Welcome Little Tyler!!

So Thursday was baby day! We headed to the hospital Wednesday at midnight (thankfully, Mom got here around 8pm!) anticipating a long night. I was supposed to get some medicine to help me dilate, but I ended up not needing it because when we got there I was already a 3. (yippee!!) So I got to rest for a little while and then the doctor broke my water, gave me some pitocin and I got my epidural. I love drugs during labor!!

Lee was hard at work all through the labor part. He was desperately trying to finish another round of edits on his dissertation. He finished literally, RIGHT before I delivered.

When they broke my water, it was a little green, which meant that little Tyler already had his first bowl movement. It's not a big deal, but it's a sign that they are ready to be born. That was nice, because at one point I was a bit concerned about the original "being induced" plan.

My epidural didn't really take on the right side, just like with Will, and I just decided to be a baby and mention it. The anesthesiologist gave me an extra shot and that took care of everything.  At around 11am, I was only a 4. I was a little frustrated- only a FOUR! But my nurse was so encouraging and kept saying the baby would be born around lunch time (I wasn't so optimistic).

My nurse was really hysterical, I LOVED her. Delivery nurses make all the difference! She had me laughing all the time. I had said something about waiting to get an epidural and she was like, "Why? Look, you are here to have a baby, you aren't leaving without one, you might as well do it comfortably. You don't win an award for feeling pain." Hahaha, she was so funny! But what I also loved about her was although she was pro-epidural, she was also very knowledgeable and researched (she has been doing this for 30 years!). She had me sit straight up for about an hour to bring his head down. Then had be rotate from side to side to bring his head into the right engaged position. She knew what she was talking about because at noon, she said I was ready to deliver. (yes, only an hour after I thought there was no way this baby was coming at lunchtime!)

The doctor came in, and 6 mins later, Tyler was born. YES- I only pushed for SIX minutes! (for Amy it was close to an hour and Will it was 8 mins) It was great!! Later I mentioned that to her and she said that pushing for a long time was just ridiculous and makes mommy more sore. And that if you just let gravity do its work, there's no need for all of that. She also didn't rush Tyler to the heat bed, she put him on my chest and let him stay there for over an hour!

so purple and messy!

She said that unless there's an emergency, the heat bed is just silly and the skin to skin contact with mommy is the best for everyone. She also said she's the only nurse that doesn't use the heat bed- I was so glad she was MY nurse!! I loved that she was so pro "natural" type birthing methods. So that's why we didn't know how big Tyler was for the longest time. (But we could tell he was much smaller than the others).

After a good hour, and a first nursing, Lee got to carry him to the baby room and watch him get weighed and measured. He weighed 7 lbs 9 oz and was 20 3/4 inches long. (Amy weighed 7'14 and Will was 8'12, so Tyler was by far the smallest!)

A little while after that, they were ready to move me to my room and we got to stop by the nursery and see little Tyler. He was so cute laying there! After that, they brought him to me and for the most part, there he stayed. I love keeping the baby in the room with me! I know they'll take them, if you want, but I always feel bad even thinking of it. You just had that precious little one, why send it away as soon as it's born?!

I did have to stay for 2 days, but it was ok. HGTV got me through. haha. And this hospital was cool with it's meals. There's a room service menu and you just order from it anytime you want. No "regular" meal that just comes to everyone. And I thought the food was good too. (Hey, anything is good if you don't have to cook it! )

Mom brought the kids every day. I have to give Mom some credit for watching these 2 wild ones. I think she's exhausted!! She took them to the park last night and thankfully it did get them very tired!!

These are pictures from the first time they visited. They we SO excited to see their little brother!

getting in some Daddy play time!

Little Tyler is a great nurser. And my milk came in today- which was great! Only took a day and half! So now he gets super full and is just nice and content. I also got to come home today and that was nice. Even though Mom brought Amy and Will to the hospital each day, I had really missed their little faces. They LOVE their little brother- maybe too much?? haha. We definitely have to watch Will! He wants to squeeze him really hard!

Little bit of hair

Lee made this comparison of the boys because we think Tyler looks a lot like Will did.
Actually, I think Will was a few days/weeks old here.

Dad just got here, and will be here until Monday. Mom will be here until Thursday and then Karen comes on Saturday. So much loving family is so wonderful!!!!

So I am home, Tyler is home, we are all snuggly and happy. Thanks everyone for your comments, love and support!! We certainly LOVE our new little guy!