Landon's Birth Day

This whole pregnancy I have thought that Dec 18th sounded like a much better due date than Dec 31. :) I was wrong. December 19th we welcomed Landon Slade into our arms and hearts. I was so proud of myself for not getting an epidural last time when I delivered Carter. And this time I am so proud of myself for getting one!

Friday I was getting regular contracts but they were not very strong. I was very annoyed because I wasn't sure if they would add up to anything or not. We went to dinner and than for a walk (at walmart) and I was still having them. Ryan was over the top excited and I was just unsure because I didn't want to go and than get sent home from the hospital. We called Mountain View and they told me to take a warm bath and see how things are going in an hour. I figured my contracts were about 3 minutes apart and each one was about a minute long. But they were not painful so I was still very unsure. I called and they told me to go ahead and come in. We took Carter over to Grandparents and told him he was going to sleep over there (he is such a good boy he was like "yes please" He really likes his great grandparents.)

So around 9 pm we checked in at the hospital and I was 4 cms and 75% (wed i was checked at 3 cms and 50%) so this was good news. They monitored me for 20 mins and than let me walk over and over. Every hour they wanted to track progress for 20 mins. My contracts continued but again mostly not painful she called them "irritations". She checked me at midnight and I was almost 5 cms and than again at 3am I was almost 6cms. So I was not progressing contraction wise but I was progressing. Since I wasn't 39 weeks she was pretty sure they would not put me on pit. But since I was progressing she would talk to my doctor and see what he thought. He agree to start me on pit around 5 am. I told her I wanted my epidural at the same time. (I was starting to remember Carter..)

I was trying to sleep from about 1-5 very unsuccessfully. I think mostly because I was afraid they would send me home. I got the epidural which hurt a little (but the guy who gave it to me was AWESOME very explanatory and kind(Mike)). Overall this delivery was so much better than my last. I wanted a different experience this time because last time seemed to lack- I choose different doctors, different hospital, and different method (i.e. epidural) and this time was so wonderful I can't even explain. It was amazing. Last time the doctor and the nurse and Ryan were all talking at once and I was so confused and than they held C up in the air and than took him to the corner and weighed him and cleaned him off and than gave him to Ryan. This time the nurse told me what to do and the doctor made helpful comments, than the doctor just immediately placed Landon on my stomach and as I held him and cried the nurse cleaned him off and patted him and she asked if she could take him to weight him or if she should wait and I told her to wait. (stats 7:51 am (i was on the phone with Melissa at 7:42 am) 7lbs 2 ounces, 20 inches long) It was so amazing to get that moment with my baby. That moment I didn't get to have with my Carter. I even got to go to the nursery a little later to witness his first real bath. I didn't miss anything with this delivery. And I am so glad.

I immediately notice his long killer fingernails.

Carter was able to come and meet Landon a little while after he was delivered and he just is so grown up. He came in and sat on my lap and than sat with dad and Landon. He made comments about the baby and than when it was time for him to leave with Grandma he just turned and said goodbye to us.

He is adjusting well and is such a happy boy

It was wonderful. So wonderful. I thought my sister was crazy when she told me she cried when Austin was born and now I think I'm crazy that I didn't get to do that with Carter. I hope my next doctor and delivery are as wonderful as this one was. Oh and epidurals.. they rock.

Look at his beautiful hair... reminds me of me.

Overall I really liked Mountain View Hospital. Here are my pros and cons of both Idaho Falls Hospitals.
EIRMC-I had an awesome nurse, lots of help with nursing, good job with IV, wonderful dinner for me and Ryan, cute picture of Carter given to us, wheeled to the car.
Mountain View-Lots of nurse changes (normal 7-7 but then sometimes random too), seemed to give us lots of privacy, not pushy with nursing, dvd player in my room, great bathtub, good storage in bathrooms, lots of help yourself snacks and juices.

See Carter got to enjoy some of my goods.. oreos :)

Overall if I had to pick I would rather my next baby experience to be more like Landon but either way my boys are great and I am so blessed to have them.