New Man in my Life

God decided Daniel would arrive on June 9, 2011 and we couldn't be happier :-) I'm documenting his birth story here, so if details like this make you squimish, just skip to the pictures :-)

The fall on Memorial Day had some delayed consequences. After straining my ribs for a few days with normal activity, it became painful to do just about anything- sneeze, cough, laugh, blow my nose, and let's be honest with pregnancy indigestion, burp. On June 6th, I woke up at 2 am and was in constant pain until 7 when I woke Billy. I was having contractions as well so we went to the hospital. So, we called Amy - our baby plan and off we went. I was monitored for a few hours and once they got the pain of my ribs under control, the contractions eased up as well. We scheduled an induction for June 13th, their first opening available for my obgyn. After that visit, we had my sister in law Teresa over the next day so someone could lift and care for Matthew. She brought our nephew Kyle over, so he and Matthew had a blast all day. She made us dinner and was just a wonderful help and great adult company. Wednesday, Billy worked from home and our friend Jill came over to help with Matthew in the afternoon. Billy was trying to save as many days off for when Daniel actually arrived.

Thursday morning June 9th, I woke up at 5:30 am to what I slowly realized was my water breaking. It wasn't a one time big incident as I imagined so it took me a bit to realize that's what was happening. I called Billy, who was at his morning gym time, then the obgyn and then Amy again (wonderful amazing friend!!). We got a little antsy and called Tim from down the street who sweetly came so we could leave for the hospital. I kept hearing second children come much quicker....We arrived at the hospital just before 7 am. with contractions 5 minutes apart and I was dilated to a 4. About 9 am I received an epidural and my family started arriving at the hospital. By 10 am, I was to a 6 and 10:30 I was at a 9.5. Everything went quickly after that. At 10:51 am, Daniel Paul made his entrance in to the world weighing 7 pounds 5 ounces at 20.5 inches long. His head and chest were both 13 inches.

Recovery over the last few days has been so much better this time. I learned quite a few lessons after having Matthew that has made the transition to recovery so much easier with Daniel. Two great big reliefs is having Matthew bond so sweetly with Daniel and being able to nurse Daniel. Matthew has been doing a wonderful job adjusting to his new brother. He signs baby and puts his arms out asking to hold him. We sit Matthew down with a boppy on his lap and place Daniel there as we sit next to him. He starts touching - so glad we've been practicing gentle hands-, gives him a kiss and he's done. It's really sweet and I teared up the first time. Matthew has been waking up in the middle of the night off and on for the last week and telling us no, but that's about the only signs of adjustment we see in him. Daddy has been on mostly Matthew duty and Matthew is eating up this time with him. Matthew now clearly says daddy instead of just a vague dada.