Introducing Micah Joseph - His Birth Story

I though it made sense to do this post on Thanksgiving..

considering it's what I'm most thankful for.. my happy healthy family!

We are so excited to introduce

a beautiful healthy baby boy to everyone!

Thank you for all the well wishes and congratulations via Instagram, Facebook and Twitter!

His birth was seriously the most intense thing I have ever done in my life...

and I am soooo thankful that he is here!

For those of you wanting to hear all the details..

here's Micah's birth story:

I had my last doctor's appointment on friday... the doctor told me that I was 4 cm. 80 % effaced. and my water bag was buling. She predicted that I would break my water over the weekend. I was excited..but tried not to think about it too much since my babies are known to be stubborn and make late arrivals even when all signs say labor is coming.

So Saturday morning I cleaned the entire house like a crazy nesting pregnant lady.. working through contractions..finished up printables..and in my mind I was like ok...we could have a baby now. As if this baby cared at all about my to-do list. ;) We went to our friend's house for dinner that night.. 10 minutes after we got home I felt like my water might have broken..but it wasn't much. So I tested it. Ben and I each layed down in the girls beds to get them to sleep..looking at each other like oh my gosh...could this be the real deal?? They finally crashed and I stood up........GUSH! I ran to the bathroom.. and started cheering. haha. And then I cheered some more every time another gush came. My water officially had broken! There was no denying it...no false alarms.. I tried to change my clothes and just made a mess. I had never experienced it like this before!! Our friends who were gonna be on big sister duty were on their way over. Pretty soon our Pastor who lives near us came over..and said a prayer with ben and I for a safe delivery and healthy baby. Contractions were coming stronger and stronger and more frequent. We were putting together the last couple things for the hospital trip...my hospital bag was already in the car..I was cleaning up the family room, kitchen and play room (where my mom was going to be sleeping)... ben telling me to stop the whole time haha. and suddenly more gushes came! non stop! I was standing there half freaking out half laughing (in front of my pastor this whole time...) "It's gushing! It's gushing! What do i do!?" I had no clue how to get to the hospital in this situation. (with sophie it was a trickle then it stopped) My friend told me grab a towel! So that's what we did. We arrived at the hospital with our baby gear..and me dressed but with a towel under me. haha.

They checked me in the triage and at about 10:30 I was still 4 cm with 80-90% effaced. The contractions were getting very painful. (the above photo was before the BAD ones started) I was relieved when they said I was still 4cm because I thought for sure I had time for an epidural. they sent me back to a room for delivery..and ordered the epidural. The contractions were BAD.. insane. my text messages to my family turned into "Owoowowowow" text messages..and then ended all together. I felt like that crazy person on a baby story that was wailing. I had never felt contractions this bad with the girls. FINALLY the epidural came.. I had a 3 minute long contraction that almost made me throw up all over ben.. Lots of "I can't do this I can't do this!!!..and Honey it hurtssssss!!" was being shouted. (as the nurses joked later It was the most controled intensity they had ever seen. haha) As he was giving me the epidural I had 3 more intense ones..the final one happening as he was taking the tape off my back.. I said "I need to lay on my side! I feel pressure!" I seriously felt like I was sitting on the baby while he was giving me the epidural. I rolled over...screamed...Begged the 'epidural guy' to tell me it was going to kick in soon...he totally lied to my face and said yes any minute. The nurse looked down at me...then at ben..and said oohh I think it's going to be someone's birthday right now! I see her get on her phone and say a bunch of code words..The nurses are grabbing my knees and telling me I can bear down and push! The doctor finally arrives for the first time and I push 3 or 4 times... all the while ben looking petrified(I've never seen such a sad scared face. he didn't enjoy seeing me hurting) but he kept cheering me on "you are doing amazing..you're amaing!!"... I can't even describe the pain..It was INTENSE. but finally after those 3 or 4 pushes (thank goodness only 3 or 4!!) Micah was born!! Ben yelled "It's a boy!!!" and he started crying! I started crying!! He tried to make out with me. haha. And then I just kept saying over and over out of breath.."we did it...we did it!!" Then I was like.."we made a boy!"......"We don't have any boy clothes." ;) I had totally forgotten about the boy or girl thing. I was in shock..and when they placed him on my chest I just couldn't even believe it..he was here! and ..he was a boy!!

The doctor came back later to repair me since I could feel everything at the time.

The epidural finally kicked in ten or so minutes after I was holding our Micah.....

So.......

Within an hour...I dilated from 4 - 10 cm

and the baby was coming out on it's own.

INTENSE.

So thankful for a healthy baby boy.. still in awe of him.

Feeling incredibly blessed.

And no we are not done since we had our boy.

having him only makes us want a gajillion more like him!

eventually. ;)

He is SUCH A GOOD BABY!

Ben and I keep joking

(being perfect 3rd children ourselves)

that that is why he is so good. ;)

He is so sweet and snuggly.

So far He only cries when you change his clothes or diaper.

He doesn't like being bare..he likes being snuggled up and cozy.

He's a good nurser.. and an even better sleeper.

We are enjoying this newborn stage, because we know it might not last ;)

The next morning, Sophie and Sienna

stopped by to meet their little brother!

It was incredible. One of the best parts was seeing them fall in love with him.

Their big sister shirts I had ordered off of OldNavy.com

I was wearing my Pretty Designer Hospital Gown by Dear Johnnies.

Sophie was IN LOVE. She just wanted to hold him constantly.

Sienna loved him too..but in a more aggressively

lovey 'I want to poke your eyes out' sort of way.

Their sweet little brother brought them presents!

Sienna wore her fuzzy high heels around the hospital room.

Going Home.

Ben and I enjoyed our time at the hospital..

We gave our nurses and the hospital staff our little thank you goodie bags.

they loved it. I might have gotten into the candy tooo..

We were excited to bring him home!

So far we are all doing really well. I'm a tad sore.

and I forgot how tired nursing makes you. and hungry.

The girls are doing well. Sophie definitely had a hard time the first couple days...

She thinks she is the mom. She was getting upset with me... "I'm upset with you mom!"...

when I would take him to nurse or change his diaper. Or telling us "I got this I got this!"

Hoping that that drama-rama dies down a bit.

I'm so glad we are all home and together. Enjoying the newborn baby snuggles.

He is a good sleeper over all.. sienna is the one who has

been waking up in the night and ONLY wanting me.

Working through those kinks. It's only been a few days..

so giving us time to get settled.

Hope you all have a

wonderful Thanksgiving!

I might have accidently got a chicken instead of a turkey..

but it's still going to be delicious!! ;) (pregnancy brain)