Michael is Here!!!

Michael finally showed up on 10/4/10 at 41 weeks 5 days.  He is 9lbs and 22inches and just perfect.  Labor started around midnight on the 3rd but was very mild and manageable until about 8pm that night.  Mike and I walked the neighborhood and then came home and camped out in our room.  Things were definitely picking up but I was still in good spirits between contractions.  At about 11:00 I started getting very emotional during contractions and decided it was time to call our fabulous doula Jessica.  She arrived around midnight and things were really progressing.  My MIL was just perfect and bringing me food and drinks and offering any support someone can give to a laboring woman and Jessica was a warm reassuring support when i thought i was losing control.  At some point around 1 am Jessica decided it was time to call our midwife Linda (thank goodness she had that insite), and she arrived around 2.  By this point i was feeling a ton of pressure in my tail bone that hurt like crazy.  I thought for sure i couldn't do anymore, but everyone kept telling me i could.  I finally had Linda check me (my first check the whole pregnancy) and i was complete.  I tried a couple pushes lying down but it was pointless and super painful.  Somehow i talked myself into kneeling/squatting and then the pushing actually felt like a great relief and he was out a few contractions laterat 4:03 am.  Only had a tiny tear that doesn't need any stitches and feel like a million bucks compared to when I had Lor.  He is just perfect and has no signs of down's syndrome or any bowel issues.  We do still have to take him for a cystic fibrosis sweat test but my gut tells me he is just fine.  Loralei is an amazing big sister and we are enjoying every minute of these fleeting first days and weeks.