Arrival

August "Gus" Erwin arrived yesterday at 4:59 am. He weighed 9lbs 12 oz and is 21 inches long. The induced labor was fast and furious. I went from not being in labor to delivering a baby in 4 hours, after only 5 minutes of pushing! Surprisingly we both came through it--me without an epidural (something I thought impossible of myself) and him with only a bruised face.

We were able to come home this morning--I couldn't handle another nurse asking me if I had any questions about breastfeeding or what my pain was on a scale of 0 to 10 (no and I have no idea, a 2?).

More updates to follow...I'm tired now.

Balloons

After the watercolors, balloons were requested. Balloons take up considerable play time during the day and are a lot less messy than play dough. I love balloons!

Though we are disappointed that Gus will be born during the Obama administration, his first portrait will be taken with a pretty amazing camera. It arrived yesterday. We have been stalking this camera for about a year and found a great deal on eBay (me? eBay?). We bought it last week--for much, much less than quoted website price (don't worry). I am still getting used to it...must practice. The above photo was taken with the new camera and proof I need practice.

How do you like the girls' outfits? Creative.

Update

Still here. Still pregnant. And you thought no news was good news...didn't you?

I walked 2 miles on the treadmill last night.

Today I plan to wash floors, on my hands and knees, and change all the bedding in the house. I will probably walk another 2 miles on the treadmill sometime (maybe I'll do that twice!).

My doctor said if the baby doesn't arrive by next Monday's appointment (a real possibility according to the exam), that she will induce on Tuesday morning (1/27). That's fine by me, especially considering all the out-of-state family arriving late next week for the baptism on Feb. 1st.

Must attend to the girls...currently begging me to paint with watercolors.

Still Here

I'm still here. Still pregnant.

I made spaghetti for dinner last night. Usually it is the "last resort" meal that sends me to bed having contractions. Obviously, the raging heartburn from the tomato sauce didn't jumpstart anything--except a need for more TUMS.

I am such a whiner.

Countdown Widget

I know that due dates are approximate. Babies arrive when they are ready, not when the mother or doctor want the delivery to happen (theoretically). That said, I am resenting that Baby Countdown widget on my sidebar. I was pretty excited to put it on my blog months ago. But today, it makes me upset and weepy.

It finally says "0 days to go" today. I am not having contractions. I have no pre-labor symptoms. I am done gestating! I know he will arrive sometime in the next week, but I would really like his arrival to be today (or yesterday).

Complex

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The girls are feeling cabin-feverish not being able to spend time outdoors due to the cold weather. It's okay though, because to them snow fort building outside is only slightly better than fort building inside. I tend to get claustrophobic in my living room whenever they take over.

Jinx

I am willing to try anything to start labor. My mom suggested putting a picture of myself on my blog. Voila!

Personally, I think that she wants a picture readily available to her just so she can laugh at my figure. Laugh it up Mom!

Snitch

Snitching cucumbers before dinner. What mom could reprimand this behavior?

Glow in the Dark Jesus

Lily asked me while we were driving today "Mom, does Jesus glow in the dark?".

"What do you mean Lily?"

"You know, Jesus Christ is the Light of the world. The light no darkness can overcome. Does He glow in the dark?"

How do you explain that question to a small girl who takes everything so literally? I did my best, but I don't think my answer clarified her puzzlement.

A Kick in the Face

Claire ran excitedly into the kitchen where I was working yesterday.

"Mom! Lily kicked me in the face and knocked my tooth out! Look!" She was smiling and holding a little tooth in her hand.

I think this instance will be the only time that I hear those words and not get upset.

She put it under her pillow last night and got a dollar from the tooth fairy. Inflation in the used tooth market!

Yet Another Urgent Care Visit

This morning's adventure: a big gash on Lily's chin from a collision with the coffee table. I probably would not have taken her into urgent care except for the fact that she is a girl. I do not want her to have a big scar on her face (she already has a nasty one on her heel). I thought she would need a few stitches, but the doctor closed it up with that Derma-Bond skin-glue stuff. I wish that glue was sold OTC because it would have come in handy a few times now.

Are my children unusual in the frequency of scary medical issues that come up? It seems like I call poison control or the urgent care nurses or my doctor a bit too often.