Birthday

Maddox Victor Peter Ripp joined our special family this Tuesday August 24th at 2:07 am. Weighing 6lbs 14 oz and 19 1/2 inches long. He is lovely and we are all so so in love.
Monday night Keegan had to work late (Mondays are always late nights) and Ava and I had a busyish day. We got up and went to the gym then she had to go get her two year old check up and shots (yes i had put that off but needed it so better late then never and so glad we took care of that just in the nik of time) then we lunch and played with Sarah and Caleb, who was adjusting to both his sisters starting back at school and being the only kid in the house. I had a few contractions but nothing that had not been going on the past week. Ava and I then went home and she took a bath as I did some things and then Elise, Stephanie and baby Beck came over to play for the afternoon. I was feeling quite pregnant and a bit extra uncomfortable but I had been for several days now. When they went home, Ava and I had a picnic on our bed and she danced and watched the wiggles. We played a bit more and then it was close to her bed time. Threw her in stroller like normal, got Rufus and went for a walk. I started having some contractions but still thought there was no way this was it. I walked an extra lap cause Ava would not go to sleep and I was ready to call it a day and wanted to avoid the bed time struggles we sometimes have. She still did not fall asleep and I had extra mommy mushy feelings toward her all of a sudden and wanted to hold her... despite pushing stroller and walking the dog and 100 degrees. Once home I lied down with her until she fell asleep, contracting but instead thinking of all the things I needed to do before baby arrived and Ali and Bryan came Wednesday.
Ava finally fell asleep and I got up and cleaned the whole house... this time I starting having regular contractions and thinking hummm this could be it. I still did not want to call Keegan until it was sure and I had stuff I wanted to do. Finally I called Keegan and said just keep your phone with you. I don't think he thought much of it but did as he was told. I was putting clean sheets on the bed for ali and bryan and they were coming and hurting I would kind of fold over when each one came but kept on my mission to get house ready. Finally I decided to do what they had told me at the hospital the week before, take a bath and see if they still come despite relaxing. I never ever take baths but hopped in tub and tried to relax but I was so distracted. I had contractions but I had no idea how frequently they were coming as my watch broke and I lost concept of time sitting in tub doing nothing.... it seemed like ages in between each contraction. I hoped out and got in shower to wash my hair just in case this was labor, still in total denial. I was hurting... the contractions were getting really intense and when i popped my head out of the shower to time them they were coming 3 mins apart. Strange I thought... yea i was very much in disbelief. I called Keegans brother, Zack who is an OB to ask could this be it if they are coming so close together and there was no real build up starting from 10 mins and was this not too fast, he did not answer. so I called Keegan, "I think its time" as another contraction hit. By the time Keegan got home I was lying in my underwear on the ottoman in the living room crying. Keegan started timing them and then started rushing me to get out the door, as soon as his parents arrived he was ready to go. I wanted to lie and snuggle Ava a bit and Rufus but he cut that short and pulled me out of the bed. By the time we got to the hospital which is very close I was really hurting..... It was 1130. I was 5 cm dialated. by 11:50 I was dialated to an 8. They had called the anethesiologist to come in for the epidural but were concerned things were moving to quickly. It hurt. The anesthesiologist made it just in time... and had trouble giving me the epidural because the contractions were so close together and he could not get the needles in. Maddox was high up but ready to come out so they had me push for a while before the dr came to get him down lower. Except when it started to work I had this overwelming desire to push... they tell you about this but with Ava it was not the case. The dr came in and a few more chunks of pushing and he was right there... and in one final push Maddox came out all at once. It felt amazing. It happened so fast 4 hours of labor and he was here. Keegan and I were in shock that it happened so fast and trying to take it all in.
He was beautiful and it was magic. He had swallowed a lot of fluid on his way out and so they had a lot of suctioning to do, Keegan stood right there as they finished with me, trying to hold him but they still had to clear his lungs. Then the nurse past him Maddox and we both sat there crying. I nursed right away and he latched on immediatly. It was magic.