Baby Tyler is here!!!

Baby Tyler is here!! Before I tell the whole story I just want to say how much I LOVE HIM! He is the most precious baby and is so good...we are so blessed! More on that later :)

My parents got here Saturday afternoon and we went straight to Su Casa for lunch. That was where we ate the night before Paige was born so I guess now it's a tradition!

Paige and Wally Pop doing some arts and crafts in their aprons

My Dad and Jeromy went to play some golf and after Paige's nap we took about a hour long walk to try and get my labor going naturally! I was scheduled to induce on Monday morning but if he came before, even better! I started having contractions when we got home. They were about every 5 minutes and I could definitely feel them but they didn't hurt that bad. I'm faking it here :)Jeromy wanted me to call the doctor but I told him that he would say to go into the hospital if I felt like it was time and the hospital would tell me to turn around and come back when my contractions actually hurt! So, we went to bed and they kinda continued but I was able to sleep through the night. Sunday morning I told Jeromy I was having them again about every 5 minutes so he made me call the doctor and I'm so glad he did! Dr. Silver was on call and said with my history of Paige coming so quick, the fact that I'd been 3-4 cm since Wednesday, and that this was my second baby, I should come in and just do it today. Not what I was expecting to hear! So, we all took a shower and got ready to head to the hospital! Here's the last belly shot!

We got to the hospital around 10:30am. Here's a picture of me and my wonderful nurse Pam! She was so caring, nurturing and positive. She made my experience wonderful! She was so impressed with my pink and green hospital gown! Reyna's friend bought it online and she handed it down to me. Everyone that came into my room had something to say about it!

Excited to meet Baby Tyler!

They hooked me up to an IV and started a saline drip. I was still 3-4 cm and having some pretty good contractions and Dr. Silver (here's his picture from the website...I loved him!)wanted to break my water but my doctor (Dr. Washkowiak) suggested in one of my previous appointments that I get the epidural before they broke my water because my labor went so fast with Paige, it was my second child and I was already 3-4cm dilated. She thought that if they broke my water I would dilate so quick and wouldn't have time for an epidural...no thank you! So, I got the epidural around 12:30/1pm and then Dr. Silver came in to break my water. He thought we might not even have to induce if my contractions were moving along quick enough naturally after breaking my water. Unfortunately they saw meconium when they broke my water, but it was light so they weren't too concerned. My contractions were getting stronger but weren't as close as Dr. Silver wanted so they started pitocin around 2pm. I can't remember exactly but I think I was 2 cm further along every time they checked me...but they also found thicker meconium which concerned them so they said if I didn't continue to dilate like I had been, we might have to do a c-section because it's not good for the baby to be in the womb with the meconium. The baby could be in distress, could have the cord wrapped around his neck, and the baby shouldn't breathe in the meconium after birth due to risk of infection or it sticking to the lungs...etc, etc. I honestly was a little loopy at this point so decided I was just going to focus on my breathing and we would do whatever needed to be done. I was 10cm around 2:15pm so I thought he might be born at the same time as Paige - 2:27...but they were preparing for a number of situations so it took a little longer. The nurse came in a asked me to do a practice push before she got the doctor so we did but she quickly told me to stop pushing! I think he started to come out! She got the doctor and I pushed once and he asked me to stop pushing! I think Tyler's head was about out so he pulled it out and sucked all the fluid out of his lungs before he took his first breath (there was no cord around his neck...thankfully!) and then Dr. Silver asked me if I wanted to deliver my baby! He told me to reach down and grab Tyler's shoulders and pull him out. So...I did! Sarah delivered Brooke this way with Dr. Silver so I thought he might do it and I'm glad I was prepared for this question! Anyway, what an amazing, unexplainable, special moment to deliver your own baby! So, with one push...and a little help from the Doctor and Mom...he was born at 3:44pm!!!!!

What a precious, precious moment that I'm so glad Jeromy and my Mom were there to share. The hospital has a strict policy right now because of swine flu that there are only 2 people allowed every 24 hours so they were the only people in the hospital! We had lots of visitors with Paige and it was fun but it was also nice to have it calm and alone time with just me, Jerm and Tyler.

Jeromy cutting the cord!

Another big baby! 8lbs 4oz and 21 inches...Paige was 8lbs 12oz

Jeromy got to hand him to me for the first time...what a special moment!

Look at that squished little face!

Tootsie doesn't like this picture because he is crying but I think it's cute :)

It was truly love at first sight! He is absolutely adorable and we feel so blessed to have another healthy, happy baby!