Erik came into this world on his own time. He didn't think the 22nd was a good day, like I did. I went in at 9 am, as scheduled, and was hooked up to pitocin (as well as penicillin since I was positive for Group B Strep) around 10. The good thing about this labor, even though I was in the hospital way too long before actually giving birth, was that the pitocin didn't really cause any painful contractions for the 12 plus hours I was on it. For some reason, it just didn't work its wonders this time. I had some consistent contractions toward the end that started to be uncomfortable, but nothing too bad. The doctor couldn't break my water, which is what I usually need to get things moving, because Erik's head was not engaged in the birth canal. I decided by 10 pm, that when they checked me the next time (which was close to 11) if they couldn't break my water, then I would just go home. Well, lucky us, his head was finally engaged and they could break it. I was at a 3.
The worst part about this labor was that I wasn't able to eat more than broth and jello all day, so by 11 when things started going, I was weak and exhausted. As usual for my labors, I got nauseous soon after the contractions started getting harder. During Austin's birth the Zofran helped and I could concentrate on getting through the contractions, but not this time! The Zofran didn't work very well, so I got to deal with all the vomiting as well. After a couple hours I started shaking like crazy, which I don't usually do until after the baby is born. It made for another interesting detail in the whole L&D. Looking back, the actual active labor part was only about 5 hours, which technically would be my shortest labor, but it was definitely the hardest! Things felt like they were moving slow in this process and I almost couldn't do it without the epidural, but I knew I was getting somewhere and that if I got the epidural, it would only make it longer. Eventually, I got to push, which was also the hardest ever. I had a "lip" at a 9, so the doctors had to push that aside for a couple of pushes. At this time I was on oxygen because the baby's heart rate was going down. I only had to push 5 or 6 times, which is more than I usually do, but still not very much, though it felt like the hardest thing in the world! I was so tired and I wasn't sitting up enough. Then they freaked me out by saying I had to push him out now or they would have to get the vacuum because he wasn't coming fast enough. That must have done it for me. I used every last bit of strength I had to push that 8 pound 4 oz. baby out who was 22 inches long! No wonder he was so hard to get out! I honestly don't know where he went in my belly. He didn't seem much bigger than Austin and he moved around so much like he had all the space in the world! We are so grateful to have him here and part of our family. It made for a very special Thanksgiving.
He doesn't look like Austin at all. He looks the most like Victoria when she was a baby.
I love this turkey bum!
He was my favorite stocking stuffer.
On Christmas Eve, Jason made the traditional Puerto Rican dinner of arroz con gandules, pasteles, pork, and even pina coladas. He prepped the pasteles (similar to tamales, but with plantains as a base instead of corn) the weekend before. So he didn't have to spend hours on Christmas Eve cooking. We relaxed and played, the girls and Jason sang carols at a nursing home with friends of ours, and we did the Nativity via skype with Grandma Pat and Grandpa Jim, who are serving their mission in Switzerland. (We were so consumed with talking to Grandma and Grandpa that we forgot to take pictures, but Erik made a good baby Jesus.)
After reading a few stories by the fire with the kids' new pjs on, it was off to bed.
Almost everything had already been wrapped, so there wasn't much rushing around after the kids were in bed.
Victoria's and Karissa's favorite gifts were their American Girl dolls. They haven't parted with them since opening them, even for church yesterday.
Austin got Lightning McQueen from Santa, though he was a little grumpy and getting over a cold, so nothing about Christmas really thrilled him.
He did let me take his picture with his baby brother in their Sunday best, though. My boys!
With previously made and frozen cinnamon rolls for breakfast and previously made dinner rolls, a ham, mashed potatoes, and veggies, it was a fairly simple dinner. I was tired from being woken up early, but I still got pictures of Erik in all his Christmas outfits.
Merry Christmas!
Erik is doing better now and it finally showed last night. It's a good thing he's gaining weight well, I think it helped him fight that cold! Here is before his first real bath.
And look at these cuties!
Austin says he doesn't want to share his trains with Erik, that's probably true.
Some more cheese...
Erik is in the middle of a sneeze here.
What an angel!
Victoria wants to hold him every second she can. Who can blame her?
Karissa wanted to share her bears with him.
We were so lucky to have Gramms and Abuelo here to help with the kids. Abuelo had to go back already, but we're glad he was here and are grateful for all the work he did. Gramms gets to stay another week, which will save me. She has done a ton so far. Thanks Gramms!
Unfortunately, my batteries ran out, so we missed the cute outfit and didn't get to take a picture of the group. Thanks to Cindy, Cathy, Cathy, Dianna, Leah, and of course Rachel and Teresa for the good time! Others who didn't make it, but contributed, thank you too!
green
brown
This is me at 37 1/2 weeks along.
Even though I was thinking ahead to the baby and the holidays immediately following his birth, Halloween still happened here. I let Jason carve the pumpkin with the kids this year.
Karissa really wanted to be a unicorn this year, luckily I found a costume for her at the thrift store.
She enjoyed her Halloween fiesta and learned how to say, "Dulces, por favor!"
Victoria wanted to be a skeleton. I found this shirt at the thrift store, the pants as well, but I had to paint on the rest of the bones from the pelvic down. It turned out pretty good. This was at the church party.
For the trunk-or-treat at the church party, Austin was in awe at all the kids in their costumes and getting handed candy at every car.
Here's at Victoria's school parade.
right before trick-or-treating with Bethany- Austin finally let me put whiskers and a nose on him!
He was a trooper. He walked the whole way, even though Jason said he was acting tired. He wanted to earn his candy! He couldn't even look at me long enough to take his picture when he got back. He just had to have that sucker. Happy Halloween!
