Josh and Caleb (three weeks)

They are both a hand full. I don't expect that to change any time soon, but...they are dang cute. Between Josh's laughter and Caleb's burp-smiles, it is all worth it.

Welcome, Caleb!!!!!!!

Surprise! Surprise! Caleb is here. He came 16 days early. We came home from our Dallas Christmas vacation on Friday night (January 2), and the baby came Sun, January 4. Crazy!

In a sense, everything all started that Saturday night.

Freaking out about my contractions, I had Nate take me to the hospital after dropping Joshua off at a friend's place. By the time I got to the hospital, the contractions had died down, and I was beginning to feel stupid for being there. However, because I was 4 cm dilated, the doctor didn't want me to leave the hospital. In fact, he wanted to break my water that night. Because I had no desire break my water (basically forcing the baby to come then and there), the doctor and I compromised. I agreed to stay the night and see if anything changed in the morning.

My aching back, hungry belly, and thinking "why the heck did I trust that silly doctor" left me restless and twiddling my thumbs by 5 am Sunday morning. The doctor said that he'd come between 5 and 6 am. By 7:45, he hadn't shown up. I was ticked. It didn't help that I had to use the restroom, but was afraid I'd miss the doctor (irrational...I know), and Nate was stressed wondering how our insurance was going to handle an over night stay at the hospital (we don't have the best insurance). I felt the only way to end this plight happily was to not to leave the hospital without a baby...which (ironically) at the time seemed unlikely.

The doctor came at 8:15 while I was in the restroom. He came back 15 minute later and said that I was now between 4 and 5 with a bulging cervix.

I was surprise. I hadn't felt any contractions (just the same hunger and back pain I said before), and I confess I doubted anything would come out of his next "silly" request. He had me go for an hour walk.

During my 15th loop in the hallway, the contractions started up again. This time when the contractions started, I had a feeling they weren't going to stop.

A nurse found me and had the doctor check me again. I was 6 cm dilated.

The baby was coming. I called Nate and had to spend several minutes convincing him (as patiently as a 6 cm dilated woman can) that it was no longer a false alarm.

Nate arrived at 10:47. The doctor said I was 7 cm at 11:00. Caleb came at 11:46.

It hurt.

An understatement, but I don't feel like going into detail about the pain. Yeah, I chose not do get an epidural again, and yes, the thought, "And I wanted to do this?" came into my head several times. Yet, I knew it'd all end when the baby came (at least the most painful parts), and I'm glad that I only needed to push once. Thanks, Caleb, for having a small head and weighing only 6 lb 9 oz.

Well, thanks for reading. It's fun to share and hear experiences. Caleb is now two weeks old and doing well. Josh is doing well, too, and is a very loving brother. The pictures aren't the greatest of Caleb, but I'll hopefully get more out.