Hello. I’m Jack.

Jack Kristopher Hunter

November 21, 2011, 9:49 P.M.

7 lbs. 11 oz., 19 1/2 in.

We started our weekend anticipating Jack’s arrival on Saturday, November 19th.  We couldn’t get scheduled to for our induction till Sunday the 20th.  Little did we anticipate having to wait even longer!  Our hospital got crazy busy.  Seriously, who would’ve expected that there would be so many pregnant ladies all having their babies all at once!?

Sunday was rough.  We sat.  We waited.  Looked at the phone…over and over and over.  We thought the hospital would call that afternoon.  They didn’t.  We hadn’t planned for this and we were so disappointed at how things were going.  Monday morning we sat.  We waited.  Nothing.  We went to our doctor.  I’m not sure why it seemed like a good idea, but it was better than sitting at home!  Then we got lucky!  As we were driving out of the parking lot the phone rang!  I even had my hospital bag in the car, so we went right over because we didn’t want to miss out on our spot! (Thankfully we did, since we got the last room!) 

Monday afternoon around 3:15 they got me started on Cytotech.  I was only dilated to a 2 1/2, so I had a ways to go.  When my hour was up, they took me off the monitors and we walked.  And walked.  And walked.  At 6:45 p.m. they checked me again and I was…a 3.  Really?  A 3.  I just thought, Awesome…this is going to be an all-nighter!  They gave me my second dose of Cytotech and I was pretty uncomfortable.  Lying flat on my back was miserable, and then the contractions started. 

At 9 o’clock I was off the monitors and texting a friend when the contractions got bad.  And by bad, I mean BAD.  I laid on the bed and called the nurse and asked for something for the pain.  Not an epidural, but something to take the edge off.  Yeah.  I never got that.  I was dilated to a 5.  Then I was dilated to an 8.  Then I pushed out a baby!  He didn’t even wait for the doctor to come, or for the nurses to be ready, or for anything!  My nurses delivered him (he kind of just arrived and surprised everybody!) and then the doctor walked in a few minutes later. 

I didn’t plan for an epidural, but I did plan for the IV meds.  Truthfully, there’s something amazing about giving birth totally natural.  I feel like Superwoman.

Jack is healthy and strong and handsome.  So far he’s not a crier.  More of a squeaker and a whimperer.  I don’t expect that to last.:) 

His sisters got to see him this afternoon.  They were very impressed.  I can’t wait to get them all home together.  It’s going to be SO MUCH fun! 

I spent a couple days feeling so grumpy because my baby wasn’t here yet.  This is what they mean when they say, “If you want to hear God laugh, tell Him your plans.”  I missed a few days of putting things I am thankful for up on Facebook (November tradition!) because I was definitely NOT feeling very thankful.  Fail on my part…especially since I have so much to be thankful for.

I’m thankful for my sweet little family and my 3 cute little kids.  I’m thankful for the safe arrival of Mr. Jack.  I’m thankful to feel so much love from the people around me.  I’m thankful for all the hope that a brand new person, straight from heaven, inspires.  I’m thankful my Heavenly Father loves me enough to allow me to be a Mom.