Baby O is here!

and is a 

BOY!!!!

Yes, we have another little boy in our house.

Dexter Mason Oxford made quite the entry into this world November 16 at 11:28am weighing 8 lbs 7 oz and 21.25" long.  

I have always had this idea of just how I wanted my labor to go.  I am not sure why it is something I put so much value on or that I have such a specific idea of how I want it to go.  Ever since I had Karly though I have had this vision of what my labor and birth experience would be.  Karly's was FAR from it,  Sawyer's was closer and Dexter's was as close as I will ever get since he is our last (according to Chris).  I will say there is very little I would have done differently.  I truly got most of what I had envisioned.  I always wanted to go into labor on my own preferably in the early morning hours when the house is still quiet.  I imagined myself puttering around the house, baking something tasty to keep my mind busy and to bring to the nursing staff breathing through contractions as needed.  Waiting at home as long as possible, getting to the hospital and delivering just a few hours later.  I knew I wanted to pull this baby out myself and immediately be the first to hold him and see what sex he was.  Well, it went just like that...ok, sort of...

Here is my story!

Around 2am I was pretty aware I was having contractions, but I had been having similar ones for weeks.  I was dozing off in between them, but very aware when they would start.  Around 3am I was realizing this was probably the real deal and decided to get out of bed.  I was tossing and turning trying to get comfortable so I moved to the couch and turned on the news and started timing them.  (FYI there is an app for that ;)  Contraction Master...pretty handy little app I tell ya').  Chris woke up at 4:30a to get ready for work.  He was very torn on whether he should even go in.  Knowing I could stay at this point for HOURS he decided to try to go in for a few hours.  I was having contractions about 5 minutes apart lasting about 45 seconds long.  I was fairly uncomfortable but nothing miserable at this point.  The kids were both asleep so it was just me.  I had always wanted to have a few quiet hours alone to just focus and rest.  Chris left for work and I immediately worried he should have stayed home.  He called me at 6am to tell me that they were trying to find a replacement for him and that he would leave at 7 whether someone came in or not.  I said ok and hung up.  I called him back 10 minutes later and said I thought he should head home.  My contractions were about 4 minutes apart lasting 45 seconds to over a minute.  I was really getting uncomfortable at this point.  Karly got up for school but ended up staying home, I called our cousin Tammy to watch the kids until my mom could get here.  I hopped in the shower thinking it would make me a little more comfortable...not really helpful for me.  I attempted to get ready but barely got my hair dry.  Chris was home at this point packing up last minute stuff and I finished packing.  We hopped in the truck and headed for the hospital.  It felt like I had contractions the ENTIRE way there!  I seriously was so miserable sitting in the truck, I wanted to flip around in my chair so badly. We finally got to the hospital and into a room at 8:30a.  I was 5cm dilated and contracting about every 3 minutes for around a minute.  Things went very quickly from this point forward.  My photographer got there right behind us, my mom at some point an hour or so later.  I broke down (again) and wanted an epidural.  I could not sit still when they were trying to place it and they couldn't get it in right.  My right foot was completely numb and that is it!  Another epidural that didn't work.  I was at 8cm at this point.  I was really upset and very overwhelmed.  Next time they checked me I was a 10 and since the epidural hadn't taken and I was a 10 there wasn't much point in attempting another one.  We decided to just get to pushing. Pushing went VERY fast...thank goodness!!!!  I would guess less than 15 minutes but honestly I couldn't even tell you.  I rarely noticed the clock.  Almost 3 hours to the minute after walking into the hospital I was holding my baby.  As soon as I could see him I pulled him out of me and onto myself.  

Intense doesn't even begin to describe how this experience felt.  It felt much faster than 3 hours, I think I opened my eyes maybe 5 times in 3 hours until it was time to push.  I seriously chewed a piece of gum with my eyes closed attempting to pull my belly up begging my brain to slow down and attempt to gain some composure.  It was the only thing that provided ANY sort of relief and it was minimal.  I wish I could tell you that I stayed calm and rationale but I was the screaming lady with no control.  Unfortunately I did tear badly again, but not as bad with Sawyer.  Dexter's head was over an inch smaller than Sawyer's but they weighed the exact same weight!  We only had a few visitors and just relaxed for the rest of the day.  Chris came home to be with the kids that night and they let me us go home around noon the next day.  One problem, the baby still had no name!  They literally came to our room and told us the birth certificate lady was leaving within the hour and wouldn't be back until 3 so if we wanted to leave we had to pick a name or we would have to wait for her to get back.  Soooo Chris and I each gave a little on what we wanted for a name choice.  

My recovery has been 100% better this time than last.  6 weeks after having Sawyer I was still fairly uncomfortable.  I am amazed at how much better I have done this time around.  I am beyond thankful for it.  I was very concerned about having a newborn and chasing a toddler if I could hardly sit or get to standing without being in serious pain.  

I sit here typing this with an almost 2 week old Dex sleeping on my chest.  He is absolutely perfect in every way.  I can't even imagine our family without him.  Tell me he isn't perfect!