The Rest of the Story

ETHAN JARED MCKEE

NOVEMBER 14, 2009

6 LBS. 9 OZ., 20.5 INCHES

For all those patiently waiting to hear the rest of the story.....here it is!

My original due date wasn't until November 29. I was getting excited and trying to prepare as much as I could with a few weeks left. I had already started working part-time and was feeling pretty tired and HUGE! Thursday night I was feeling pretty crampy and it continued into Friday as well. Saturday morning I woke up about 5:30 am with a few signs that I might be going into labor soon. I called my mom and asked her if I should be concerned. She said "No" but that I could call the hospital just in case! So I did. They said everything was fine and that I just needed to stay hydrated and keep an eye on things.

About that time, I started having some light contractions but nothing consistent or painful. So I got ready for the day and Jared and I went to a presentation up at ISU. (Oh and did I mention that it had snowed like 4 inches that night!) So while we were at the presentation I noticed that my contractions were getting a little stronger but a lot closer together. I was also concerned because with each contraction I was leaking fluid. I decided to head home to make sure everything was alright. I called the hospital and they said the only way they would know if it was something to be concerned about was if I came up there for a few tests!! Now normally that wouldn't be a big deal, but the hospital I was delivering at was in Idaho Falls; a 45-minute drive!!! So I called Jared and he came home. We threw all our things into a bag (I was going to pack my hospital bag the next week :) ) and headed off. As we were driving, my contractions were about 7 min apart. Jared thought there was no way I was having the baby that day because he said I was so calm!

We got to the hospital and got checked in around 12:30pm The nurse came to do all the needed tests and told me I was dilated to a 3 and that my water had for sure broken so I was there until I had the baby!! Jared and I were both shocked and excited at the same time!! We were going to leave that place with a new family member!!

Now going into this delivery, I didn't want to have an epidural. I read too much and just really felt it would be better for me and the baby. So I was pretty disappointed when they told me they were going to have to start me on pitocin since my water had already broken. My doctor let me walk around for a couple hours and they checked my again and I was still only a 3. They came and wanted to start the pitocin, but upon request my doctor let me walk for another hour. But I was still only a 3. Pitocin was started and I was on that for an hour. The contractions were way more intense and after that hour I was up to a 6 1/2. So they took me off the pitocin at 4:45pm to see if I would progress on my own. Luckily I did!! I continued to dilate and then it was time to push. Ethan was born at 6:55pm and I was able to do it without an epidural!! What an empowering experience it was!! He was 6 lbs. 9 oz. and he was 20 1/2 in. The perfect size!!

Jared was with me the entire time and I couldn't have done it without him!! He was amazing!! When Ethan was born, I remember asking what color hair he had and if he had all his fingers and toes! And as soon as they laid him on my belly I started crying!! Our baby was finally here!!

Since he's almost 3 weeks old he has changed so much already!! His hair is still dark and he's still long and skinny but he's gaining weight and eating all the time!! He heals so quickly and is so alert and strong. He's already holding his head up off your shoulder on his own and attempts to crawl up my stomach as I burp him. He has a perfect little nose and makes the cutest "O" with his mouth as he stares up at you. His jaundice is almost completely gone and he has beautiful skin coloring! We love him so much and can't imagine our lives without him now!!

I love this picture!! This is Ethan on the Biliblanket for his jaundice. We called him our little glow worm, etc. He actually had a lot of nicknames those few days!! My mom said he looked like the guys from "The Matrix".