We have been without internet for two weeks now so sorry it's taken so long for an update. This may be a long post. Sorry if you get bored.
I went to work like normal on Thursday, Decemeber 31st. I was scheduled to work from 6am-6pm. I was contracting all day but nothing too painful. Around 2pm I really started feeling them but I still didn't think I was in labor. At 3pm I had a nurse friend check me and I was dilated to 4cm and 80% effaced. She went ahead and put me on the monitor so we could see the contractions and see how Grant's heartrate was doing. Turns out I was contracting every 2-4 minutes and they were getting more intense. (Sean was still at work this whole time.) Grant had a few questionable dips in his heartrate which made me a little nervous. My doctor happened to be there helping another patient so he came in the room to see me. He said that my cervix was very favorable and my contraction pattern was great. He said he could break my water and help the process along or I could go home and probably come back that night in hard labor. I voted for getting the show on the road. I called Sean and had him meet me at the hospital. (That was a little anticlimactic compared to the stories you hear of driving to the hospital.)
Sean arrived. I got my IV placed. The doctor broke my water which was a very weird sensation. After that contractions got really intense. 20 minutes later I got an epidural which was amazing. It was the perfect epidural in my opinion. I could move, lift, and feel my legs but I wasn't hurting at all. I could feel the pressure of every contraction but still no pain. Wonderful!!
At 5pm I was dilated to 5cm. At 10pm I was 10 cm. That's ironic huh? I pushed for 1 hour and 45 minutes. Sean was an amazing pushing coach as was my nurse (and good friend) Kellie. I got pretty nauseous during pushing but nothing worth complaining about. Our beautiful son Grant was born at 12:03am on January 1st. That was completely natural timing and we didn't rig anything. (I didn't even rest and descend for you nurses reading this.) Our baby just knew when he wanted to come. The hospital gave us free diapers, wipes, flowers, a target gift card, and other little baby accessories in honor of being the first baby of the year.
What an amazing experience the delivery was. I have seen it so many times but now it was me as the patient and not the nurse. It was very surreal. It all went smoothly and for that we are so grateful. The following week was a little more difficult.
Three days after delivery Grant had to be re-admitted to the hospital for critically high billirubin levels. He stayed for 2 days and I stayed with him. With intensive phototherapy, IV hydration, and constant monitoring he did improve. I now understand how hard it is to see your child in pain. I really wished I could have taken the 14 needle sticks upon myself so he wouldn't have to feel it. That was extremely hard to see my new baby hurting. Sean and I love him so much and are so grateful that we are all home and doing better.
Right after delivery they cleaned Grant off then gave him back to me to do "skin-to-skin". (He's hiding under the gown if you can't find him. =)
Back in the hospital, here is Grant handling the whole situation quite well.
Daddy and Grant. Look at that head of hair.
After his first bath at home. (He actually seemed to like it.)
(This is what we call the "baby bird face" with the mouth wide open looking for the mommy bird to give him a worm.) =)
We had some professional pictures taken last week so I'll post a couple when I get them. 
Right after delivery they cleaned Grant off then gave him back to me to do "skin-to-skin". (He's hiding under the gown if you can't find him. =)
Back in the hospital, here is Grant handling the whole situation quite well.
Daddy and Grant. Look at that head of hair.
After his first bath at home. (He actually seemed to like it.)
Here's our first family picture taken about 30 minutes after delivery.
Here is baby Grant. He loves to sleep with his mouth wide open just like his mom.
