Introducing......

Miss Sophia Isabelle Papen

Born 12/10/2009 at 10:19pm

8 lbs 7oz

19.75 inches

What happened?

So on Thursday, December 10th 2009, Rob and I checked into the hospital to induce labor. We got there are 6:30am, on the Pitocin drip by 8:30 and pain-free by 10am. We were well on our way to seeing our little one. I had hoped to start labor naturally, I wanted to give Rob that look and say "I think it's time...!", madly rushing to the hospital, forgetting our bag at the front door....but it wasn't meant to be. Instead we brought music and movies, and at the last minute I instisted on my exercise ball to use during labor. It never left the car...I was strapped down to the bed, tubes and wires all over me unable to move- everything I read not to do....I almost felt robbed of the "labor experience"- I won't feel any labor pains....am I missing out on something? Some rite of passage for motherhood? Well, those thoughts didn't last for long, once the epidural stopped working on my left side and back labor kicked in! If labor is anything close to what that was like, I experienced enough, thank you very much!

We took this course for the whole day and my labor didn't really progress, so around 10pm it was decided to do a c-section. We struggled with this decision, since we felt that maybe we didn't give it enough time. And c-sections seem to be the norm instead of for emergencies only. I was feeling fine and the baby was not in distress. But, the doctor had his story on and was pressing to make it happen. So in the end, the idea that we could see our little one so soon won us over.

They wheeled me into the OR, Rob joined me dressed in his scrubs. I can't describe how excited we both felt at that moment- I think we told each other we loved each other a million times in one minute. This was it! This is what we have been waiting for our whole adult lives- a family.

Where were we?

Needless to say, when the baby arrived, our lives were put on hold and everything we do centers around the baby. I never thought my time would be eaten up by a newborn and merely getting a shower or a meal before the day is over is a huge accomplishment. So, the blog didn't get updated- for 2 months. Here, we were hoping to use this as a way of communicating to everyone, and we barely could get emails out with pictures- let alone update this. Then there is Facebook- guess we are finding there are too many ways to communicate to people. Welcome to modern technology.... So I will attempt to update this with the last 2 months of info and pictures: hopefully I won't leave out any important details.

Who's the boss?

So, if the baby can't decide when to get here- then we will decide. And the deadline is Thursday morning.

Rob even took me 4 wheeling today on the military reservation where we crossed an icy stream - nothing is working to get this baby out!

So, tomorrow is our last day to get everything ready and Thursday morning we become a family.
We are ready.

D-Day is here....

And so far, baby is still comfy inside and no indications of arriving anytime soon. I walked the Victorian Christmas Show on Friday and got all sorts of looks and ohhs and ahhs....A psychic told us baby would be here yesterday at 6pm....I had 3 days of mexican food to spice the baby out....

Nothing.

I have Christmas decorations up. Presents wrapped. Everything is ready.
COME ON! We want to see you!

40 weeks and still counting

"See ya next week!" Those were the last words from the doctor last night as he walked out the door of the examining room.

That's it? That's all we get? See ya next week? Evidently the baby has a nice cozy home and doesn't want to leave. My BP is good, proteins are good, weight and diabetes are good....baby is not too big.....sigh.

I would think that getting up at 4 am on Black Friday would kick start the process- something- ANYTHING!

So now I walk. And I think Thai food is on the menu today....