Jack Bonovox Thomas Harris - October 1 - 5 lbs 14 oz

Wow. I posted that last post "If you build it he will come" to let the world know I was ready for the baby, and then the baby came! The next day the contractions started up again and they didn't stop. I knew it was time but I also knew that I needed to finish my 20 page research paper for law school. So I sat at my computer until 1:30 am refusing to go to the hospital even though my contractions were 2-3 minutes apart. The next day I woke up and the contractions were gone again. Phew. But on Sunday, Maddie begged/guilt tripped me into going to see her in the Primary Program at church. So I went and sat near the front so I could see her. And suddenly I got very hot and started sweating like crazy. And then the contractions came back with a vengeance. And since my paper was done I agreed to go into the hospital when Josh insisted. Here is my Maddie girl being VERY excited that we were going to the hospital and might be coming back with a baby brother.

That night was long. The doctor on call tried to send me home twice, but I now know how to be a pushy patient. So I insisted that he keep me longer to monitor how the baby was handling the contractions. And when I saw some weird stuff on the baby's heart monitor I pointed it out to him and made him call my doctor. My doctor said he would come in and check me himself because, and I quote, "She's complicated." I'm lucky I have an OB who respects me and treaded carefully around my pregnancy. He called my baby the "million dollar baby" because he knew how long and hard I had to fight for him and what a miracle he was. My doctor decided to induce me when he saw the weird stuff on the baby's monitor. So he started the patosin and I sat and contracted and stayed at a 3 forever because the baby wasn't fully turned head down. But I got my epidural (always ask early!) and just kept waiting. As you can imagine, I didn't get any sleep that night. I looked over at Josh peacefully sleeping on the "Dad Bed" with envy.

Josh brought Maddie in that morning before school to say hello. Mom's are wonderful actresses. I pretended I wasn't in pain the whole time Maddie was there. She was so excited to go to school and tell everyone she was getting a baby brother that day.

After Josh left to take Maddie to school, the doctors decided to break my water because it was taking too long and the baby still hadn't turned. But I warned them that as soon as they break my water I progress very fast. So I called Josh and told him that he didn't get a smoothie that day and to hurry the heck up. Literally 15 minutes later he walked in and I was ready to push. That's how fast I went from a 3 to a 10. (I love epidurals.) One push and then there was this little pink blur screaming at everyone. I have never had a pink screaming baby come out of me! But he was pink and moving and screaming and it was making me cry. He was healthy! But when I looked at the doctor, he looked very nervous. He showed us the tight knot in the umbilical cord and said the cord was wrapped around the baby's neck too. If he had been in my stomach much longer we likely would have lost him. I have never been more grateful for my stupid, irritable uterus and my preterm contractions.

I have to admit that it was about a half hour after Jack joined this world that I believed that (1) he was real, (2) he was healthy, and (3) he was mine. When I realized all of that, I was overcome with tears of joy. I love this picture because we are both looking at him in total wonder. When you think about how he was THE LAST EMBRYO out of about 50, and even then the doctor didn't think he was a good quality embryo, the miracle of his life is just plain crazy. 

After school, Maddie got to come and meet her baby brother for the first time. What a sweet, gentle big sister she is!

My mom took this picture right after they handed Jack to me. I love it because I look so incredibly proud and surprised. That was my true emotion at the time! It sort of reminds me of the scene in the Lion King when the proud parents hold up their little prince for the world to see and rejoice with them. :o)