July 19, 2008

The Arrivial of the Gremlin

Some of you might have noticed my absence this week on Cowpie and it is because the Gremlin finally has arrived.  The Gremlin turned out to be a bouncing 8lb 1oz 19in long baby boy whom we named Corbin Hazzard.

His arrival began on Sunday July 13 about 6:30pm.  My Cowboy and I had gone to the hospital to get a labor check done when I hadn't felt the little guy move since that morning.  By the time we got to the hospital and the nurses had checked me I was already 3-4 centimeters and in labor (I didn't know I was in labor because I couldn't feel my contractions, not that I'm complaining).  We were very excited and surprisingly calm.  Since I didn't think I would be staying when I went to the hospital the first time I had to send My Cowboy back to the house to get my overnight bag and to check on the animals (all of this against his will of course).  I told him I really didn't think I would be having the kid within the next hour and that it would be ok to leave me.  He finally did and while he was gone I got the gob of paperwork out of the way, the nurse hooked up my IV, and my DR. came in to break my water.  Before I went into full blown labor My Cowboy and I took our last picture as a couple.

Birth1

We were trying to get one more picture of my baby bump before it disappeared but My Cowboy's arms weren't quite long enough.

After the DR. broke my water I started to feel some of the contractions but not all of them and they really weren't that bad until I got to 8 centimeters.  My goal for labor was to go as long as I could without drugs and I think I did pretty well for myself.  Thankfully we had an awesome nurse who let me stand during my labor (which I would recommend to anyone who is about to have a baby).  Standing allowed me to rock back and forth, My Cowboy gave me great tennis ball massages, and of course gravity did its thing.  By 11:00pm I was 8 centimeters, my legs were jello from standing so long, and I was in a good deal of pain so I finally gave in and got an epidural.  Now I really didn't want an epidural but to tell you the truth it wasn't that bad.  The IV stung worse going in than the epidural did.  After I got my drugs life was good and I laid in bed to get some rest.  My Cowboy and I couldn't go to sleep because we were too excited so we passed the time watching a little tv together.

 About 12:30am the nurse called the DR. to come in and they started to prep me to start pushing.  When they set you up to start pushing they put you what feels like 10ft up in the air with your legs in stirrups and all your glory is out there for the world to see.  I think after a woman has a baby you really won't and can't be shy anymore.  I started pushing at 1:00am and by 3:00am I was exhausted and couldn't push anymore.  I would have had the darling out in about 30 minutes but we found out that the baby was turned funny and that my pelvic bones were shaped funny so with those two strikes against me my DR. decided that it would be in everyone's best interest to deliver by C-section.  By this time I was so tired from pushing and my epidural was wearing off, so I could feel my contractions again, I was ready to do whatever was necessary to bring my child into this world.

My Cowboy kissed me bye and the surgical team wheeled me down to surgery.  A few minutes later My Cowboy came in all decked out in his scrubs (looking very handsome I might add), held my hand, and we were ready to go.  After much pulling, tugging, and pushing by the DR.'s, which you can feel, (I had pushed so long that the baby's head got wedged in my pelvic bones) Mr. Corbin came into this world on July 14 at 3:29am (which just happened to be my Nanny's birthday).  Happy Birthday Nanny!  I think I got you a pretty good present this year.

While I was getting my dissolving stitches and twenty one staples put in to close me up My Cowboy got to go down to the nursery to check out our new son.  Since we live in such a small town and there were no other babies in the nursery My Cowboy got to go into the nursery and watch the nurses do everything which I'm glad he had something to do instead of worry how I was doing.  After I was closed up and spent my hour in recovery I got wheeled down to my room and they brought me my baby.

Birth2

It was about 5:00am by this point.  I was a little drugged and a little tired but very excited.

After sleeping a couple of hours My Cowboy and I were ready to enjoy our new son

Birth3

until 9:00pm rolled around we were looking a little worse for the wear.

Birth4

I am sure there will be many a more nights and mornings where we will look like this but it was all totally worth it.

So WELCOME My Little Gremlin!  We are so glad you are here!

-Cowpie-


July 11, 2008

T.G.I.F.

A-Color Slant-375
Thank Goodness It's Friday because it has been a long week and I'm dead tired.

-Cowpie-

*Don't ask why or how I got this picture.  It is a long story that I might tell you someday but not today.*

July 09, 2008

Pack-N-Play

So while my in-laws were up here I got "M" to help me put together some of the baby's things.  We got the baby's rocker put together no problem but when it came to the pack-n-play I guess it looked like we needed some help.  Leave it up to a man to butt in where he is not wanted.  I had left "M" in the living room reading the instructions (because that it what women do, we read instructions) and stepped into the kitchen to get something to drink.  When I returned I found this.....

T-Crib 1
I guess he thought that maybe it wouldn't be sturdy enough to hold the baby so he needed to try it out.  He was very meticulous in his inspection.

T-Crib 2
First he checked out all the corners to make sure the sides were sturdy and the legs were locked in place good.

T-Crib 3
Next he checked the center locking mechanism.

T-Crib 4
He even wiggled it a couple of times to make sure it was good and tight.

T-Crib 5
Finally he inspected the side netting.  Thank goodness he doesn't have claws.

T-Crib 6
Even with our extra unwanted help "M" and I did manage to get the pack-n-play put together and I think it looks great.  Now all we have to do is wait for the baby to get here to see if it will pass the real test.

-Cowpie-