Cody has Arrived!!

A new Lexxus parked in the driveway with a red bow around it? That's nothing! Look what WE brought home for Christmas!!
On Tuesday, I noticed that my contractions were finally meeting the description of the real deal. Usually, up to that point, they were sporatic at best and a simple change in position would usually knock them out entirely. It was nice to finally feel something that was a little more reliable and be able to say, "ok, this might actually be worth paying attention to!" We were scheduled to go in Wednesday morning at seven for induction, something I had reluctantly agreed to, partially from my own impatience, partially for a guaranteed 2009 tax write off, and partially at the advice of the doctor for some antibiotics she wanted me on for a good four hours prior to delivering. Tuesday night, Mark was bringing Ben over to his parents' place anyway so he'd be squared away the following morning. While he was gone, I started timing my contractions and they were about four minutes apart, but still mild in terms of pain. When he got back, the pain increased some and I suggested we go in and just have them check me so we could just know and rest through the night without wondering if we should be at the hospital or not. We went in and they measured me the same that I had been for the previous week, which was discouraging. The nurse suggested walking around the building for an hour and if nothing had moved forward, going home and resting until the scheduled appointment. We walked and I started to feel more pain. When we returned, I had made it a centimeter further and they went ahead and checked me in.
My pain continued to be moderate for the next hour or so after getting into the delivery room. It didn't seem like much was happening. The nurse said they were ready to give me the epideral, but it felt strange to get it before I had experienced any significant pain, so I asked to put it off. I figured my body might progress on its own faster if I was not numbed and comfortable. As it started to hurt a little more, I felt what seemed to be my water break and got up to go to the bathroom when we discovered the bed was covered in blood. The nurse came in and said that probably meant I had just fully dialated in a short amount of time and that I needed to get in bed immediately. She checked me and I was nearly a nine! She had to rush and call the doctor to come in as well as get the anasthesiologist over to me ASAP, since my pain became INTENSE all of the sudden and I was now quite anxious! I had already finished dialating when I got the epideral, but I figured it would still be nice to have throughout the pushing, which had taken a while with Ben. They had me lay there and purposefully NOT push for a good hour while the doctor (the only one available) tended to another delivery. I laid in perfect peace while I waited. By the time they came in, I had four easy pushes and our little angel was out. I wished I hadn't bothered with the epideral just for that, but who was to know. Next time I will know it probably isn't worth it.
My recovery with this one has been a lot easier as well. I have had little pain or difficult emotional issues, which is a huge answer to my prayers. The one thing I've had to deal with is daily migraines since the day after Cody was born. I have read this is temporary, which is essential since it is totally debilitating.
My mom is in town right now through the 31st and has been a huge blessing entertaining Ben, cleaning the house, cooking her amazing meals, etc. We have been spoiled! This has also been great timing since Mark has these two weeks totally off work and has done SO much to make the transition easier.
I'm sure anyone who has had a baby would agree that the whole experience heightens your emotions. Last time, I was just a basketcase- frantic about leaving my baby to go back to work, possessive and territorial, edgy and overwhelmed. This time, (THANK GOODNESS), my emotions are intense again, but I just feel a huge sense of contentment and peace. I feel so incredibly blessed to have an amazing husband who I am sharing all of this with, to have a strong, healthy, funny, sweet little man in Ben and to see him accepting his brother with open arms, and to have yet another healthy little one bless our lives and remind us why we loved this so much the first time around. I just feel like I would have been the luckiest woman alive if all I'd have had was Mark and Ben for the rest of my life. Cody just feels like that over-the-top blessing that is beyond description or explanation. I really have this feeling of "God, WHY me??" It is an amazingly humbling thing to clearly recognize how good and generous He has been to us.
Cody was 8 lbs. 9 oz. and 20 3/4" long. He has dark skin and hair for the time being, is incredibly sweet and usually content. He loves to sleep all day and eat all night, but we are working on that! (: Here are a few early pictures of our little pride and joy! W