Nathan Ardo Jackman

Our 3rd sweet little boy arrived on October 8th at 2:04 in the morning.  

It's nice to record these experiences so that I can look back and remember how everything happened. So for those interested in the labor story, here we go. It all began on October 7th when I went in to get induced.  We arrived at the hospital at about 5 in the evening.  They gave me a pill to induce labor and then we waited and waited.  It was pretty boring sitting around in the hospital room, all hooked up, and just waiting for something to happen.  I started feeling little contractions, but just uncomfortable, not painful ones, for a while.

  

Then about 10:00pm I was at a 3 and the doctor broke my water. Then things started happening.  The contractions started coming on stronger and about 11:30 or 12:00 I got the epidural and I was at a 5. I don't think I got a strong enough epidural because I still felt a lot of pain through the contractions.  They kept asking me if I wanted the anesthesiologist to come back and give me a higher dose but I was trying to be strong and just breathe through them - I'm not sure why I did that. : )  

Brad laid down to get a little sleep after I got the epidural. Then at about 1:40 they checked me and I was at a 7 and I finally decided to ask for more medicine, so they sent for the anesthesiologist. But maybe just ten minutes after I was checked, I just started screaming in pain and the nurse quickly checked me and saw that I was a 10 and ready to go. The anesthesiologist hurried in right then and pumped up my epidural and they yelled down the hall for someone to get my doctor who was sleeping there at the hospital. Since I went from a 7 to a 10 so quickly, they had nothing ready or prepared. My doctor rushed in and just 10 minutes after Brad was woken up by all this fuss, Nathan came out with maybe only 3 pushes.  I love that each delivery just keep getting better with each child, even though they have all been so different, it just feels so good to know what to expect.

It seems a little crazy but I actually came home from the hospital the same day he was born, on the 8th.  But it didn't really feel like the same day since I had spent all evening before at the hospital, then once he was born I got a good night sleep before I woke up that morning. I just was tired of hanging out in the hospital, eating hospital food, laying in a hospital bed, with nurses always needing to check my blood pressure or whatever.  I was just ready to go sleep in my own bed.  And I knew that my older boys were taken care of so I didn't need to take care of them at home, which was a huge help!

3 days old

Yesterday, on Nov. 3rd, we had Nathan's baby blessing.  It was a little early but with the holidays coming and we knew Brad had to got to Oklahoma City soon for 4 weeks of training but we weren't sure when yet, so we decided to do it early and get it done.  It was a wonderful day spent with family. It is so kind of people to make the effort to be there for his special day.

Aren't these some handsome boys!!!

And for a little explanation on his middle name - Ardo is the middle name of Nathan's Grandpa Jackman, as well as his great-great Grandpa Jackman.  So it is a special family name for Brad and his family.  Even without Brad really mentioning it, I think I have always known he wanted to give that middle name to a son.  

We are slowly figuring out a new routine for our little family.  It is definitely an adjustment with a little baby.  But he is a pretty good baby, not terribly fussy. We are struggling with night time but I know it could be worse.  It is amazing how quickly it feels normal though, like he has always belonged in our family.  We are thrilled to have 3 amazing boys as our children, we are truly blessed.