Before it gets any later...

I managed to make it through my final week of being pregnant and boy was it a killer!

The week before I was scheduled to be induced I noticed my stomach started itching, every day that passed the itching got worse and spread all over my body....diagnosis, PUPPS.  I had never heard of this but its basically a pregnancy itch/rash.  I was very lucky to only have it at the very end, some people can have it their entire pregnancy.  IT WAS AWFUL.  On top of that I started to swell.

Two days before delivery, and it got even worse.  It was all over my arms, legs, back and stomach. And a little swollen?

I went in to my last doctor appointment very concerned at how large I was, how much I weighed, and the fact that for the past 5 weeks I was measuring a week early.  Let me back up here a bit.  With all of my other pregnancies I had never been as big as I was, I had never weighed that much and I had never measured early.  All my previous babies were pretty good size, 8.7, 8.15, and 8.3 two of those were a little early (5-7 days)  So with this pregnancy we had already planned an induction a week early as to prevent the baby getting too big.  Half way through my pregnancy the doctor decided to change my due date by 5 days, 5 days later....mistake, BIG mistake!  The pregnancy was normal, I didn't have high blood pressure, no gestational diabetes, nothing out of the ordinary at all.  But as it got closer to the end I felt like I was just getting WAY TOO BIG.  The doctor reassured me I was fine and not to worry.

Morning of delivery, March 17, 2012

 I went in to the hospital thinking the baby would come way fast, since every delivery in the past seemed to go faster and faster.  Well, not this time, my body just wasn't cooperating, things were moving slow.  I had the Pitocin and labored mildly for about 5-6 hours.  I really didn't want to get the epidural since they typically don't work on me and I managed to avoid it with the last delivery.  After hours of not making much progress I had the doctor come break my water, knowing that would speed things up.  IT DID!

Waiting for the babe to come.

 After about 3 hours of the most intense labor I had ever had still with no progress I asked for the epidural.  For the first time EVER it worked.  About 3 minutes after getting the epidural the doctor came to check me and informed me I was ready to push, what the what?  I guess from the last time she had checked me to the time I got the epidural my body had made some major progress.  I was still very glad to have the epidural at the end as this was my biggest baby of all.

Jackson Paul Kerns came into the world at 6:43pm on March 17, 2012.  Weighing a whopping 10 pounds 7 ounces and measuring 22 inches long.  HOLY BABY!!!

Look at this chunk!

  My parents were in town and watched the kids while we were at the hospital, but they were able to come visit right after the delivery.  I had to stay in the hospital for 2 nights which I had never done before.  But I guess any babies weighing over 9 pounds have to stay and be monitored for glucose issues.  There were no issues and I was so glad to go home.  You really don't get much rest in a hospital with them coming in checking on you every five minutes.

The kids love him!

  I always buy a newborn/preemie outfit for my kids when they first come home from the hospital.  Its the only thing that fits them just right when they are still so small.  Of course I did the same thing this time around, but with a 10 pounder I wasn't sure it would fit.  But even with a big boy like mine, this newborn outfit, up to 7 lbs., still fit him just fine.

Ready to go home.

 Its been about three and a half weeks and we are all doing well.  We love having Jackson in our family. He is such a great baby, but boy did we forget how sleep deprived we would be.  More to come.