Our Sweet Benson Has Arrived!

Our sweet baby boy has finally arrived! :)
Benson was due on Saturday, June 5th, but that day came and went and we began the "over due waiting game". Because we knew he was going to be a bigger baby, my doctor and I decided to set a date to get induced on Wednesday the 9th. On Tuesday I was full of different emotions knowing that the next day we would finally be welcoming our new baby. I wasn't feeling real well all day and I was extremely exhausted. Around 6:30, after taking a nap with Eli, I woke up with contractions. They weren't real painful yet, just very uncomfortable. I was excited because I figured the process would just go that much quicker the next morning with me being in the first stages of labor already before being induced. As the night went on the contractions got stronger! I was scheduled to go into the hospital at 7:30, but by the time 5:00 rolled around I knew I wanted to go in earlier. I called the hospital and asked them if we could come in an hour earlier and I let them know I was already in labor. They agreed that would be best; so at 6:30 we arrived. They quickly got me situated and checked. Sure enough I was dilated to a 4! Not much, but better than the 2cm I was dilated to the week before at my doc. appt. By 8:00 the contractions were coming on very strong so I received my epidural and my doctor came in and broke my water. I was then able to relax and get some sleep. Jon and my mom were also there patiently waiting and keeping me company when I was awake. Around 3:00 he finally started to drop and things really progressed after that. I think it was around 3:40 when I really felt like I needed to start pushing, so the nurse checked me, and sure enough it was time. They finished getting everything they needed in preparation for him to arrive and knowing that there was a lot of mechonium (sp?) in the amniotic fluid, they had to be prepared for anything to go wrong with that too. I pushed for just over 15 minutes and he arrived at 4:03 pm weighing 9lbs .08ozs and was 22 inches long! I will never forget looking into Benson's eyes for the first time as he looked right at me when they laid him on me right after delivery. He was so cute and I was instantly in love with him! :) That moment only lasted just that, a moment, and they had to hurry and take him from me to check him. His cry was so precious, but he was having a bit of a hard time breathing correctly. They then took him out of the room to the Special Care part of the nursery where they had to put him under the oxygen tent. Jon was able to follow them and be with him. They were hoping he wouldn't have to be in there for too long, but when his oxygen level stabilized for a while they tried to take him out and it dropped back down. The doctor decided it would be best to keep him in the Nursery over night to have him continuously monitored closely. (continued throughout pics.....)

Daddy's first touch

Daddy holding his little foot

It wasn't until about 8:00 when I finally got to go see him. I had to wait until the epidural had completely worn off. It was so hard just looking at him through the foggy tent, not being able to hold him close and kiss his cheeks. I just stood there touching his leg and feeling his soft skin.

While I was in the Nursery, Jon came back with the kids and they were able to go in there and see their baby brother for the first time. Kambria was so excited and wished so much that she could hold him too. She kept saying how cute he was and that she loved him.

Eli was excited to see him too! He kept saying "baby!" When Daddy took him out he said "bye baby" a few times. :) The nurses thought that was pretty cute and so did we!! :)

At 2:30 am the nurse came and woke me up to let me know that he was out of the oxygen tent, doing well, and that they wanted to know if I would like to go in there to nurse him for the first time. I woke Jon up, and of course had to use the bathroom, and we were in the Nursery at 2:45. I got to hold him for the first time and nurse him and it was WONDERFUL!!! :)

In the morning he was able to be in the room with us! :) Jon got to hold him for the first time then because while I was nursing him earlier in the morning he had to leave to do our paper route. Daddy loved every moment and did not want to give him up!

My mom came in with Eli around lunch time. He was excited to see his baby brother again and be able to touch him and give him a kiss! :)

Grandma K needed a chance to hold him for the first time too! She had been there for the delivery, but also hadn't gotten the chance to hold him yet.

Daddy went and picked up Kambria from school. She had been so anxious to get to the hospital all day! She was so very excited to hold him for the first time! What a sweet big sister!!! :)

Our first family picture taken Thursday night.

Here are my 3 beautiful kids!!!!

Here are pics of all the special visitors!

Grandpa K

Uncle Brandon

Grandma Pooh (Auntie Adie visited the day before, before we were able to hold him. She came over shortly after we got home, I just don't have those pics loaded yet)

Madeleine

Auntie Roo (Rhiannon)

Grandma and Grandpa "Great" Nelson

Grandma Watson

Auntie Rose and Audriana

And here he is! Benson is all ready to go home! Friday, June 11th.

We are in love with this baby boy!!! So far he has been a great sleeper and loves to eat!

I am feeling so good! This recovery has been so much easier than my last two and it has been wonderful!!! :)