Peyton Joseph Miano's Arrival

Well, our little Peyton did not want to wait until my dad's birthday! Yes, it would have been neat, but at least we know he chose his own day to come out! On September 15 at 3:30 in the morning I woke up and could not go back to sleep. This is not unusual except that I felt "weird." No, I cannot explain it, it was just weird. I had been having very strong Braxton Hicks contractions for a few weeks now, so when I ended up on the floor of my room a few times before Paul had even left for work that day I didn't think it was anything serious. I never did go back to sleep and when the boys woke up we all ate breakfast and went to take Paul to school.

Preston and I got home and I called Paul and told him that he may want to wrap things up that day and I may need him to stay home tomorrow if I feel "like this again." I was telling him that I could barely walk when I was getting the contractions, but they didn't feel like "real" contractions. Anyway, Preston and I spent time together and did a little sticker picture. Not long after that I lost the "plug" and proceeded to call Paul and tell him to come home from work NOW! Though I know you could not go into labor for another couple of days, I also knew how I was feeling and it wasn't quite right! I called the doctor and they told me to take tylenol, get off my feet, and call them in a few hours. Of course, I told them I was not having contractions....(they felt no different than the serious braxton hicks I had been having the last couple of weeks!)

By the time Paul got home, I was having "real" contractions. I started timing how far apart these alledged "braxton hicks" were apart and began to notice that they were coming at regular intervals! It was then that I decided I was in labor! Paul picked up Paul from school and then fixed the boys and I lunch and it wasn't too long after that when I found myself crawling on the floor on a more regular basis! When they say the more babies you have, typcially the faster your labor progresses, they mean it! I called the doctor and told them that yes I am having contractions and they are now about 7 to 10 minutes apart. They told me to come into the doctor's office around 1:30 (it was 12:30) to be checked out by the doctor! I guess I sounded too calm on the phone because I was thinking WHAT? Checked out? I'm in labor, I need to be going to the hospital!

Anyway, as Paul packed a little bag for the kids and gathered my bag and the cameras and everthing, I was crawling on the ground during contractions and helping him get stuff for the boys when I wasn't contracting! He seemed to be poking around to me, but I guess I was a bit hormonal so who knows how slow he was really going! All I know is that I kept telling him to hurry up now! He took the kids to Charmaine's house and we headed to the doctor's office.

We got there and my contractions were about 5 to 7 minutes apart now. I sat in the room waiting for the doctor to come in (still complaining about how absurd this was to be here instead of the hospital where the epidural is administered). Well, I don't even know if he knew I was there, but I finally told Paul to go tell the nurses that I was going to the hospital now and he can check me out over there....I refused to stay here any longer in pain! Paul said the contractions were now 2 1/2 to 5 minutes apart, alternating. The nurses said Ok, go ahead and head over, I'm sorry.

Well to make matters worse, Paul is laughing at me and I am in public having contractions that close together so I want to be freaking out and I have to remain calm for fear of embarrassment. We get in the elevator as we are heading to the hospital and it stops! Yes, it stops! Paul said it was for about 30 seconds, but all I know is that it stopped, did something funny and I was not at all amused! There was another girl in there, not pregnant, who didn't know I was in labor, saying oh my god, what's going on? I was like Paul "go fix it" He's like what am I going to do? I swear I was freaking out inside, but I managed to remain calm out of pure shock! Thankfully the elevator started up again and as the other girl was like "oh that was scary!" all I could do was look at her with mean eyes! If she only knew! I wanted to be like "stop complaining!" Anyway, we walked out and Paul went to get the car as I stood there waiting having pretty painful contractions and not being able to sit or bend down anywere. How uncomfortable!

We made it to the hospital where they determined that yes I was in labor and yes the contractions were 2 to 5 minutes apart. I was only dilated 2 cm which was much less than I was for Paul when his contractions were farther apart. As I came to find out and this also explains all the back pain I have felt in this pregnancy, my uterus was tipped backwards, laying on my back and the baby was sitting in there pretty much directly on my back. This causes you to dilate much slower, though the contractions are normal. So, needless to say my back was really aching! I had to stay there for a long time, whereas for Paul they let me go get the epidural much sooner. So, on the third one, who was supposed to be scheduled, with no labor pains or anything, I ended up feeling the most pain, contraction-wise anyway. I mean, both types of contractions hurt probably just the same, but Peyton's had to be felt longer as I sat and waited to be able to get an epidural.

I don't know how long I really waited, but it was long enough to begin freaking out! I can't say I was exactly nice to Paul at this point....actually, I should say that I was pretty horrible to him! I do remember flipping him off a few times and reminding him that he would never again touch me! I was not a good pregnant person and I certainly was not a good labor person either! So, sorry Paul! You really were great!

Well, finally, I got the epidural, I suddenly became nicer and we waited for the doctor to stop seeing patients for the day so he could come see me. He did, then apparently he went to eat dinner because my father-in-law and mother-in-law saw him down there when they went to eat, while I waited with indigestion and nausea for a delivery room to open up. I did end up throwing up, nothing but stomach stuff I suppose because it was about 6:30 pm now and I hadn't eaten since 12:00. (I had a half of a turkey sandwich)

Finally, a room was opened and cleaned and I was given more medication through the thing in my back so that I was "good and numb" for the section. I did manage to wait until after they took Peyton out for some anxiety medication, which was put in literally while I was still on the operating table right after he was pulled out. I also got to use a mirror to see them pull Peyton out (very gross and it looks so dangerous). But, it was neat that I got to see that.

Peyton Joseph Miano entered the world on Monday, September 15, 2008 at 8:19 PM. He weighed 7 lbs. 5.6 oz. and was 20.5 in. long, making him the heaviest and the longest of all our boys! He looked like "one of ours" and resembled the way his brothers looked at their births. Now, I beli eve he looks like Preston with dark hair and dark eyes, but we will have to see.

The boys did come by today to meet their little brother, but I will post another one about that later when I get the pictures off of my mom's camera!!!

So far, Peyton has been wonderful...he rarely cries and sleeps all the time! Of course, they all sleep all the time, but when he is awake, he seems content doing whatever. He doesn't even cry to have his diaper changed and when he is hungry he still doesn't cry! It's about time I get a "good" baby! However, I doubt this will continue....he's only one day old! But, even if he were to scream about everything, we love our little Peyton Joseph and wouldn't trade him for anything! He is the most adorable day old baby in the world and he is already loved so much!!!! He's so cute!!!! I love having another baby around...I really missed it!

Thank you so much to Aunt Sylvia, Mimi, and Charmaine for staying with the boys for us!!! We wouldn't know what to do without you all!!!