Las Aventuras de Matthew y Verenice con Eva y Elijah

We welcome to our family...Elijah Burton Powell.  On May 2nd, at 12:16 in the morning I managed to get this kiddo out of my belly once in for all.  He was supposed to come on June 2nd, but instead came to us four weeks early.  For an early baby he really isn't that tiny.  He weighed 7 lbs. 11 oz. and was 20 in. long.  He is doing great.  He has jaundice, but really a good baby.  I honestly sometimes forget that we have him because all he does right now is eat and sleep.  Eva loves her baby brother.  It is good to see that she is good to him and loves to give him lots of kisses and feed him his bottle.  They have me nursing, bottle feeding and pumping.  It is quite the task!  But I am glad that I appear to be getting more milk that I did with Eva.  

So, for the birth story.  On Friday, May day, I started some light bleeding.  I didn't really think anything of it so I called the nurse and she said I should be ok.  I went to work and was having contractions all day.  I knew I was in the first phase of labor but I also knew that it didn't necessarily mean anything.  I was hurting off and on all day.  In fact, at one point one of my students asked me if I could still get a substitute.  I made it through the day and went home early to take a little nap before I had to get Eva from day care.  My contractions were slowly getting worse and my bleeding hadn't really stopped so I called the nurse again in the evening and she told me to go to the hospital.  My dad came and got Eva, we quickly packed a bag and got to the hospital at 9:00 p.m.  By then, my contractions had picked up and I was hurting some more.  I was dilated to a 5 by around 9:45 and they got me into a room.  I got one dose of phetenal, and was still in pain, I could feel pressure like I wanted to go to the bathroom but I think that was the baby.  I had them break my water and then I started pushing at around 11:40.  I didn't get him out in 2 pushes like most women do with their second baby, but this time around I didn't have back labor either.  Things seemed intense, but I did it again.  I am so thankful to have that over with.  You really do forget quickly how much having a baby all natural hurts!!  But, even in my moments of thinking I couldn't do it, I did and he is finally here.   

The pictures are out of order, so, the first is of the proud big sister.  She is more beautiful to me everyday.  I love her big brown eyes.  The ones of Elijah with Matthew are of Elijah 6 days old, and the last two are from the hospital right after I had him.