The Big Day!

Just as scheduled, I was at the hospital at 7am on Monday September 24th.  JL and I woke up at 5:45, dressed, I had an egg and toast and we were off.  At 7:45, they broke my water and started me on low dose pitocin.  

I mentioned in the previous post that little Quatro had flipped around on me.  My Dr. had given me some recommendations on how to sit/sleep to try to force the baby back onto his face.  I was hopeful that it had worked given I hadn't had any contractions in my back for a couple of days.  But I warned the nurse that the baby may be face up (or sunny side up as they are frequently called.)  She commented that they have had a few of those lately and 70% of them were non-c-section deliveries.  So...  I had that on my mind, but was hopeful things would work out ok for me and baby.

Here I am just getting started. 

Within an hour and a half things were happening.  I requested an epidural, which they gave me shortly thereafter.  And within about 30 minutes of that I was feeling the urge to push.  The problem...  my epidural had only just begun to work - and it wasn't working on my left side.  Like, at all!  Plus, the contractions were heavy in my back.  I could feel them - and they weren't fun.  I knew at that moment that little Quatro was going to greet this world staring straight up at us all!

There he is!  Presenting:  Cody Barrett!

 At 10:51 in the morning (just a scant 3 hrs after starting on this journey) little Quatro made HIS appearance!  Yup - it's a boy!  He was in fact, sunny side up.  And just to be thrilling - he also had the cord wrapped around his neck and there was a big fat knot in it also!  Man.  I feel so blessed that he was delivered with no complications!  The nurses credited my extreme determination to push, but I know it wasn't all me.  JL gave me a blessing the night before and I know that gave me the strength and energy needed to help little Quatro out.  15 minutes and 8 total pushes. :-)  Whew.

Isn't he a doll!!!  My biggest and longest!

7 lbs. 15 oz.  19 inches long

Me and my fabulous Dr.  She is wonderful!!

Me and my fabulous husband!  He's a great support to me!

Post bath!

Look at those cheeks!  And that curly goofy hair!  Less hair than James, but more than any of my others.  And his eyes are blue.  I'm going to go on record right now as saying I think they are going to stay blue and be just like Izzy's eyes.

A friend of my made that adorable garland.  I thought it was so cute and fun to decorate up his hospital bed!

And so unique!  I was getting comments on it each nurse shift change.  Little guy was sleepin' in style!

A scant 5 hrs after entering this world, Cody met the rest of the family!  I was exhausted - but so so glad to see everyone!  It just melted my heart how loving the kids were to Cody.  They took to him instantly!  Isabel got over her disappointment at Quatro being a boy almost instantly!

First photo of my 4 adorable children!

This little guy has just captured my heart!  We are all so glad that he is a part of our family!  How blessed am I to have such a wonderful group to love and care for.  I truly feel overwhelmed with happiness.