Introducing...

Frederick Duncan West and Sebastian Wilde West! For simplicity I will just send you here for pictures, because hijacking them all would take time and energy I'd rather not spend right now.

Story is long, so feel free to jump toward the middle or the end or whatever! =)

The Story:

Friday, late morning, 37 weeks pregnant, went into the doctor and we talked about my options. Since the specialist had recommended delivery between 37 and 37.5 weeks we realized we were running out of time to let me go into labor myself. We discussed the options, which weren't many and decided to try to induce as safely as possible that evening since she was going to be at the hospital anyway. I was very apprehensive about what was going to happen. The word "pitocin" may have been used and my blood pressure may have been very high.

Paul gave me a beautiful blessing that was, I think, the most specific (and the longest) blessing he's ever given me. I felt much better after this, knew I could have my boys vaginally, and things would all be okay.

We dropped off our older kids at Ella's (God bless her) and went to the hospital to have an NST and AFI before Dr. Kopacz (pronounced "co-patch") arrived. However, it ended up taking a VERY long time to get Frederick to move enough to declare both babies were looking great. Fortunately, during this time I started contracting sporadically and it was at least looking my my body would cooperate if prodded correctly.

It was decided doc would break my water and if that didn't get things going along we would try a low dose of Pitocin. The mention of Pit was what I was so anxious about because it's considered a no-no with VBACs due to an increased risk of uterine rupture.

It started raining on our way to the hospital. Apparently rain brings pregnant women into the hospital in droves. They were so busy I didn't leave triage until 7:30 to get a bed in L&D. By that time I had been stuck twice in unsuccessful IV attempts. This did not make me a happy person. Finally, after I got into my room they sent me a great nurse who got me set up on an IV first try. Then, doc came in--I think around 8:00--and broke my water, happily reporting that I was actually at a 2 now (that morning in the office I was at a 1). Nothing happened for about 10 minutes and I was worried, but then they started coming much quicker at 3-5 minutes apart and getting more intense all the time.

Around 9:30 the anesthesiologist came in and introduced himself. Great guy, good sense of humor, and good at what he does. We talked it over, decided it would be best for me to get an epi sooner rather than later due to the fact that he wasn't currently busy and also to get a catheter in my back just in case we had to do an emergency c-section. I was in quite a bit of pain by then anyway, so they checked me before he stuck me and I was at a 4. Yay!

Got my epi at 9:30. I think the pain meds make me sick because I remember feeling that way with Alexa too at one point. They gave me some Zofran to combat the nausea. For some reason it made me REALLY sleepy. So, I rested, though didn't really sleep, from about 10:00 to 12:30ish or so. I was just starting to feel some really intense pain through the epi around that time and it just got worse in the next 20 minutes. Had a nurse come in insisting she up my drip. Doc said I needed to be checked first. So, at 12:55ish they checked me and declared me a 9! Said they were going to prep the OR, started handing out funny blue jumpsuits (for Mom and Paul) and caps.

I was wheeled into the OR (a precaution due to high risk birth) at about 1:00 AM. Mom and Paul were called in about 15 minutes later after all prepping was done. Then, doc said, "You can push whenever." Baby A, Frederick, was born after one long push at 1:18 (5 lbs. 1 oz.). She broke 2nd water and Baby B, Sebastian, came 2 minutes later, also in one long (a little longer) push at 1:20 (4 lbs. 6 oz.). I rested for a couple minutes, pushed out the placenta, and that was it. It was done. I didn't tear, and everything looked great!

I was in shock at the speed and ease of the whole L&D process, especially the delivery. It was an amazing experience and everyone in the OR with us thought it was a cool experience. The staff here is GREAT and my doc is everything I would ever want for any woman to have for their own OB. It was a beautiful experience.

Hopefully, we'll get to take these little guys home tomorrow. Unfortunately, they wouldn't let our kids in due to cold and flu season. Alexa didn't care as she has no idea what's going on, but Keith was bummed.

So, thank you everyone who's been supportive, and thank you to everyone who said prayers on our behalf. It's been a great journey!