Shelton - Party of 5

He's here!  Conley Joseph Shelton arrived on August 31, 2011 at 2:14 in the afternoon.  He was officially 19" long (but he wouldn't stretch his legs out, so we're thinking he's a little taller) and weighed 8 pounds 5.2 ounces.  He was almost 2 pounds heavier than both of the boys, but still seems as tiny as can be.  He is absolutely perfect and simply adorable.  He really resembles a beautiful mix of the boys.  He's definitely a Shelton Sibling. 

We were waiting on him for several weeks, assuming he was going to arrive a little early - seeing he's my third baby in 4.5 years.  But after being 10 days over due, we decided it was time for him to meet the world.  Carter and Cole spent the night with Grandma and Grandpa on Tuesday the 30th so Brian and I could have a nice quiet evening just the two of us.  We went out to Carrabba's for dinner and had a great time.  The midwife had "instructed" me to relax that evening and even have a glass of wine.  Didn't have to hear that twice, so me and the 6 ounces of Malbec had a long love affair through dinner.  We had a good nights sleep, or should I say half a nights sleep.  We got up at 4:15 so we could leave at 5:15 to get to the hospital at 6 for the induction.

I guess I should put a WARNING on here.  If you are queezy or don't like reading details about giving birth - stop reading and just scroll down to the pictures.  I promise I won't post any "compromising pictures" - I would have killed Mom if she even took them.

After signing our lives away - both legally and financially - they hooked me up to the monitor for an hour to see how he was doing and if I was having any contractions.  Well I was, every 6-8 minutes.  Oh! So that's what that pressure and tightness I was feeling was!  I honestly didn't think much of it, they weren't painful - just uncomfortable.  I really thought it was just him pushing up on random organs and my bladder.  I was induced with Carter and Cole as well, and had never experienced a "natural contraction." SO because I was having my own contractions and already dilated 3 cm, I didn't have to have any of the cervical gel or anything to get me ready; I could go straight to Pitocin.   

So around 8:30 they started me on the Pitocin.  Mom and Dad still had the boys, but were dropping them off at our house so my WONDERFUL friends could watch them while Mom and Dad could be up at the hospital.  Julie and Joanna came over around 9:30 to watch the boys for a few hours.  Here they are with Claire eating a cake pop from Starbucks (thank you Julie) to celebrate Baby Shelton #3's potential birthday.

Around 11:45, the midwife broke my water since I was in a good pattern of contractions, but was still only 3 cm.  Conley had a few decels in his heart rate during the contractions, they'd come back up - but since the contractions were close together they were concerned that might be an issue.  So they did an amnio infusion where they put fluid back up into the uterus to give him some cushion.  They presumed he was putting pressure on his cord.  It did help with his heart rate.  Though I also had to be on my side, which was not comfortable.  It was the only way he'd "cooperate."  So a momma does what a momma has to do for her baby. 

At 1:30 she checked me and I was finally fully effaced, but only 4 cm.  The contractions were very strong and very close together.  I was tempted with doing the epidural, but held out.  She told me she thought I'd be pushing soon.  Well, she was right - barely 30 minutes later I started pushing and he was born at 2:14.  As it turns out, his umblical cord was short.  They presume thats probably why he wouldn't come down and I was past my due date, his cord just wasn't long enough.  Fortunately I labor quickly and as soon as he came down, he was out and we didn't have any cord compression issues they thought we might.

Like I said, he was almost 2 pounds heavier than the boys.  But honestly, the recovery has been MUCH easier with him.  My midwife was wonderful in making sure I didn't tear anything.  And that's all I'll say about that :)

Proud Papa

 Alert and ready to meet everyone

 Grandpa was in the waiting room as pale as a ghost waiting to hear how we were doing.  He was glad when we were all cleaned up and ready to show Conley off.

Grandma, the photographer, finally found someone to take HER picture with her grandson.

My other WONDERFUL friend Jen, had met Julie and Joanna at my house at 1:30 to pick up the boys.  She then picked up her son at school (which by the way, was all Carter could talk about the day before), and then she brought them up to the hospital to see us.  She had plans to take them back to her house and play, but Conley made an early appearance. 

I was VERY excited to get to see my boys walk through the door. 

 Carter checking out Conley

 

 Cole isn't sure what's going on

 But he got up and gave Conley a kiss.

 Getting weighed

Once we got upstairs to post partum, the nurse came in and gave him is official first bath.  He didn't much like it.  He really reminds me of Carter when he cries like that. Check out the picture below this one of Carter's first bath at home ...

 And Daddy getting the first diaper change.  You'll notice the deck of cards on the table.  Brian and I didn't know what else to do with all our time since we didn't have the boys with us. We played a lot of Gin Rummy. 

 Carter showing his new brother his new toy that Ms. Jen gave him.

 Carter LOVES to hold Conley. 

 One of the things St. Luke's likes to do is keep the baby in the room with the parents at all times.  So the bath, the shots, medicine, exam, etc is all done in room.  The audiologist came in to do his hearing test and even let Carter help hold the machine.  Right after this picture, it got quite tense in the room.  He didn't pass his initial exam.  This is the one where they put the probes in his ears and measure something.  Well, they normally like to do the exam closer to 48 hours, to give time to get any fluid/junk out of his ears.  They did this one at 24 hours so that we could go home that night (Thursday, not the same day I delivered).  SO, apparently he still had stuff in his ears blocking the transmission because they did a second, more technical, test and he passed.  At that point, I was wishing they DIDN'T do exams in the room, because it was very unnerving sitting there for 15 minutes thinking my child couldn't hear.  Had they done all that in the nursery, I would never have known nor worried. 

 Lights out for an afternoon nap.

 Sure is cozy on Mommy's chest.

 I have LOTS of pictures of Carter holding Conley.  He wants to do it all the time. 

 On Friday, Grandmama came over for dinner. She had to share holding time with Carter.  He was not happy about sharing.  She'd hold him for a few minutes and Carter would start complaining that her turn was longer than his.  We'd try and explain that she doesn't live here and she doesn't get to hold him all the time, and it's her birthday, and yada yada yada - none of it was working on him.  He didn't care what the reason was, he wanted to hold his baby!

 First bath at home.  Still doesn't like it. 

 Snuggled up in the bouncy seat .

 It took Cole a couple days to finally ask to hold Conley.  He has done really well with the new addition.  They both are very sweet to him and are transitioning well.  It's been a long holiday weekend, and we've tried to stay busy.  If we don't, we create a huge mess at home and we are all too tired to clean it up.  The boys are wanting some individual attention, which is normal and expected, but over all are doing much better than I anticipated. 

 I hesitated getting the swing out, it could only bring disaster.  I imagine the boys swinging Conley to the ceiling.  But again, they're are doing well.  So Conley is getting in some zzz's.

 Again, the proud big brother.

 All dressed up and hooked into the car seat before church on Sunday.  First service at 4 days old - go Conley!  He did great.  He slept through the loud praise and worship music for the first 20 minutes of service and woke up when the sermon started :)  But they have a Mother's Room, were I can take and nurse him and still hear/see the service. 

That concludes the picture deluge.  There will be more to come.  I'm trying to keep the camera out on the counter, so I can take lots of pictures.  But we've definitely had our hands full this weekend.  I'm looking forward to school starting tomorrow so the big boys can get on a routine and I can get a little more rest while they're gone.  And most of all get some bonding/snuggling time with Conley.  He's just precious. 

I know I have lots of phone calls and emails to return - I'll get to them. I appreciate all the check-ins, but my down time is few and far between so if I don't return your call promptly it isn't because I don't care.  It's because I'm trying to take a nap when I can :)  I've never had to do that before!