Carson William Gardner

So as all of you already know (because facebook is so much easier to notify quicker), I am no longer pregnant and have a BEAUTIFUL baby boy in my arms.
I started having contractions on sunday 3/22 about 4 or 5pm. They didn't hurt so I was basically convinced that they would just stop, so I didn't get excited because I didn't want to get my hopes up. Then about 9 or 10 pm Richard said (because they were coming so rythmically, although painless, just tightening) " Maybe you should go get some things together for the hospital just in case". We were going back and forth about what we should do. But at about 10:30 or 11 we figured, well it will probably continue like this for at least a day if not more so let's just try to get a good night's sleep and went to bed. Once I layed down the contractions started becoming slightly painful, and then I got up to use the bathroom and then my water broke. Oh Boy!!!! WE just looked at eachother (it was unmistakeably that my water had broke) and were like, "ok, lets do something now":-) So I called the hospital and they said to go in. So we got the bag that we had just gotten ready and drove to the hospital. (and by the way, once your water breaks, it just keeps flowing, it's not just one gush, it will flow for a while, I didn't know that).

So we were in for a long night and day. I was in labor for a while and once the pitocin started things progressed great, and I got an epidural, and then I was feeling good. Up until the epidural (at about 5-6 cent.) I thought I was going to die. It was not very fun. But after that point, thing went great!. I was feeling good, and got to the pushing stage. WE were so so so excited that it was almost here. So I started pushing through a few contractions and felt great and was doing a good job. Then all of the sudden the doctor and a whole slew of people rushed into the room and said no questions asked, we had to go to a c-section. I was very very disappointed but trusted teh doctor. (throughout most of the contractions once the pitocin was started Carson's heart rate had been dropping a lot, and I had to keep moving posistions to try to help it, and I guess the pushing was making it drop way to much and he was under way too much stress). I really was looking forward to it being over soon, but instead was rushed to a c-section which was not fun, and now have had quite a longer recovery.
But he was born on Monday 3/23 @ 4:22pm. He was 6lbs and 13 oz. and 19 inches long. He has quite a bit of blonde blonde hair and was the talk of the hospital that day. Every nurse that came into our room said, oh this is the blonde baby that everyone is talking about. :-) I felt so proud.
For a day or so every nurse that walked into our room and said how cute he was I got so teary eyed. I have never thought that anything was so precious and cute as when they brought him over to my head after he was cleaned up (see pics on fb).

So we left the hospital on thursday afternoon and were so thankful to be home. Jerelyn was here for that day and the next until my mom got here. Richard went and picked her up from Newark airport on Friday night, and she has been the biggest help with everything.
So this week has been a process of learning about nursing, and enjoying my beautiful baby. Richard had all last week off of school and work, but this week has jumped right back into everything. It's going to be a long 5 weeks until the end of the semester for him, but I know he can do it. I sorta feel like I can't ask him to help me with anything so he can rest, and do homework and work, but at the same time, all he wants to do is hold his son and help me take care of him. So we will just all be glad when this semester is over, and we have the whole summer together!!!
I'll add a few pics, but for a lot more just look on facebook. :)