Andrew is Here!

Sunday's weather forecast was for 93° and a heat index of over 100°, so we decided to hang out at my mom & dad's house and their central air! (Our 1 window unit wouldn't help much with that much heat!) We ate lunch and everyone had a nap. At 5:00, I had a contraction that made me look at the clock (I've been having contractions off and on for over a month!) I had another contraction at 5:15, followed by another at 5:30. I thought, "This is pretty regular". By this time, we were finishing eating dinner and I started to shake. Shaking is a normal "sign" for me that I'm nearing the end of labor and I had only had 3 regular contractions (and only 15 minutes apart) I wasn't sure whether I was really in labor or not! I decided to go outside and walk around for awhile to see if maybe I was just cold (I didn't really think so, but I figured I should rule it out!). We got to the hospital about 6:10 and my contractions had moved to about 7 minutes apart. I felt a little like a hypochondriac, but I've never gone into labor on my own before (having been induced with all 3 of my previous pregnancies) I got changed and hooked up to the baby and contraction monitors. They checked me and I was only 3 cm. (at my OB appointment on Aug 4, I was 2-3 cm, thick, but soft) They checked me again at 7:30 and I was still only 3 cm, but thinner. By this time the shaking had stopped except for right before a contraction. I got up and started walking in the halls until 8:40 when they checked me again. I had made it to 4 cm, still thinner, and she could feel the bag of waters bulging. Dan ran home at this point to get my bags that I'd packed. At 9:20, my doctor (who was on call!) broke my water and I was still 4 cm. By the time Dan got back at 9:30, I was shaking full time and harder (It had stopped when I was walking the halls). I also wasn't coming totally down from each contraction before I would have another. Just before 10:00, my body started to push, so I told Dan they'd better come check me. I was 8 cm and they told me not to push until the doctor got there. He came at 10:10 and I started pushing. After pushing through 3 contractions, Andrew was born at 10:15 pm! That last half an hour was pretty intense, but at least it wasn't the whole labor like with being induced!

Andrew Joseph Dempsey
7 lbs 0 oz
19½" long
12" head & chest
APGAR 9 & 9

Andrew with his big sisters and brother.

My little cutie

Grandpa holding Andrew

with Grandma

The kids were pretty excited he was finally here.

I *LOVE* the look on William's face.

 

 

The whole Dempsey family

All ready to go home

We met my parents at Ponderosa to get the older kids
and that way, my Grandma and aunt (and their male counterparts!) could see Andrew.

Andrew and my aunt Elizabeth share a birthday!