The Engman Abode: July 2009

It's a boy! Hudson Robin Engman arrived on Monday, June 29 at 11:31 pm. He was 9 lbs. 10 ozs. and arrived via repeat c-section. He is completely precious and I am a thankful and proud mama of the Engman boys.
Here is the story of his birth:
I was hoping for a natural labor (VBAC) and that I wouldn't have to have the scheduled c-section which was to be on Tuesday. So, thankfully I went into labor at 6:00 am on Monday morning. We went into the hospital around noon and were admitted as I was dilated to 4 cm. Contractions intensified but Eric and mom were in the room with me and I was also kept laughing by some old SNL Best of Will Ferrell reruns. I got an epidural eventually and finally got to the pushing stage around 8:30 pm. By this time I was very tired and the medication made me more listless and sick than anticipated. After two hours of pushing, the doc told me that the baby was not descending and that the head was not in a good position (at the time, of course, we didn't know how huge his head was or large the baby was, which probably contributed to the problem) and she highly recommended a c-section. I was very upset about this, mainly because it was not the birth experience that I had wanted and also that all my efforts thusfar were futile. But ultimately, I knew it was the best decision and I went in to have the c-section. I went into this just wanting a healthy baby and I am so thankful that we live in a country where resources and medicine are readily accessible. Indeed we are undeservedly lucky. So they took me back into surgery where I continued to get and feel even more sick by the medication, but hearing his cry and the "It's a boy!" announcement from Eric made it all not matter anymore. No, I was not surprised that it was a boy. As time went on in my pregnancy, I felt that it was going in this direction. So I stayed in the hospital for three days - just got back home yesterday. He is beautiful and perfect and I adore him.
It took us a few days to decide on the name Hudson. We had a short list of boys' names and couldn't decide, but ultimately I think it suits him and I adore it. His middle name is the name of my beloved dad.
Ethan is doing fabulous with Hudson. He is so sweet and loving and already refers to him as "my little brother". This morning he lifted up his shirt with Hudson on his lap and asked him, "You want some mook from my bweast?" He's a little confused on the prounouns ("Is her hungry, Mama?") but all in all I couldn't ask for more from my little toddler. Now the one who is experiencing displacement is Miss Bailey. She looks at me like, "Really?" I just remind her that she will always be my firstborn. :)
As with all new mothers, I am not getting much, well any really, sleep. I am thankful, though, that it is summer and I'm not stressed about work and whatnot. I'm also in more pain than I would like to be...mainly I'm just really slow moving about. I am eager to get out and about and moving. I like to be active and the last three months have been difficult in that regard. I am so happy to be able to sleep on my back again though!
Praise God for Hudson, this family, and all of you. I am one lucky lady.