Welcoming Hudson Dale Volle!

This is where I need to back up and tell the whole story of Hudson's labor and delivery.

 We were scheduled to get induced on Wednesday morning but after an ultrasound on Tuesday afternoon that showed he was going to be a big baby we moved the time table up. I had to call Travis at work to let him know they wanted me to spend Tuesday night at the hospital so he came up with me, ever the supportive husband. After some hormones to try to make me dilate all night, I was only at a 2 in the morning at Hudson's head was still very, very high. The good news was I started contractions on my own at 4am so didn't need the pitocin.

After 8 hours of strong contractions and pain, my doctor said I was only a 3 and that Hudson hadn't come down yet so I was in for a long labor. She blessed me with being able to have an epidural and the anesthesiologist was hilarious and wonderful. Putting it in hurt less than a bee sting and make me feel delightful. I respect women that choose to have babies naturally, but I am just not that woman. I was able to enjoy the rest of the night full of contractions. My mom was jealous and kept saying things under her breath about how it wasn't fair that I wasn't in pain when she had to give birth six times with no drugs.  I didn't care, because, I was having super hard contractions and couldn't feel a thing :) What's to complain about? The scary times did come though.

 After the epidural I went on pitocin to speed up the contractions. Hudson started not tolerating the contractions and his heartbeat would drop really low during them and the nurses would rush me to a different position. One of the times it took a few minutes to find his heartbeat again and all I could do was look at Travis and pray that Hudson was ok. They found his heartbeat again and after a round of tears I was ready to call it a day and ask for a c-section. I couldn't handle worrying about him during every contraction and just wanted him out and safe. At 11:30pm my doctor agreed that I hadn't progressed (still a 3, and Hudson was still very high) and a c-section was the best choice for both of us. So here we are in the operating room....

Here is the team of doctors. My doctor is the closest on the right and she called in  two other doctors who are on the left and one of them has some specialty in newborn care, to add to them, a first year med student came up and a few more nurses and the anesthesiologist . I think they were a little worried about my history because that is a lot more than usual. On top of the surgical team (side note: I knew most of them personally, which was very nice) my wonderful husband and also my mom got to be in the room with me. I believe these pictures are courtesy of my mom.

WARNING: there is some blood in this next picture..

Here is the specialized newborn doctor taking my baby away to get checked out. Hudson was in very good hands. I was excited to see that there was a cupboard of glass doors to my left as I was laying there so I got a good view of my surgery without seeing too much. 

Travis got to cut the cord! He was worried he was going to "contaminate" the cord so was a little unsure. 

Hudson and Daddy having their bonding moment. 

He takes up the whole tray! He was 21 inches long. 

This boy has flippers I tell you! His cute little, long feet are as long as Jensley's are now, if not a little longer.  Here he's getting all documented. 

Checks were finished and he received a couple 9's on his APGAR tests. 

After what felt like an eternity, I finally got to see my little man.  Such a sweet moment and yes, I cried. My little love was so adorable even all scrunched up and swollen. 

Another family picture back in our room. 

Proud mama. I got me a keeper. 

This was taken the day of his birth. Such a cutie!!! There was a monkey face on his bum. My favorite part of the outfit. 

And here is the proud daddy. Isn't he dashing?? I love my man and my little guy.

After it was all finished, I was told my pelvis was so small, Hudson was stuck at the top of my pelvis. He wasn't going anywhere so I am very happy we didn't push labor any farther. I feel very grateful for the blessing of a healthy baby boy.  So much has happened this pregnancy and delivery that I am extremely relieved to have him in my arms. Now a whole new set of worries starts!

I am a blessed woman.