I'm becoming nocturnal...although my body is fighting it! My dear daughter has her nights and days all mixed up. Hopefully the problem will correct itself within the next few weeks. She can easily sleep in 4 hour chunks during the day, but at night it's about 30-40 minutes at a time. And she refuses to sleep on her back in her crib. She prefers on her side on mamas chest. She also eats a ton! She's on the boob for an hour at a time most sessions. But she can go four hours in between feedings occassionally throughout the day.

The wife and I are learning a lot about emmy's piccadillos and also...we are learning just how little sleep is needed to function. They weren't kidding when they said we would be sleep-deprived. I knew it would be bad. But I don't think I was prepared for this magnitude of fatigue. I can't wait till she sleeps during the night!

Welcome to the outside world...

Emilia Kate ("Emmy"), who was born this afternoon weighing 6 lbs 5 oz, 19 1/2 inches long, with a full head of golden hair! Labor lasted 24 hours. Wife got an epidural at hour 15, but it wasn't placed properly and offered no relief. The wife had her epidural replaced at hour 23. At that point she was only dilated 4cm. So they started pitocin. 1 pain-free hour later she was fully dilated and you crowning. We were in shock. I thought we were in for a long evening. I was about ready to take a nap when our OB announced it was showtime (and as a side note, how awesome that OUR actual OB happened to be on the floor this week!!). Literally 3 pushes and she was out. We all balled for what seemed like ten seconds but was actually ten minutes. And an hour later, she breastfed for 45 minutes from me, draining me entirely! Kel doesn't quite have milk yet. And due to an extensive surgery she had 17 years ago, we aren't sure she will be ae to). But we are trying. And that is the story of our daughter's birth.

Goodnight. I'm exhausted.

In labor

Started having contractions again yesterday at 2am. They were painful this time and close together. Yesterday afternoon we became a little concerned because our normally squirmy baby was moving a lot less than normal. Called our doc, who said to head to the hospital to get checked. Spent four hours in triage and learned the following: still only 1 cm dilated but 75% effaced, having strong and consistent contractions, amnioitc fluid was a little low. So they recommended an induction to decrease the chances of fetal distress during delivery and c-section. And that's how we found ourselves in labor and delivery last night. We are now 3cm dilated and 90% effaced and the wife is getting an epidural as we speak. She really wanted to do it naturally and I think she's dissappointed that she wasn't able to reasonably do so. But I'm so proud of her. She's doing great. We will hopefully be meeting the bean today!

tricky uterus...I hate you.

These last few days have really sucked. The wife started having "non-painful" contractions on Monday, and by Tuesday evening they were 5-7 minutes apart, so we called the doctor, described them, told her they were close but not really painful. She said to go ahead and go to the hospital. We got there, they monitored everything and checked the wife's cervix. She was only 1 cm dilated and just starting to efface. They told us the contractions weren't strong enough for any significant cervical change, sent us home, and told us to come back when they are "very painful." She had consistent contractions yesterday morning, which began to fade in the afternoon. Has had a total of maybe 5 "slightly painful" contractions in the last 24 hours and now is not having any.

So we went from being in early labor to not in labor at all. Thanks for making up your mind uterus. When this is all over, you are fired!

It feels like a cruel joke...just when we got our hopes up! Oh well, in two weeks we will get to meet her because that is when our induction is scheduled. Hope she comes before it though.

Where things stand

We are at 37 1/2 weeks. The wife is already dilated at least 1cm (on Friday) and she has had an upset stomach the last 24 hours. She also has been having hot flashes and stomach cramps. She started having contractions today. 30 minutes apart right now, so still a ways off, but we are progressing! The mother-in-law (obgyn nurse) is leaving Chicago tomorrow because she thinks it will be soon. So does our doc. Holy hell!

9:45 pm update: contractions averaging 20 minutes apart and a bit stronger. We are progressing!