Grant Woodrow Swain

It was supposed to be a planned delivery.  We were scheduled for induction on May 11th (My due date was May 18th).  But this boy had other plans.  :)  I started having pretty regular contractions on Wednesday the 8th, they woke me up around 4 am and persisted for most of the day.  Patrick stayed home from work, just in case.  But they weren't horrible, just uncomfortable.  So we went on with our day, went to Jackson's baseball game and everything.  Then that night they got to be about 3-5 min. apart and stayed that way.  We called a really really great friend ;) who came over to sleep while we went to the hospital.  We got to TMC at about midnight Thursday May 9th.... we got home at about 4 am.... still pregnant, obviously.  :/  I was 4 cm dilated, with contractions 3-5 min. apart, but I wasn't progressing fast enough to admit.  Frustrating, especially when the hospital is 40 min. away!  But what can you do?!

So we went to bed at 4 am and by noon Thursday contractions weren't uncomfortable anymore, they were painful!!  We waited a couple of hours, just to be sure (hahaha), and then called another really really great friend to come hang out with our kids. (Uncle Kenny wasn't coming until Friday.) We got to TMC at about 5 pm, we were admitted by 6 pm.  :)  Thank heavens too, I felt like I had been in labor forever, I really wanted it to end!  haha.  I was at 5 cm, my contractions were 2-3 min. apart and he had dropped from a -3 to a -1.  Things were looking good!  :) 

Unfortunately, because I was technically more than 7 days away from my due date, they couldn't "start" or "help" me.  Which meant is was slow going.  They wouldn't break my water either.  So I got to find out what it's like to actually "go on my own".  Patrick and I decided it's totally overrated, it takes FOREVER!  hahaha.  I've never had a labor longer than 6 hrs., start to finish, but I've always been induced.  So this was new for us, and we were mildly impatient.  hahaha.  (It was actually a good thing we had all that time, because this baby still didn't have a name!)

I got my epidural fast and got settled in.  Laboring all night.  By 5 am we were ready to get the party started.  Everything went really well!!  Which is always a huge relief!  A couple of pushes and there he was!!  :) 

May 10th at 5:27 am, weighing in at 7 lbs. 6 oz. and 19 in. long, we welcomed Grant Woodrow Swain into our family.  :)  He is even a little strawberry blonde!  Our biggest baby, he is the perfect final piece to complete our family!! 

Proud Papa!  I love him SO MUCH!  He was a trooper!  ;) Especially because I kept getting sick.  If you know Patrick, you know that true love is him holding my hair back while I puke and not gagging or leaving the room!  :) Yep, he's a keeper!   

In hindsight, I have to admit that going into labor on my own was SO much easier on me afterword!  Even after 18 hrs. of labor and not having slept more than 4 hrs. at a time in the last 3 days, I felt the best I think I ever have after having a baby!  Tired, but good!  :)

The Swain Gang! The kids were super excited to meet him!  :) 

It was overwhelmingly crazy how big all 3 of them seemed when they walked in the door! Holy cow, it almost made me cry!  ;)  They loved getting to hold him.  It just melts my heart!

Oh, I love my family! What a blessing they are!  I can't believe how very lucky I am to have them!  Healthy and happy (mostly) and my whole world!  :)

***And just because it is so stinking funny, here is Patrick's post on FB:

At 5:27 am and 7.6 lbs. and 19 inches We welcomed Grant Woodrow Swain to our family after 50+ hours of labor. My back is a little sore from the hospital bed and my left knee is still sore from baseball last week, but I'll be okay.

Oh....Jen and Grant are doing great too!