I've been meaning to update our blog, but as you all know, we're a bit preoccupied now!
HERE'S HOW IT ALL STARTED:
I woke up at about 5 AM on Tuesday 4/26/11 feeling a little cramping but not sure if it was the start of labor or just getting near, as our due date was a week away. Manny was a little nervous and asked if he should stay home from work that day just in case, but I insisted that he go to work and would call him if anything were to happen. So, hesitantly, he did. He kept calling all day to ask how I was doing. The cramping was still just a dull ache on and off, and I just felt really tired, so I decided to take cat naps. I don't know if I was in denial that it was really happening that day or what, but my last day of work was on Friday and all I had was the weekend and Monday to rest, which wasn't very much time for anything!
As the day progressed, the cramping became a little more frequent. Still, not so much pain but a weird ache. Manny got home from work and we had dinner at around 6 PM. Manny was so nervous and kept asking, "So what do we do now?" My response, "We can't do anything but wait!" It was then that we knew for sure this baby was on his way and didn't plan on waiting another week to come out. He was ready now! From then on, the cramping (which really were contractions!) were getting closer together and more frequent. They were still irregular, so we just kept monitoring them. At about 8 PM, I called the hospital to see if I should come in. The nurse said since my contractions were still irregular and this was my first child that I could probably wait a little bit longer and continue monitoring them. By 9 PM the contractions were getting a little more intense and about every 2-5 minutes apart for the next hour, so we decided it was time to head to the hospital for an evaluation.
The nurse brought me back to the exam room while Manny waited outside, and this seemed like an eternity being in the room by myself as my contractions were starting to get stronger. It was really about 15 minutes before they called him in. The nurse told me, "Yup, you're ready. You're already 4 cm dilated." So I was transferred to a birthing room and decided to wait and see how long I could go without any pain medicine. I thought, let's put my Lamaze class to work!
Before Delivery: Calm and collected
I was tolerating the pain until I got to about 6 cm and needed something to ease the edge of it, so the nurse gave me some Nubain, which was a huge mistake! It didn't touch the pain at all, so at about 3 AM, I was 7 cm dilated, and I
NEEDED that epidural STAT! Thank goodness for that epidural! It was the weirdest feeling ever, as my legs just felt like jello and I could still feel a little pressure with the strong contractions, but I was so thankful that the pain was gone. About an hour later, I started getting nauseous from the Nubain and vomited. Oh what joy that was! After I vomited a second time, my water broke, and about an hour later, my OB doctor came in to examine me and said it was getting near. Sure enough, I was looking at the monitor and my contractions were right on top of one another and about 10 minutes later, the doctor was back in the room and I was being prepared to push. Luckily, I only had to push for about 5-10 minutes before the baby came out!
After delivery: A sweaty mess!
I was so exhausted but overwhelmed with joy as I heard him cry for the first time. It was finally over and I was so thankful that everything went well without any complications. In the back of your mind, you always pray, I hope everything turns out well. Our baby was here, and he was healthy. . .That's all that mattered at that moment. There are no words to express the feeling you have when they lay your baby on you. Our little Keaton was here, and we couldn't be happier!
Keaton Alexander Aceves: Born 4/27/11 at 7:50 AM
6 lbs, 12 oz; 19 inches long
Proud Papa!
Our Family =)
Getting discharged from the hospital
On our way home. . . I love his chubby cheeks!
Home at last!
And of course, posing next to his new ride!
