Birth!

We are proud to announce the birth of Noah Lewis Cornelius Saturday July 17th 2010 at 7:32 p.m. He weighed in at a whopping 9 lbs 7.2 oz. 22 inches long.

It was another successful vaginal birth after cesarean for me. For some reason I figured that it would be a smooth and easy birth since I had done it before. Lesson learned...birth is hard and it never goes the way you expect.

The basic story is that we checked into the hospital at 10:00, contractions 4 minutes apart 2 cm dilated. I labored throughout the day. I sent some e-mails, updated my facebook status, Aaron and I played cards. I spent some time in the tub and on the birthing ball. As things got more intense I climbed into the bed and stayed on my left side.

They checked my progress at around 2:00. I think I was a four. I remember being devastated having thought that I would go so fast. Now in retrospect I realize that was awesome progress.

Things started picking up at this point. I started shaking and I threw up twice, both good signs that I was moving to the active phase of labor. The funny thing is that I felt like I was doing such a good job of visualizing and staying calm and open, but really once I moved to active labor I realized that I wasted all my visualization on the "easy" part.

Around 6:15 I was 6 cm. I was having constant contractions and they HURT!!! I asked for an epidural. The midwife asked me several times if I really wanted and epidural and I said yes! The anesthesiologist came 20 minutes later and I was checked before he got started, I was 8 cm! But for some reason I still got the epidural. As he was inserting it, I needed to push.

Now once an epidural is in it takes 15 minutes to take effect. Before he ever turned it on I was fully dilated and pushing.

Noah was coming fast, but then his shoulders got stuck. I was trying with all my might, but he was STUCK! Then his heart rate began to drop. MOM! Get me out of here NOW was the message. I was given a small episiotomy and the nurses were pushing on my belly to get him out. After he was born I noticed a long bruise on Noah's left shoulder, likely the shoulder that was stuck.

I didn't know this until I spoke to the midwife yesterday. You get to a point in labor where you are unaware of your surroundings. I was unaware that my sister-in-law and my mother were supporting me so that Aaron could watch Noah be born. I was even unaware that his heart rate was dropping, I just heard the nurse telling me I had to get him out NOW!

Finally I pushed him out and I heard all the staff saying that is a BIG baby. They said it over and over, Lauren this is a big baby. I guess I kind of figured he was 11 lbs or something. Honestly I was kind of let down when they said he was 9 lbs 7.2 oz. However this weight breaks records on both sides of the family so I guess I will take it.

I was so shaky and tired that I was scared to hold him. Aaron was holding him and kept asking what we should name him. I was still out of it enough that I couldn't think or see straight.


Then all of a sudden someone noticed a beautiful rainbow outside the birthing suite window. Aaron asked, "Hey what if we name him Noah?" It wasn't on our list, we hadn't even considered it, but it fit. Not only because of the rainbow, but because of so many of our prayers that were answered with a safe, timely, healthy birth. Louis is Aaron's fathers middle name so Lewis is our tribute to Aaron's father.


One of the nurses on duty has a husband who is a New England Culinary Institute chef and he had brought in a chocolate cake for the staff. They gave me a congratulatory slice. I couldn't eat it right away, but when I did it was SOOOOOOOOOO good!

So that is the story. He is here and wonderful.

The Last of the Belly Pictures

Ok here are the last of the belly pictures. I realize that these photos are more for me than anyone else, but someday I hope to make this blog into a book so I put them here for posterity's sake.

I am not sure why I feel my posterity would want to see my swollen stretch marked belly but anyway...


These two are from June 23rd putting me at 36 weeks.

This is from July 7th a mere 10 days before he was born.



These three are from the hospital room where he was born. Not the most attractive photos as I am having contractions in two of them.

Next post...the birth!

A Sweet One

Just a sweet random one of Jacob!

Happy Birthday!

Ok here is how far behind I am. Aaron had his 31st birthday May 23rd. He requested a Strawberry Cake. For some reason I tried a lemon frosting and it was actually a really yummy combination.

Happy Birthday to the man who has fulfilled all my dreams, even ones I didn't know I had.

A Few Belly Shots

Ok so I am trying to take lots of belly shots because I am pretty sure this is our last child and I have a very bad memory and I want to at least remember my pregnant days. Here are a few of the shots. Some are clothed some are raw belly. Sorry if that is too much!

May 21st a little over 31 1/2 weeks. The bathroom mirror is filthy dirty...

June 3rd 33 weeks


Both of these are June 9th at 34 weeks. I just thought the one with Jacob in the bunny suit was a funny addition.

I have a few more I will add when I get them off the camera. Hopefully it will include the one taken the day that the baby is born! In fact I am certain it will.

Time Well Spent

Sophie wanted curly hair so one night we spent A LONG TIME, way past her bedtime putting it up like this.

She slept on it all night, woke up in the morning, pulled it all out and declared, "I don't like it, it makes my hair all poofy."

I thought of all the things I could have done with that time...you know watch a movie, play on the internet etc...If I could go back and do it all again I wouldn't change a thing.

p.s. I love Sophie's eyes!

Dancer Photo Portion

Here is Sophie on the eve of her dance recital. I have to say I was NOT fond at all of how they did the make-up, but hey you can't harass the free help right?

Dance Extravaganza Video Portion

Sophie had a recital in May for her dance classes. Here is the video of it for those that weren't able to attend. I am hoping that they are in order, but I can't tell as I am posting if they are. Sorry for those that get this via e-mail. Videos don't transmit.




This was their culminating dance. They were modifying it just the week before they performed it so it is a bit chaotic. I had to trim some of the beginning and end off so that it was only 1 minute.

FYI as a barter for the classes I made the dance skirts and tutus. It may not seem like much, but those dance skirts were HARD to make and took A LOT of time. I definitely consider my debt paid in full.

Ben's T-Ball

T-Ball season has come and gone. Ben was so excited to play T-ball, but after the first practice I think he realized it was just one more place he had to listen and pay attention.

At one t-ball game he went to use the port-o-let and was gone for quite some time. Just as I was wondering out loud what he was doing in there, I heard him belting out a tune from inside the port-o-let.

He finally exited and sat down on the far side of the field. Being pregnant I hollered across the field rather than walking to him, "Ben! What are you doing!!??"

"I'm catching peepers!"

"No Ben you are here to play t-ball!"

"I don't want to play t-ball any more!"

With the threat of no creemee on the way home he made it back to his position.

All in all t-ball was a good experience for Ben and he learned a lot. He will grow and mature a lot and we will probably do it again next year.

Building

Jacob built this girl a couple of months ago and I was proud of it so I thought I would photo document it.

As an after note...all you who think your life is too boring to blog about...I have either just proven that you are right, or I have inspired you to post about the little things in life.

Cakes

Here are all the cakes I have made in the last two months. A BIG thank you to Aunt Denise for the cake decorating supplies.

This one I made for Aaron's AP students as a reward for taking the grueling AP U.S. History exam.

This one was for Aaron's mom for Mother's Day, M being for Mother. However Leah's birthday was around that time. Her nickname is Wee so turn it upside down for a W and it is her birthday cake.

Aaron's birthday cake. It is a homemade strawberry cake with lemon frosting (I have to say an amazing combination.)

Ben requested an army cake for his birthday and this was the best I could do. In answer to Jennifer's question, no there was no metal detected in the cake.

Sophie requested an ice cream cake. This is an oreo crust with vanilla bean ice cream, whipped cream topping and oreo garnish (obviously.) I couldn't get it out of the pan at this point. I have pictures that I will post about her birthday that have it out of the pan. I have to say that I felt like I was cheating Sophie with this cake because it seemed so simple and easy to make, but it was SO SO YUMMY!!!!

Force

I finally forced myself to organize all the photos I have taken since we got a new computer. Now I have lots of stuff to post about. These are the last 2 "old" photos from April.

Aaron feeling silly at a family gathering. I still think he is drop dead gorgeous even with a flower in his hair.

Apparently Jacob loved the cake. He licked his plate clean.

New Computer

I have had a hard time blogging ever since we got a new computer and it has everything to do with my photo organizing program. I was so comfortable and familiar with the old program and it is really hard to want to get familiar with the new one. I'll get it eventually...

Until then, at a family gathering my nephew had the idea of taking pictures inside a kaleidoscope. These were the resulting pictures.

Small Break

Sorry I took a small break from blogging. No reason, I just didn't get to it. Unfortunately I don't have any really exciting pictures to share but I'll do it anyway.

This picture is from the end of April!!!

It may not look like much, but it is an almost flour-less torte that is pretty mild by itself, but combine it with the chocolate mousse center and chocolate ganache topping and altogether it is perfectly divine.

I made this for my sister in law Kristin and my Dad's birthday in the end of April. Don't ask about nutritional information, you don't want to know.