Ethan's arrival!

Seriously, where does the time go?!? I am sitting here, staring at a 3 week old and sitting next to his big sister (who magically grew up and got 'so big' overnight!)  and I just wonder where the time has gone. Everyone tells me that kids grow up quickly and I am only beginning to understand that. 
So, the biggest change in our lives is that we are now a family of 4! Ethan Nicholas Tiedeman was born on October 16 and his labor and delivery was very far from his sister's delivery (which is a good thing). I am so thankful that things went better this time around, even though I did have a few bad patches along the way.
Ethan's arrival begins like this... on the 13th, I had my 39 week doctor's appointment. At that visit, my blood pressure was pretty high. I had been testing my BP at home and had some elevated results as well, so the fact that things were staying pretty elevated was a little concerning. Then I was pretty uncomfortable with having a consistent headache and starting to get swollen. So, the doctor agreed that we should move forward with an induction. I was scheduled to call the hospital on Thursday (the 15th) morning and discuss a time to come in. 

Providing support right before I started to push!

Thursday morning at 5:30am, I called and was told that they were full and I needed to call back at 9. Phil stayed home from work that morning, so we had a lazy morning and then I called back. Was told there still was no room, so Phil went to work and my mom, Olivia and I proceeded with our day. Called again at noon and was again told they didn't have room, so it continued to be a wait game. Later in the afternoon, the nurse that I was talking with at the hospital called and discussed the situation with me and said that she wasn't getting in touch with my doctor, after multiple phone calls, so she felt bad for having me just hang out. I was finally able to touch base with my doctor and after some discussion, I asked to switch hospitals and deliver at the hospital in Woodbury. Woodbury was able to get me in that evening, so Phil and I had dinner with my mom and Olivia and then we set off for the hospital around 7:30!

Welcome Ethan!

I was admitted at 1 cm dilated and then they started the cervadil around 8:30pm. It was a poor night of sleep for both of us (thankfully I was able to get a sleeping pill to help me, but Phil had to fend for himself). The cervadil was to be in for 12 hours and then they would check me in the morning and start the pitocin. When I was checked at 9am, I was only at 2cm, so the pitocin party began! Phil and I began our walk around the floor to hopefully get things moving. My mom got to the hospital around 10 or 11am, so the three of us continued the wait game. At 11am, I was at 3cm and 70% effaced. I was getting pretty uncomfortable, so I tried the birthing ball and taking a bath. At 1pm, I was 4cm and 90% and really uncomfortable, so I asked for the epidural. At 1:45pm, the epidural was in place. Unfortunately, I could still feel contractions on my left side, but it did make things more comfortable. The epidural must have been the magic touch because by 3pm, I was at 8cm and 90% and then by 3:45, I was complete and feeling pressure and ready to start pushing! I started pushing a little after 4pm and then Ethan arrived at 4:22pm!

Ethan weighed 7 pounds and 7 ounces and was 19 and 3/4 inches long. Phil was able to cut the cord and Ethan and I got to do skin-to-skin contact right away. It was such a different experience having Ethan with me, and not being rushed away to the NICU. Things were so peaceful and it was such a joyous experience.

Meeting her little brother

We had a few choices of what we wanted to name him, but wanted to sleep on things to make sure. We decided on Ethan, as it was a name that we both liked. And Nicholas is after my Grandpa Nick (my mom's dad). We told everyone his name the next morning and then got the birth certificate filled out and completed all other necessities before being discharged around 2pm on Sunday the 18th! 

Happy Big Sister

Ethan was discharged at 7 pounds 1 ounce, but is a camp-champ with eating and quickly got back to birth weight. At his first pediatrician appointment at 5 days old, he was back up to 7 pounds 8 ounces! At his 2 week appointment, he weighed in at 8 pounds 4 ounces and yesterday, he was rocking 8 pounds 13 ounces! He sleeps very well and is a content little boy. He is up every 2 to 2.5 hours during the night, but goes back to sleep fairly quickly after feeding. This week, he is starting to get more alert and has streaks where he's awake for 45-60 minutes. It's been fun to see him look around and see his gorgeous eyes. He makes adorable little grunts when he's starting to wake up, as well as when he's eating. And he is so strong already with his neck and head control! We are so in love with him and are so happy to be a family of 4.