announcing with joy...

Duncan James Lugbill

Born Wednesday, August 22nd at 2:05 AM

9 lbs 1 oz

21 1/2 inches long

Here's how it happened, for those of you who are interested. I started having contractions around 1:45pm on Tuesday. I did not pay any attention at first, because I was having contractions all. the. time. at that point and these felt no different to me. But they started getting closer and closer together, until they were between 5 and 10 minutes apart for about 2 hours. My thoughts at this point: "Hm, maybe I should call the doctor. I don't really remember when I'm supposed to call. I'm probably not in labor so I don't really want to call in case they tell me to go in and then send me home. That would be embarrassing." I guess I was just picturing labor contractions to be a lot more intense and more regular than mine were. But I eventually called, around 5pm, and they told me to go to the hospital. So, reluctantly, I called Nathan and asked him to come home from work. 

So, we packed our bags. (It's our third kid; of course we hadn't packed anything yet.) My sister, Alyssa, has been living with us this summer doing her accounting internship in Indy. She finished her internship last Friday, so this week she was graciously helping me out BIGTIME with the kids, cooking, cleaning, etc. She whipped up some tacos for us to eat on our way out. I told her we'd probably see her later that evening after they told us it was NOT labor.

I was so nervous getting checked into triage because I wanted so badly for this to be IT but I didn't want to get my hopes up. I was on pins and needles and told Nathan I would definitely cry a little if they sent us home. BUT after waiting forever, the nurse finally checked me and I was at 5 cm! I was shocked and sooo happy, as demonstrated here:

 

So we were eventually moved into our "real" room. I got an epidural almost right away, around 8 pm, and the doctor broke my water around 9pm.  I was still 5 cm then. We watched a little bit of Groundhog Day, which was on TV...funny because the doctor who delivered Silas looked a lot like Bill Murray. At some point before midnight (we can't remember exactly when) I was 6 cm.  Nathan slept, and I dozed on and off for a few hours. (Epidurals are my best friend.) 

Around 1:50am, when the nurse came in to change my linens, I suddenly felt quite a bit of pressure. I told her and she was like, "Well, I wasn't going to check you yet but I will just in case." And then her eyes got really big and she said that the baby's head was "right there" and went to go get the doctor. I had to yell Nathan's name several times (he had his own "spouse quarters" behind a curtain and was dead to the world) before he emerged, looking a little disoriented. And then it was time to push. Less than five minutes later, we got to meet our sweet boy.

I felt so good right after the birth and kept telling Nathan "I feel awesome!" I guess my body was a little worn out carrying around that nine pounder so it felt amazing to push him out. :)

Dr. Wagner, a young Bill Murray. I hadn't met him before that night but was really pleased with him. He was quiet and calm but very helpful in answering questions. And he worked some kind of magic with his stitching, because even though I had a second degree tear I barely even felt it. Never took any pain meds for the tear, only a couple of times for the post-labor contractions. Amazing, I tell you.

Daddy got squeamish during the pushing, probably because he had just woken up out of a deep sleep. Dr. Wagner (Murray) took one look at him and said, "Looking pretty grey, dad." Later the nurse described his face as being "negative white." :) But he recovered enough to hold his new son a few minutes later.

We are so thankful to the Lord for his kindness to us. Duncan has been a sweet blessing, and we are thoroughly enjoying our time in the hospital with him. Please pray with us that Duncan would repent of his sins and put his trust in Jesus' death on the cross for the forgiveness of sins.

More to come...