He is FINALLY here!!!

So, I know that Steve posted on here, and now here are the promised details. If there are too many details, uh..then just scroll to the pictures. :)

All day Sunday, as I said in my last post, I had been having harder contractions. But once again, they weren't regular until about 3am Monday morning when they got to be about 5 minutes apart. I worked through as many as I could, trying to relax and get as much sleep as I could possibly get (I hadn't slept Saturday or Sunday night, and I knew that going into labor already tired was going to be a nightmare, whether I was induced or not), but by 5:00, I was kind of starting to panic. I woke Steve up and told him we needed to go to the hospital NOW...I was NOT feeling good.

We got to the hospital, and because I was already scheduled to be induced at 6:00, they had a room ready and waiting for me, and my midwife was already there to deliver another baby, so they got me checked by 5:30, and I was at a 7. YAY!!! Had I still only been a 3, I might have just given up then and there.

We labored (Steve was WONDERFUL and really helped me try to relax as much as possible through my contractions) until about 11:30 that morning, and that was when I started really doubting whether or not I could go through this...they checked me again, and I was at a really loose 9 (and wanting to push), so they asked me if I would like for them to break my water for me--they knew that that would pretty much get the baby out.

They broke my water (it took the midwife a long time, actually--it was a sturdy amniotic sac, I suppose), and right after that was when I started to push. I pushed for an hour, but my contractions were still only about 5 minutes apart, which was hard because it ended up taking longer, but I was able to rest at least a little bit in between contractions, so they were more effective.

When he crowned, I was exhausted, and Steve leaned over to me and said, "He has blonde hair!" That was exciting enough for me to push for the next contraction, and a few pushes later, his head was out...and one push later, I had a little baby, at 1:08 pm!!

They put him on my tummy, and the first thing I thought was "He is BIG!!" We knew right then what his name was going to be--Jack Gordon Busch, weighing in at 9 lbs. 14.8 oz. (I was right--he WAS big), 22 inches long.

We had had my mom, Steve's mom and dad, and NaElle in there for most of the labor--we asked them to leave when it got really intense, and then they all got to come back in once he was out and meet him...it was so fun to see all of their reactions, and to see so many people who love our baby nearly as much as we do.

He's beautiful, and he actually came out looking really good--not bruised or swollen or anything! Of course, I may be biased, but once you see the pictures, I think you'll agree. He's gorgeous. :)

Right after they gave him back to me after cleaning him

So relieved I'm done!

Proud papa

Rocking him to sleep...he was SO mellow--he hardly cried at all that first day (although he's making up enough for it now, I suppose) :)

First day home!! I was anemic, so we ended up staying for a couple of days in the hospital and got home Wednesday afternoon.

In the hospital, moments after birth. Isn't he beautiful?

This is him tonight, sleeping...He doesn't even look like a newborn to me!! I honestly think he looks like he could be a few weeks old already. He is even trying to hold his head up!!

So, that's our birth story!!! Welcome to the world, Jack!!!