Welcome, Hunter  − 21 August, 2000

My pregnancy with Hunter progressed well. I felt like an elephant, but overall it went well. I was tired a lot since Kaitlyn was still a toddler, so I was constantly scrambling around with her. Hunter's room was waiting on his gender before I did any decorating. I had kept both the boy and girl decor from Kaitlyn, so basically I was just waiting on Hunter to decorate.

Hunter was due early August, but I was showing absolutely no progress. All I knew was I hoped he wasn't born on Brittany's birthday. During my last appointment, my doctor decided he was just going to go ahead and induce me on the 21st. It was weird knowing what day my child would be born, but at least it let me get everything together over the weekend.

I woke up on that Monday and felt awful. I was having twinges of pain, but didn't think much of it. My MIL and FIL were in town, so they were going to stay home with Brittany and Kaitlyn. They were nervous but excited.

On the way to the hospital, I was feeling quite a bit more uncomfortable. I couldn't be certain, but it most definitely felt like contractions. I just thought I was imagining things. When I arrived at the hospital, they checked me and apparently it wasn't just in my mind. I had started dilating and effacing. Since I had already been there to be induced and with me being early in the process, my doctor did want to go ahead and give me Pitocin. I am not a Pitocin fan. Thank goodness they followed that eventually with an epidural.

As labor went along, Hunter's heart rate was dipping so I was on my left side during much of the time. They had to give me some oxygen just to make sure everything was OK. Fortunately, he was fine.

At 2:36pm, Hunter came into the world at 9lbs. 6oz. His head was a bit mishapen from the birth. The next morning, the nurse brought him into my room. Hunter was on his side and there was a note in bold letters saying Hunter HAD to sleep on his one side. I asked her why and apparently, when Hunter was delivered, the doctor broke his collarbone. Poor baby!!! He didn't seem bothered by it, but I spent the next few weeks a nervous wreck!