MASON LEWIS ARBOUR

March 3, 2008

6:50pm

9lbs. 9oz.

21 1/4 inches long

At last, he's finally here and we could not be happier!

So the BIG arrival day started at about 8:30 when Ray & I dropped off Max at daycare (we want to keep his schedule as routine as we can) and then my mom was going to pick him up. We arrived at the hospital at about 9:15am and got checked right in. We were shocked, we had books, magazines, cards, etc because we thought for sure that we would be waiting for hours. But luckily that wasn't the case...well so we thought. I got into my room at literally 9:35 and got in my lovely hospital Johnny and then sat and sat and sat. At least we had a nice view from my window of Mount Washington!

10am:

5pm:

Finally at about 12noon they started the potosin. At this point I was still 3cm and 80% efface from my Friday Doctor's visit so I didn't make much progress over the weekend. I was hoping this would really kick in but it didn't. At about 3pm they checked me again and I had made little to no progress, which was frustrating. I asked if breaking my water would be an option and they said absolutely. So about 1/2 hour later (I think between 3:30-4pm) they came back and broke my water. Within 5-10 minutes I felt like I entered into a whole new world! The contractions were coming fast and FURIOUS and were only about 2 minutes apart. I endured about an hour, maybe 1 1/2 hours, of these but then just couldn't take it anymore and asked for the epidural. Instant relief!!

About 30 minutes after my epidural was placed, about 5:15-5:30pm the checked me again and I was 9cm but they baby was still a little high so they wanted to give it another 45 minutes or so to allow him to get lower. At 6:15 they came back in and it was go time! I was fully dilated and ready to push. From about 6:15-6:40 I pushed somewhat casually (The Doctor's and nurses weren't in their "delivery scrubs" as of yet) Then at about 6:40 I pushed through about 3-4 contractions and voila - here he was! I never want to give anyone the impression that giving birth is easy, because it most certainly is NOT, but I have to say I am SO FORTUNATE to have had two uneventful and quick deliveries!

Here are a few photos about 20-30 minutes after having him:

And now were home and doing great! Max is loving his little brother!

Max is back in daycare as of Thursday. We're trying to keep his schedule as consistent as we can and keeping him with his buddies at daycare, allowing him to have preschool and outside play time is so important to him and something I can't do with a newborn. It was hard for him to have me leave, knowing that I wasn't gong to work and that I was going home. It killed me to see him looking out the window at me when I pulled out of daycares driveway!! But I know the tears will dry up and he'll have a great day with his friends!

Having two children is like I never really imagined. I guess you can't until you have them. Kind of like when you have your first you can't totally understand what it's like to be a parent until your day comes. It's the same for having multiple kids. You want to do the best for your kids and seeing them hurt , sad, upset, etc is heart wrenching. It brought tears to my eyes to see him sad as I pulled out of daycare and all I really wanted to do was go back in and scoop him up and take him home with me but I know that him staying there is what in his best interest. I can't provide for him the activity level that he needs right now having Mason here with me and tending to his needs. However, once Mason gets a little bigger and adjusts to the outside world a bit more I am absolutely going to have special days with Max where I will leave Mason with my Mom and take Max someplace special just the two of us. He deserves my undivided attention and I will make it a point to make it happen. I think I'm going to get him enrolled in swimming lessons again and I'll go in with him this time so he'll have me exclusively as well. More motivation to lose this weight!!

Here are a few photos of the boys taken over the last day or two!

Will be updating this as I can!

Before I was a Mom...

I never tripped over toys or forgot words to a lullaby.
I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous.
I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom
I had never been puked on.
Pooped on.
Chewed on.
Peed on.
I had complete control of my mind and my thoughts.
I slept all night.

Before I was a Mom
I never held down a screaming child so doctors could do tests. Or give shots.
I never looked into teary eyes and cried.
I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.
I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep.

Before I was a Mom
I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want to put him down.
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn't stop the hurt.
I never knew that something so small could affect my life so much.
I never knew that I could love someone so much.
I never knew I would love being a Mom.

Before I was a Mom
I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body.
I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby.
I didn't know that bond between a mother and her child.
I didn't know that something so small could make me feel so important and happy.

Before I was a Mom
I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay.
I had never known the warmth, the joy, the love, the heartache, the wonderment or the satisfaction of being a Mom.
I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much, before I was a Mom.