Gavin Michael James


He is here! Born Monday, November 26, 2007 at 3:38pm, 8lbs 3oz and 20 inches long. He came on the first snow of the year. He is beautiful and happy. I will give the short story, which we all know I will add to as soon as I don't feel like I have been hit by a truck or at least maybe when it reduces to feeling like I was hit by a car.

My water broke at 10:20 on my way across the parking lot into the doctors office for a visit. They checked me and sent me to the hospital. I was at 4cm dilated. When we arrived at the hospital it was 11:30. We got checked in settled and then they checked me about 21/2 to 3 hours later I hadn't made much progress but within the hour I was fully dilated and ready to push him out. It went so quickly no one even caught the poor guy, because of hospital politics though there were about 6 people qualified to catch him all standing there gloved and ready but unable to do anything. I didn't need any drugs and later was told by the hospital staff and my midwife (who wasn't authorized to deliver at that hospital but happened to be there and was excited to join us and we were glad to have her) they had never seen a more controlled, focused and peaceful delivery. The resident doctor said she wasn't sure what to do with me she was gloved and didn't want to touch me because she said I was so focused. I was very proud of myself for being able to use the skills I had been practicing for the last few months to ensure that I wouldn't need any drugs and glad to know it was a noticeable difference.

Pictures are available at our web album: http://picasaweb.google.com/emaillaurajames/GavinMichaelJames

Pictures will also be available soon at the hospital website: http://www.our365.com/webnursery/WebNursery/BabyFinder/BabyFinderFamilyResults.aspx
Those haven't posted yet but should soon keep checking back.

Baby Gavin

So if you can't hold him in your arms I guess the next best thing is
to see a picture of him. We had a ultrasound today to determine how he
was holding up in there and everything looks good. So we are still
waiting. Attached are the 4D ultrasound pictures the ultrasound tech
was so kind to give us. She kept commenting on his pudgy little cheeks
and nice full lips. One look at Mike and I and it is obvious he got
his lips from his Mama. She estimates him at 8lbs 1oz, which could be
as much as a lb off plus or minus so it is all still a guess but she
said I am all baby and he will be a good sized kid.

Hope you enjoy these as much as we do!

Oh baby baby!

So for all of your curious folks. We don't have a baby yet. We went into the doctor today and even they were surprised he hadn't made his debut yet. We got hooked up to a fetal monitor today and baby is as happy and healthy as can be in there so no need to worry. My midwife tells me I have progressed more than some women in active labor at the hospital. We are now at a solid 4cm dilated, 80% or more effaced and he is at +1 station(meaning he is about 2 inches or so from crowning, my water bag is bulging below the cervix she was shocked it hadn't broken yet. When I do go into labor she assumes it will go fast. I guess there are worse things and as the midwife reminded me every centimeter I gain now is one I don't have to earn later in labor. So here is hoping that we won't have to wait another week and he comes soon. I am in good spirits overall just can't wait until he is here.

How big will Laura get before this baby comes?

When is a song catchy? When you catch your husband walking through the house singing "HEY HEY YOU YOU I COULD BE YOUR GIRLFRIEND" and then you join in and both have a crazy Avril Lavigne song stuck in your head.

I was giggling loudly and uncontrollably in the car last night to myself as the song came on and I remember hearing my husband sing the song from across the house. It is quite catchy, can you blame the guy? I find myself singing it and detesting the lyrics as I blast in in my car and shout "Hey Hey You You I could be your girlfriend!."

So today marks 9 days to the due date, the one they say we won't make it to, but the little boy just keeps hanging on. I guess that is good. Although I keep making progress so I am horribly uncomfortable. I have a positive attitude for the most part. It is still before his due date or guess date I should say. Every centimeter I gain now is one I won't have to gain later in labor and maybe all these extra squats I am getting in now will help me regain my figure and help in delivery. I hate waiting but I suppose I am for the foreseeable future and beyond on babies schedule not my own. So for now I will just blast Avril Lavigne in my kitchen and try to load the dishwasher.

When the water breaks...

A few days ago I had read that when you think labor is nearing line your bed with water proof padding to prevent ruining your mattress if your water breaks while you are in bed. I being the well prepared person that I am quickly break open a new bag of my babies waterproof liners and quickly insert them under my mattress pad thinking I have just done quite an ingenious thing that I will surely thank myself for later. The first night I fell asleep with my beautiful waterproof plan and awoke in the middle of the night covered in sweat just from the area I had "waterproofed." Apparently, waterproof padding doesn't breath well. I sucked it up and continued to claim that I would be glad I had suffered for the cause if my water broke while in bed.

This afternoon I was passing through my bedroom and began to feel a contraction coming on. These have been very inconsistent and I am beginning to wonder will my baby ever come. I remind myself that he can't stay in there forever and whether it is today, tomorrow or two weeks from now he is coming. I lean back and feel something wet. I think to myself it can't be that my water broke, I would surely have felt that. Soon my had finds something hard and I pick it up and find the water bottle I had half haphazardly thrown on my bed as I scurried out the door this morning to reach my chiropractor appointment on time. However, the water bottle I threw on the bed had the lid securely fastened, at least that is how I remember it. I stand up and find that had that really been my water breaking my waterproof plan would have failed me because my mattress through all my bedding and waterproof padding was soaked. I guess it is back to the drawing board for me. Now I am back to square one where I fervently pray that my water will break in the hospital so that the experts can deal with the impending mess.

Here's to hoping my water will break in a convenient location, of it's own accord.

Tests and Baby breaking news

Mike finished his test yesterday and is feeling really good about it. He won't find out for another 12 weeks if he passed or not but it is good to have the test over and done and not hanging over our heads. He is a whole different person and I am glad to have him back. We went to dinner last night to celebrate it was wonderful to just sit and not have anything to worry about.

At our doctors appointment on Thursday the doctor announced that we probably won't make it to our due date. Baby is on the move and my body is responding to him in turn. The dance has begun. She thought that it could be anywhere from a day to two weeks. She made sure to emphasize that we get our bags packed. So today our home was filled with excitement and the buzz of last minute preparations. We are very excited and ready to welcome our little man into this great big world.

Updates will come when we are able to.

Baby Belly Time Line...

Well with only three more weeks to go I thought now would be a good time to see how Baby Gavin has grown, as well as his mommy.

At my last appointment I was beginning to dilate and was 1/3 effaced so we are starting to make some progress. It could still be weeks but I like to think that it could happen at anytime. Please keep Mike in your prayers his big test for his Professional Engineering license is on Friday. Everyone he knows that has taken the test failed it the first time. We are hoping that he won't be one of those people. He has worked very hard. So at the very least baby has to wait until Friday after 5:00pm to come. My Mom is in Maui visiting family so she would like him to wait until after Tuesday. I am trying to remember that he still has 3 weeks. Which is hard to do when he is considered full term and could safely come any time. I will keep you all posted on how these next weeks play out.