CARSON ALAN RYAN

Our new family of 5!

What a sweet, sweet surprise!

Our BABY BOY is here!!!

Carson Alan Ryan

August 4, 2010

3:42 a.m.

7 lbs 13 oz

21 inches

My labor went so fast this 3rd time around. Contractions started in the afternoon of 8/3/10, but really became noteworthy at midnight. Of course my body has to go into labor during the night (like the 1st and 2nd labors too!) so we're really deprived of sleep on that birth-day of our baby. I called my own personal nurse (Stacey, my dear friend!) at 0100 and Seth and I headed into the hospital a few minutes after. Thank God we left when we did cuz I contracted exactly every 3 minutes in the car and then as soon as I stepped out of the car, they were every 2 minutes. I was 6 cm!! Stacey arrived minutes after us (she is the best!) and we proceeded with an epidural. It took okay effect, but then I felt a contraction that wouldn't go away and baby's heartbeat decided to decelerate into the 60-70s for 9 minutes. There was no other reason why it happened, but thank God the heartbeat went back up to normal when the in-house doctor broke my water and I was completely dilated and ready to push. Oh yeah, there was meconium-stained fluid too. I was filled with fear that we'd be rushing back to the OR for a code c-section. Thankfully baby tolerated pushing well and 25 minutes later baby CARSON ALAN was born!!! Pushing this time was challenging to me. I felt miserably uncomfortable for some reason (maybe cuz I changed so quickly); I was hot and sweaty, my belly felt so much uncomfortable pressure, my back hurt, and I felt so burpy/nauseous. Oh well, it's all done and we have a healthy baby boy!!!

We were so greatly surprised to hear "IT'S A BOY!" Well, actually all I heard from my doctor (who is naturally loud anyways!) is "It's a..." because everyone in the delivery room literally screamed when Carson was born. Daddy was the most ecstatic by doing a fist pump into the air with a loud "YES!!!" It was pricelessly precious. Seth instantly had tears dripping down his cheeks! This moment was so worth the wait of finding out the sex! It'll be a wonderful adventure to raise a boy this time. Big sisters Abby and Ashley were very excited (esp. Abby since she really wanted a brother). Ashley did ask me if the baby girl (that she really wanted) is still in my belly. Ha ha. FYI, Carson was born on a record delivery number day - 24 babies were born on August 4, 2010 at Fairview Southdale Hospital!