2 Weeks!

I can't believe Gavin has been here 2 weeks already! And I can't believe I'm supposed to still be pregnant right now- ugg!

Like I did with Rachel, I went to work until the day I went into labor- why waste my sick days at home? Of course I was that patient who went to the hospital and was told to go home on the Monday before. I was having some cramping and consistent contractions and of course it was parent/teacher conference day so by the time I got off of work it was after 7 so I called the on-call doctor and he said I should go ahead and come to the hospital. We really didn't think I was in full blown labor, but just wanted to make sure there was nothing else going on, so we dropped Rachel off at Mindy's house, ear infection and all, and were at the hospital for about 3 hours before they told me to go home. Then on Thursday, I was leaking some fluid and went in to the doctor again, kind of hoping that they would induce or strip my membrane, but no such luck. So finally on Friday, at my real appointment, I was 3cm, so she did swipe me, in hopes that that would help get things going a little more- and it did!

We all kind of figured that that I would be going into labor on Friday, so both sets of parents had decided to come on after work. Dad works about 40 minutes closer than their house, so he just came on from his work and got here before Rachel went to bed. My contractions had started by then and were about 5-7 minutes apart, lasting for about a minute. Mom got here next and at about 10:00, the contractions were about 3-4 minutes apart and lasting at least a minute. So, we headed out the door as Dustin's parents were walking in at 11. I stayed in triage for a while and was officially admitted around 1. The moms came to the hospital then, and I had already had an epidural-thank goodness! They broke my water right after that and I was pushing by 3:30. I was pretty exhausted after working all day and not resting at all before coming to the hospital, so I wasn't getting too far. I tried laying on my side, then the other side, and my back. Finally, after 2 hours, my nurse (who was great) got another nurse to help out with other ideas on how to get him out. All of the sudden, Gavin decided to come- before the doctor could get to my room! The other nurses barely made it in to take care of Gavin. He was turned sideways, so that's why he took so long to come, but once he did, there was no stopping him!

So in the last two weeks, we have been adjusting to life as a family of 4 (and Zoe). I don't think it's been as difficult as I was expecting. Rachel is doing great. She has had her moments of being two and not wanting to obey, and has had some jealous moments, but nothing over-the-top. We are also taking her to the babysitter for a few hours at least a few days a week to keep some normalcy going. Gavin is sleeping well- at least one 4 or 5 hour stretch at night, and is eating 3oz every 3-4 hours. We are formula feeding him because of all of the problems that I had with Rachel, which really helps. We know exactly how much he is getting and Dustin takes some of the feedings, the midnight one really helps me out! Rachel is able to help feed him too, which I think has helped her transition so well. We went to the doctor and he is back up to birth weight- yeah! He is also an excellent burper, and really doesn't spit up at all- I sure hope that keeps up!

Everyone says that you can't imagine the love you feel when you have your first child, and then you can't imagine that you can love another child the same amount... but of course, you do. And I can't imagine my life without my amazing husband and my two incredible kids!

(Just a side note, the above rose was sitting on my kitchen table from my Daddy when we got home from the hospital)