Photo Shoot(s) with Aunt Sarah

(For the pictures under "10 days old," click on them to see them bigger...)

3 DAYS OLD




10 DAYS OLD




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More Lovin

Griffin's 1st bath was yesterday; he's just like his daddy. He was SO comfortable and chilled out that he started snoozing while I was bathing him. Funny story because when we had just been home from the hospital a day or so (last week) I went upstairs looking for Ryan. It was 7:30 AM, Ellie had 15 minutes before she was going to be picked up for Safety City, both girls were hungry, and Griffin needed to eat. I went upstairs in hopes to enlist Ryan (he was up already).

I couldn't find him anywhere and it was completely silent.

Finally I called his name. This is what I heard in response: "Um yeah, I'm just in here cleaning up hun!" CLEANING UP WHAT, I thought??! I walked into the bathroom and there he was, sitting in a bathtub in which the water had all drained out; I had startled him and woken him from a sound sleep in the tub. Ha! Fantastic.

It was funny for about a minute, but then I needed him to get his toosh out of that tub and help me. ;)

Post bath- all cozy/cuddly!!

I saw Ems reading a book to her brother this morning. So precious. I 100% totally remember Ellie doing the same thing to HER when she sat in that bouncy seat. WOW. Time goes fast.

Week 1 highlights in the Snow household

Week 1

Our two days in the hospital were just perfect. Ellie asked if she could pray for our "breakfast" (Tim Hortons) and about put all of us in tears. She thanked God so much for baby Griffin and thanked him for bringing her brother to us safely. She was so genuine in her voice and was so excited to be a big sister of TWO!

Emma asked if we could sing Happy Birthday to Griffin right after she met him (day 1) and she led us all in the sweet birthday song just hours after he was born.

The girls got to go to the lake with the Moan family (on Father's Day) and so they had the time of their lives!! Ellie went tubing, Emma splashed in the water- they didn't miss us at all. My BOYS and I enjoyed a few visitors, including Mimi and Aunt Lindsay, in the hospital and the "RED CALL" button that brought us what we needed, when we needed it. HeHe.

We were discharged on Monday around noon and were happily greeted by El and Ems at the homefront. Balloons, some treats, a clean house, and a whole new world.

Night one at home was a little rough- up quite a bit throughout, but we survived and my friend Emily brought me a great coffee drink the next day. Poor little Griff was just gassy and hungry.

After night one, it was all uphill from there. :) Yesterday was exactly ONE WEEK since Griffin was born and he's already had a 5 hour stretch at night and many 4 hour stretches as well. Good little boy. :)

We just got back from the lake with the whole clan, enjoying some sunshine and the hustle/bustle of summer fun. Me? I'm doing great. I'm smitten, enamored, and simply in love with my little dude. I have a son and it's the coolest thing ever.

Hospital time:

Lake Time:

Ellie and Jack---played together every second of the weekend.

Papa took Emma on her first wave runner ride EVER. She saw "the big kids" go and she didn't hesitate one second. Papa let her drive at the end and she thought she was a Queen Bee- love it.

And of course our sweet baby Griff

D-Day

He's here. He made it. Ryan Griffin Snow, born on 6-19-2010 weighing 9 lbs 1 oz, 21 1/2 inches long. We are blessed. That's the bottom line.

Here's the recap of D-Day (Delivery Day)

Water broke (as I was sleeping) at 3:30 AM Saturday the 19th. Contractions were "good" but inconsistent.

Ryan and I checked into a quiet, peaceful, yet very organized and fantastic hospital at 5:15 AM.

From 5:15 AM-10 AM my contractions were still slow coming. I walked the halls, bounced on the exercise ball, visited with nurses, and enjoyed the company of a great friend who dropped in to wish me luck.

10:15 AM- My midwife started me on Pitocin and that's when the fun began!!

10:15-3:15-- LABOR. It went from inconsistent contractions that were 8-14 min apart, to strong ones that were coming 4 minutes apart, to several hours of contractions 2 minutes apart (or less). My midwife, Ryan, and sister-in-law Sarah continued to suggest positions for me to try (the bath tub being one of them--I highly recommend this one) as the pain was incredible. My mom and sister were also in the room as GREAT support. I had no pain medication, and there were about 2 times that I wanted to give up. Somehow I just blocked out the idea of pain meds and utilized Ryan and Sarah as my drug of choice. They pushed on my back harder than they thought was possible, they pushed on my feet, and they encouraged me. It got me through some bad back labor and pain I've never experienced before.

3:15 PM- I knew I had to push. No one had to say to me, "you're at 10 cm now and you may begin pushing when I say GO." I told my midwife when I was going to push. :) I was laying on my side in bed at that point. I pushed 3 HARD pushes (there was nothing in me that wanted that to drag on and I didn't care how bad it hurt, I wanted that kid out)...and that 9 lb bundle of joy flew right out.

No problems, no episiotmy, no stitches needed. Thank you Jesus!! On our drive to the hospital, Ryan prayed that God would not only show grace in the labor and delivery, but that he would show MERCY. That morning, before Sarah arrived, she prayed that there would be no ripping or tearing involved (knowing that was a fear of mine), and God answered the prayers of both of them.

After Ryan cut his chord,

the nurse wrapped him up and put him in my arms right away. I held him for at least 10-15 minutes before they cleaned him up, and those moments were irreplaceable. He felt so warm. His skin was so soft. And all I could think about was how happy I was that he was out of me and how shocked I was that I just pushed him out of me without any drugs. It was a surreal moment. The love that a mom immediately feels for her child when he/she is placed in her arms is one of the most euphoric feelings ever. I will never forget it. And he was MY SON. My first and only son. He latched right on and nursed like a champ. He was here at last!!

Ellie and Emma were brought in right away and their reactions were priceless. El walked up to me and gave me a once-over. She asked me if she was going to be able to sit on my lap again. She asked me if I was ok (I was in the hospital bed). Once I said YES to both of her questions, she left my side and went over to hold Griffin. Emma, on the other hand, just stared at me. It was several moments before she'd sit on the bed with me, she was scared of the IV in my arm and wouldn't let me touch her. Eventually she warmed up and we were chit chattin about her day and the new baby that was in the room.

I was up and walking within an hour or two, and immediately felt great "everywhere." What a DIFFERENCE between having an epidural and not. I can't even explain it. I love that I've had both experiences, but would tell any woman that she needs to do it natural at some point. There is nothing like it.

Update on the babe and me

So I'm 39 weeks and one day. Good times, good times. I'm not terribly uncomfortable, I'm not sleeping horribly, and I'm not swollen and suffering from heat stroke or anything. :)

Went to midwives yesterday. She said my cervix is ripe and I'm about 50% effaced...still dilated to 1 cm and Griffin is still at a -1 position. Sooooo, she was encouraged that things are happening. I was FINE with the "report" although hoping for more (of course). I had contractions ALL day yesterday anywhere from 3-8 minutes apart. I was convinced I would be heading into the hospital last night. But instead of that, they came to a screeching halt when I went to bed at 11 PM and I was up all night for other reasons...see #3 below. :)

3 concerns and things to be praying about, if you'd be so kind...

1. Baby is switching between sideways across my belly and/or lying along the right side of my belly. Neither of those positions are ideal and the right side thing tends to end up with a post-terior labor and delivery. HORRIBLY painful and not ideal. So, please be praying that he moves to head down and stays that way!

2. I haven't gained weight in a month and am still around maybe a total of 20 pounds. Griffin is measuring 36 weeks, which concerns me b/c I measured right on target, or even AHEAD, throughout my entire pregnancy. My midwife offered to do an ultrasound to put my mind at ease. I may take her up on that by Thursday or Friday if nothing has happened yet. Pray that he is healthy and well...we are excited to hold this baby boy in our arms!

3. Emma got the flu bug and we were up all night cleaning up vomit. She's not in the clear yet, and depending on how contagious this is, we need prayer that Ryan and I don't get sick! HORRIBLE timing, huh?

Prayers are appreciated---we want this boy here soon!
Thanks and love to all!

38 1/2

Ok so I'll be 39 weeks on Monday. Here is the update. :)

I am carrying super low but I am not terribly uncomfortable and haven't had the swelling in the legs, etc. yet. Praise God!!

I am measuring only 36 weeks (because this little guy has dropped) and actually lost a pound this past week. My midwife told me that my babe is done cookin though, and any weight at this point will just go onto me- so no worries with the weight thing! I've only gained between 20-22 pounds so this little dude has been pretty good to me!

I am dilated only to 1 cm and am not totally thinned out yet, but getting closer. But she had to "maneuver around the baby's head" to check me today at my appointment, so he's in a good place down there!

I am getting a massage on Sunday afternoon with hopes to induce this labor and get the contractions a bit more consistent. THEN, Monday morning I am going into the midwives again to get re-checked and get things movin a bit. Not sure if anyone knows what "stripping the membranes" means, but I sure do. My OB did that to me when I was prego with Ellie and I went into active labor 8-12 hours later!! My midwife said she will "do that" on Monday morning when she checks me. Ahhhh!

Soooo, it could be sometime next week that this baby comes!

We are excited to meet this precious bundle. Please be praying!!!