Jack Conner Harris

I am a little late on announcing the arrival of precious Jack Conner Harris! He was born on October 9th, almost 3 weeks early!!! He is absolutely perfect though...we think the dr. had my date wrong! He was lifting his head and moving it around the day after he was born. Jack weighed 7lb 7oz and was 19 inches long. He weighed 7lbs exactly when we were discharged 2 days after he was born. At his first pedi appointment at 5 days old, he weighed 7lbs 9oz! At his 3 week appointment he weighed 8lbs 8 oz! He is healthy and growing and we are so thankful!

The birth story:
Derek, Ross and I went to bed on Thursday October 8th, my lower back had been hurting that day off and on and I just couldn't get comfortable. I never went to sleep that night. I tossed and turned. Around midnight I got up to go to the bathroom and discovered something unusual...I wasn't sure though. I woke Derek up and told him that my water might have broken, but I wasn't sure. It wasn't a lot but definitely noticeable. My due date was almost 3 weeks away and we just couldn't believe it was happening so soon! We talked about it for a little while and I was pretty sure that was what it was so we decided to get our things together and head to the hospital. I wasn't having any contractions so we were pretty confused about the whole thing. Derek got our things together and I decided that I wanted to clean the kitchen before we left! Well, there was no doubt in our minds at this point...I was shocked...it was official, my water broke! We got to the hospital around 1am and they hooked me up to all the monitors and NOTHING...no contractions, I wasn't even dilated to a one! But, my water broke so we had to proceed! I started having contractions eventually but I wasn't progressing very much, so after 12 hours they gave me pitocin (sp?) to get things going. I had refused the epidural because I had heard that it could slow things down and since I wasn't progressing...I didn't want it until things were moving along! BIG MISTAKE! The pain eventually got bad enough that I didn't care how fast or slow it was going...I just wanted the pain to stop! So I asked for the epi....I was informed that the anesthesiologist had a few patients to get to before me. An hour later, I was begging Derek to go find the man and get him up to my room ASAP! He finally arrived and gave me my relief! Well, the epi didn't work on my right side!!! He kept givng me more meds but nothing was working. I was so miserable and I remember thinking that if the windows in that room could be opened I would just jump out if they couldn't make the pain stop! lol, I really wouldn't have but I was desperate! The anesthesiologist gave me a spinal and that helped to releive the pain just enough that I could handle it. Derek was great and stood by me the whole time and talked me through everthing. The nurses were great too! The only time I cried was after the epidural didn't work and then of course when Jack was born! Everyone says you forget the labor...I am still waiting on that! :) But, it was ALL worth it! Jack Conner Harris was born at 2:33 pm and he was absolutely beautiful and perfect! We couldn't have asked for anything more! He has pretty blue eyes and light golden brown hair. He has become my little chunky monkey! Everyone says he looks like Derek and Ross and I have to agree! Derek says he has my chin and ears but I think he has Derek's ears...I guess everyone sees things differently! He makes the cutest little noises and he LOVES to stretch! He also squeaks when he stretches! SO CUTE! He is very curious about his hands and stares at them with a very scared and puzzled look on his face...I love it! I also love the way he 'attacks' anything that gets near his face when he is hungry! He actually pulled my glasses off and flung them one time when I tried to steal a kiss at feeding time! :0 He is sleeping at night now, just waking up to eat. The first two weeks, he was up all night and slept all day! It was pretty rough! I didn't sleep much at that time! Things are going smoothly now and we are really getting into a routine here! YAY! :) I can't believe how much I love him! There isn't anything in the world better than him sleeping on my chest! I love being a mommy and I am so thankful for a healthy baby boy!