For those who do not wish to know "all the details" this post is not for you. ;-)
I've been incredibly blessed to have good pregnancies and good labor/deliveries with only minor bumps along the way and Teagan was no exception.
My due date was December 27th and we decided we liked the idea of getting through Christmas before having the baby--not that you always get to decide, but we weren't going to "make" him come early. We figured we would try to set up an induction for on my due date. So I wasn't worried as the time got closer that nothing was happening and I wasn't progressing. On December 20th I went in for an appointment and the Dr. said I was still very thick and only dilated to about a 1. He then said he heard a skip in the baby's heart rate and wanted to do a non-stress test and check my fluid level. Non-stress test came back great--no sign of a skip--but my fluid level was on the low side of normal. The dr. didn't seem too concerned, so I wasn't, but then he said that the hospital was booked and it looked like I wouldn't be able to get in for an induction until at least the end of next week (Dec. 30th). That was a big let down. We scheduled an appointment for next the next Tues (Dec. 28th) and he said the only other way I would get in sooner was if my fluid level dropped more.
The rest of the day I was bummed not to have my plans work out, worried about the baby's health, anxious about how to get Mom out here; all those crazy emotions that jump to the surface so easily during pregnancy.
On Tuesday I went in and did another non-stress test and fluid check. The test showed a drop in the baby's heart beat and my fluid had dropped again. Since I was now officially past my due date and had those two issues the dr. said we needed to get in to have this boy. Since my body was still not cooperating they decided to have me come in that night to start cervidel (sp?), which is medicine inserted in the cervix to soften it and get it ready for pitosin in the morning. So I came home and got things set up to head back into the hospital that evening.
We went to the hospital at about 4:30pm and they got me set up. As soon as they put the moniter on the baby we could hear his heart skipping and being irregular. They told us it wasn't something to worry about at this point, but they would be monitering me carefully. They put the cervidel in at 6pm. It was to stay in for 12 hours. They said it typically just gives cramps, but occasionally will start someone into full labor.
Things started out well and Wayne decided to head home about 8:30pm and get rest in his own bed. The hospital bed for me was very uncomfortable and because of Teagan's heartrate the nurse was constantly in adjusting the moniter so that they were getting good readings. Pretty minor annoyances, but I definitely wasn't getting a lot of rest. At around 3:30AM I started having contractions. They started out erractic going from every 10-20 min. apart, then started getting closer and stronger. From about 4:30-5:50AM I was having hard contractions about 13 min. apart. Just before 6AM the nurse came in and decided to take the cervidel out and check me. She said I was a good 4 and very thin. She said I could have the epidural if I was ready and the anesthesiologist was right outside in the hallway. Woohoo! I was ready.
By 6:30AM I had the epidural in and was enjoying my body going numb and not feeling the pain of the contractions anymore. I called Wayne and told him not to doddle getting back in because I was going to be started on the pitosin.
At about 7:30AM, they started the pitosin. Still no Wayne. At around 8:15 I felt some pressure and told the nurse I thought the baby had dropped. She checked and said sure enough I was a good 5 and my water sack was bulging and baby's head was very engaged. She called for the dr. to come break my water. Still no Wayne.
Wayne came just before the dr. at 8:30AM. Dr. broke my water and said I was a 6-7, then quickly said I was an 8 when I had a contraction. At 9AM I said I was feeling more pressure, the nurse checked and said, "you're ready to go". The dr. came in and I pushed three quick times during one contraction and out Teagan slid. No cutting, no tearing. I went from a 5 to birth in about 45 min.! Fastest one yet!
Since Teagan's heart rate had been irregular the NICU nurses were in the room and quickly took him to check him out. They said normally kids will regulate quite quickly after they are born, but unfortunately Teagan did not. They let me hold him for about 5 mintues then took him out the door to the NICU. Wayne went with them.
It was a very odd, surreal experience to have everything go so quickly, then be left alone with no baby or husband. I wasn't sure if I should be happy he was here, or nervous for his health or tired or scared or what. My emotions were a jumble.
They did an EKG and checked him all out. Everything came back normal and they finally said they would just watch him for a couple days in the hospital and hope everything normalizes. They brought him back in and I was able to feed him and cuddle and feel all the great emotions of having just had a baby.
Over the past couple days his heart rate improved from skipping to just a small murmur to completely normal. The pediatrician said he thinks it has completely resolved and though they will keep a watch at normal visits, he doesn't think it will be a continuing issue. YEAH!!
I feel very blessed that everything went so well and smoothly and that Teagan's little issues have been resolved. I'm so grateful he's here and healthy.
Just after he was born
Getting ready to go home
He's so cute!
(Man, we're getting big!)
Then decorated it that Monday night for Family Home Evening. 
And it didn't seem to hurt the decorating or fun.
He was a soldier beetle. 
It was very cute with fun songs and a cute story.
They went and sang songs and told Christmas jokes at a set of apartments for the elderly. The people loved them coming and the boys did a great job.
Have a very Merry Christmas everyone!
and the computer. 
and playing on his computer
And I spent a lot of time in this place 
(notice how the flour is concentrated on the protruding belly) doing a lot of this
Thankfully I made it through with little swelling and was still able to enjoy my creations. Wayne did come help me in the kitchen once I got into the heavy cooking--that part I really enjoy about staying home. 
Wayne and I aren't big turkey fans so we have made it our family tradition to have fried chicken on Thanksgiving. We feasted on leftovers for the next three days. (1 long day of cooking for three days off--sounds like a good trade to me.) 
