I don't remember if I posted the few days before having Mark about the docs taking me out of work or not. I "think" I did, but can't remember for sure. As I'm sure you understand how at this point, the days and what all happened are a bit of a blur. The docs basically said the tests showed I was on my feet too much and at that point on I needed to be on modified bedrest. What's funny to us now, is the docs also told me I had practically zero chance of labor starting on its own and scheduled my induction for Tuesday evening, May 4th. Little Mark obviously had his own plans, and preferred to come out before he could be evicted. LOL!!
Everything started Saturday. I woke up that morning around 2am with contractions. They were @ 10 minutes apart, lasting @ 30 seconds, and started in my belly, a tightening & pressure, and then would move to my back area. It was so different from the few braxton hicks I'd had here & there, so it was exciting as well as a bit frightening realizing that this was real. I knew this if this was really it, it was what they call early labor and could last for a while, even several days. I waited until Tony woke up and then took the 1st of many hot showers to relieve the back pressure. Then we waited and timed them all day long. During this time, silly me also took the car to the dealership for service. Tony was mowing the grass, and I decided to go and just wait for it at the dealership. To me it made perfect sense, I could either sit at home and watch Tony mow the grass and time the contractions, or I could get something accomplished and sit & time the contractions at the same time. Now I will admit, that it was so funny how fast they performed the service though, guess they didn't want a pg woman delivering a baby there. LOL! Tony was so sweet that day and kept checking on me, reminding me to breathe, kept bringing me water, snacks, took several walks with me, cooked me a nice dinner (steaks on the grill), just so sweet. Tony & I even went out shopping for a few errands, but pretty much stayed at home and watched a few movies to distract me.
The contractions started getting closer & closer & much more intense. I think that's when it really hit the 2 of us that we were going to have little Mark possibly that very day. When the contractions were consistently under 5 minutes apart, we called the doc - this was around 5:30pm. He wanted us to wait a bit longer, or until my water broke. He still acted like it could still be like this for a day or so, and wanted us to just monitor things and call him back if the water broke or if they continued to get closer. He preferred we'd wait until they were 2-3 minutes apart and lasting about 1 minute each time. It seemed like no sooner then a few minutes after getting off the phone with him that I felt a small gush. I immediately thought that it was my water breaking, but wasn't completely sure at the same time, as it wasn't a huge amount of water coming out. I guess Mark's head was low enough to create a plug to keep most of it in me. This was @ 6:30pm and contractions started becoming closer together & were @ 3 minutes apart. We called the doc and headed into the hospital. At this point, the contractions started to get even more painful & intense so I asked for the epidural as soon as we got to the hospital. When they checked me, it was confirmed it was my water that had broken as I also had some bloody show as well. I was dilated to 4 1/2 centimeters so they gave me the epidural right away. Unfortunately though, it didn't last so around midnight they had to give me another one. I had to be one of the "lucky ones" as it is rare for them to stop working like that. After that, my labor didn't progress very fast and we both tried to get some sleep and rest as best we could waiting for my body to dilate more so we could finally meet Mark. They started the picotin @ 5am, but Mark's heartrate kept dropping so they had to keep stopping it and then would try it again. I believe they tried 3 times, before giving up on that, and had me on oxygen as well. I believe that they said I got as far as 8 centimeters dilation, but nothing beyond that though, and @ 6:00ish am on Sunday I developed a fever which could indicate an infection. Also we were close to the 12 hour mark of the water breaking, so decision was made to perform a c-section. Not quite how I wanted things to go, but most important was healthy baby & healthy me. Mark was delivered at 9:45, he was 6 pounds 10 ounces, 20 inches length and was crying immediately. They took him to NICU as a precaution of the infection but was released to us on Tuesday. We both got to come home together on Wednesday. Now we're learning to be Mommy & Daddy and although exhausting, loving every moment. Breastfeeding was challenging to begin with, but is getting better & easier as each day passes. I'm taking it pretty easy, and hope the pain from the incision heals quickly. I have a followup appt with the OB Thursday.
Now some pics -
1st family pic - not the best, but still special.
so alert & eyes wide open
things are always better when snuggling with Daddy
Heading home from hospital - Yay!! This the same outfit Daddy wore home, but poor little Mark is swimming in it. He's so tiny right now.
1 week old - wow! Taken Sunday.
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Mark's Birth Story & some pics
What great family pics (your dh looks more worn out than you!! 
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