Samuel Austin Vander Velde Has Arrived!

We are the proud parents of a healthy, 8lb 9oz, 22 inch baby boy! Samuel Austin Vander Velde was born at 9:35 pm on Friday, March 21.

We arrived at the hospital around 5 pm and she was having stronger contractions. At around 6:30, he water broke, just as I was coming back from getting our birthing ball from the car, figuring she would be laboring for some time. Boy was I wrong! Soon after, her contractions were more painful, longer and stronger. Her aunt Avis, grandpa Michael and grandma Laurie and other family members came and comforted her through the peaks and valleys of contractions and rest. By 8 pm she was already 8 cm dilated. She had about 2ml of Stadol to help take the edge off of the pain. By around 8:30, she was 9cm dilated. We were all amazed at her strength and how fast she was progressing. But, by 9, the doctor reported that the baby was breeched.

This was something we talked about and hoped that she wouldn't need a c-section. She had done so well in the past three hours and we were so sure that he would come out naturally. But it wasn't meant to be. They whisked her back to the operating room to prep her for an epidural and for surgery. By the time Avis and I got back to the O.R., the doctor had already started and Katie was on the table with a green blanket blocking her view. I was able to see the progress in a mirror and I didn't faint! Soon after Katie arrived, our baby emerged from the comforts of the womb at 9:35. Since there was meconium (he already pooped) in the womb they had to suction it out of his throat, least he aspirate it. All the while he was grunting and crying and trying out for the opera, as some nurses said.

We left the O.R. with our baby and announced the happy news to the family. What a relief. Katie is doing well and very tired. We'll have more updates over the next few days as Katie recovers and Sam discovers life.

Nada, Zero, Zilch

Well, still no baby to celebrate, yet. At the doctor's appointment yesterday, she was now 3 cm dilated and 90% effaced, at which point, the doctor said, some women get an epidural. But not Katie. She's a trooper. She's really doing well considering that her feet are swollen up about 40% and she's waddling a lot. The baby had dropped a little more and is definitely ready to view the world. He just needs a little push.

Mom and Dad's friends mention to eat Chinese food and apple pie. I don't know about the apple pie, but we had Chinese food tonight and it hasn't kicked in yet. We're also hoping that the full moon will pull him out. Or at least make some waves in the womb to push him out.

The "new" due date is March 23, but if there's no activity by next Wednesday, he'll be arriving at 7 am on Wednesday anyway.

Bun Still Firmly in the Oven

This bun doesn't want to come out, despite any predictions and desires of its parents and family. We have a doctor's appointment tomorrow morning, so we may have a baby tomorrow. Or we may not.

Whoaaa, Look at the Belly

March 16, 5 days of night-time contractions, and ready to pop!

Not Here yet....

No baby yet. We had a doctor's appointment yesterday and Katie's already 2cm dilated. She's definitely ready to have this baby. My parents are coming down tomorrow and staying around until he's born. We'll keep this updated with the latest news.

Don't come today

Katie woke up this morning feeling lots of contractions. Thankfully they were false ones. The weather forecasters had predicted we'd get some snow today, but as of the morning we had only received a light dusting. Then around 9 or 10, the blizzard started. The sky was so thick with snow and clouds you couldn't see the river from Andy's place of work, which is right next to the river. Andy was able to leave work early and came home during a lull in the storm. By the time he came home, around 4 inches of snow was dropped on the front lawn and back porch. Of course it was time to play!

The snow was the kind of snow you dream about: wet, dense, easily malleable into snowballs and snowmen.

Since Zig hadn't seen snow yet, he was understandably hesitant to go out earlier in the week. Today, he bounded out after Andy. Andy would throw snow up in the air and Zig would try to catch it mid-air. Zig hid his nose in the snow and would use it to make pathways. He went crazy for us in the backyard, running and leaping over the snow. We were quite surprised to see Zig wanting to stay outside; he usually doesn't like being wet.

Andy built a fire, our first in the house, and ... we probably won't be doing it again. While it took a few tries, he finally got it roaring for a short time.

Getting Closer

Katie's starting to feel more contractions, though not the "real" ones. He's now the size of a basketball and trying to get out. His head is pointing down and he's getting in position. Sometimess a diagonal patch of her belly is just hard-as-a-rock-solid baby!

The nursery's done; Andy's cleaned the house seventeen million times. Katie's cleaned it eighteen million. Everything has to be just right for the baby.