!   The contractions are just bringing the baby farther down.  You're almost ready to meet Caleb!"  She was such a huge help!  I don't know what I would have done without her!!  What seemed like 10 minutes later, I was finally at 10 cm and ready to go!  I was so relieved to finally be allowed to push!  After about 4 contractions, I finally grunted Caleb out.  It was SUCH a relief...a somewhat burning end to a quick and intense birthing experience - but a relief nonetheless!!  Caleb cried out right away - with a strong and rather loud cry.  It was so good to hear!! For all the discomfort - birthing a baby is SO worth it!!  I give all the credit to Jesus for a such an amazing birthing experience!!  I've been praying all along for a quick and easy delivery without pain.  And while I wasn't perfectly pain free - I really didn't have much discomfort (for very long at least).  The contractions throughout the day were very mild and didn't intensify until after my water broke. Even then - it wasn't anything unbearable!  The only time I was uncomfortable was when I wanted to push and wasn't allowed to (and that didn't last for very long)!  And all without an epidural!!  Yay Jesus!  :)   

My all female staff waiting for me to push with my next contraction

Caleb Anthony greets the world with a loud cry

Jason's Mom nervous about cutting the umbilical cord...

But then she decides to get very excited about it after she does it!  :)

What would I have done without my MomEE??!!  :)

Caleb getting all checked out.  Apgar score: 9!  Woot woot!  ;)

A rather gagging experience...

6 lbs 15.9 oz

Yay!  It's all over!! 

Jason's Mom bringing Caleb over to meet me!

Oh!!!!  I love him to pieces!!

So you're the one who's been kicking the heck out of me and doing somersaults like a crazy baby!!  ;)

Telling Jason how cute his little boy is...

Hello everyone!!

Tiny footprints

Getting all cleaned up with his first sponge bath

Ah...I'm feeling quite cozy under this warm lamp...

After getting only random bits of sleep here and there for the rest of the morning, I finally decided to just stay awake.  Jason's Mom headed out around 8am to go check on the girls and feed them breakfast.  She brought them back in later to eat lunch with me in the room and meet their new baby brother.  They thoroughly enjoyed him and then after Katie ripped the room apart as much as she was capable of - Mom decided to take them back home.  She came back to keep me company for a couple hours later on that evening before I went to bed.  Instead of getting discharged from the hospital at midnight (after 24 hrs), I decided to stay the rest of the night and leave the following morning (I didn't actually get discharged from the hospital until closer to 1pm the next day - since I had to fill out all of the paperwork and pick up my prescriptions myself since Jason wasn't there).  

Kristin and Katie meeting their baby brother

Kristin loves him so much!

They approve!

Caleb meets Aunt Joanna (Joanna has been such a HUGE help!!  I don't know how she puts up with my two little monsters!!)

Me, Kristin and Caleb

Hey I remember you!!  You're the one who cut my umbilical cord!!!  

Good-bye Room #16!!  We're going home!!!

We got home and only had a couple hours to settle in before heading out to pick up Jason from the airport.  Jason squeezed into the back seat next, so he could meet his little boy for the first time.  We headed back home to relax and get comfortable.  

Jason holding Caleb for the first time

Jason and Caleb

Jason, Kristin and Caleb

Jason and Caleb

Finally - Jason isn't the only boy in the house!  :)

So that's it for now!!  I have to go and feed my little boy and then get some sleep...hopefully...  ;) I'm sorry for taking so long to get these pictures on here, but come on!!  Give me a break!  I just popped out a baby and I have two animals for daughters at home (and I've had Jason's Mom and sister here to help me)!!  Who knows how slow and unproductive I'll be after they leave!!! Farewell free time!!  ;)