Introducing....

Caden James Van Pelt, born Wednesday May 21, 10:32 pm, 7 lbs, 10 oz, 20.5 inches

And now for the story of his birth

It all started around 5 pm, I started feeling regular yet mild contractions, about every 8-10 minutes. Then about 7 I noticed some spotting, possibly my mucus plug (sorry to gross you out but we are talking about birthing a baby). At that point I knew we would be having our baby soon. Shawn called Nannie and Papa to pick up Logan, I called my mom to give her warning and we headed to the hospital. By now my contractions are about 3-5 minutes apart but still mild. The nurse examines me and discovers that I am barely 1 cm dilated - we walk for about an hour - get checked again - still about 1 cm, contractions getting a bit stronger but still not uncomfortable. They sent us home around 9 pm with a message from my OB saying to keep my office appointment on Friday.

In the time it takes for us to drive home, by way of the Jack in the Box drive thru (about 4 miles), my contractions are getting stronger. Shawn puts on August Rush to help pass the time yet I can't even sit to watch the movie. It was getting intense fast. Shawn and I are both thinking, "Do we head back so soon?" but the pain was so intense I knew we had to go NOW. It read 10:10 on the car clock when Shawn asked if I was timing my contractions. I wasn't, I just wanted to get to the hospital.

So we get to the hospital, the most painful walks I have ever made, to the 5th floor. I didn't know if I would make it. We were met in the corridor by the secretary with a wheel chair as she was yelling down the hall to the nurse that just released me, "Laura, the mom you just sent home is back!." Instantly a team of nurses swoop me into a room, removing my clothes as I walk from the wheel chair to the bed. After a quick exam, I'm at 8 cm and dilating. Shawn calls my mom again and tells her it is really time. At this point, I am in SO MUCH PAIN, I'm actually shocked at how bad it hurts. Obviously there is no time for an epidural or even an IV. Shawn and the nurses were trying their best to keep me focused, but I was not very willing to listen. Then suddenly I felt a shift and I felt the baby's head. It was a different type of pressure. I told the nurse he was coming, and she said "I believe you!" 2 pushes and we met Caden James! 10:32 p.m. Since Caden was delivered so quickly, he was still in the amniotic sac when he entered the world. This is called "in the caul". Our nurse said in her 30 some years of delivering babies, she had never seen it before. (She brought us some info about it the next morning, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caul . Interesting stuff, we think the vampire part might actually be a little true since Caden is a party animal at night and sleeps most the day. )

Then Shawn cuts the cord, my OB doc arrives along with my mom. Uncle G, Aunt Melis and Uncle Ryan showed up right after to welcome baby Cade to the family. It was a whirlwind

The next morning before school, Nannie and Papa brought Lo by to meet his new baby brother. Logan was so excited!

I guess if I had to do this natural, the best thing I could hope for was to make it quick. And best of all, the end results was a healthy baby boy!