Finally!  A "New & Improved" look to our family blog!  The arrival of our sweet BGR has made our family complete, that's for sure.  I've had the new illustration in the works well before her arrival but just finally got around to getting the new look up and running. 

To try and get us caught up with the past 7 weeks, let's start with the first event.....the one that changed our lives for the better, Addison's birth.

Of course, Addison just had to change things up a bit.  I mean, I had it all planned out and everything.  Family was set to come in town that weekend and be at the hospital, just like when Jack was born.  I still had the weekend to do a couple of things around the house and run a few errands.  But she was having none of it.  Wednesday evening, September 28th was nothing out of the ordinary.  I had a suspicion that I would not last until my due date of Oct. 8th, but thought it wasn't a stretch to make it to my c-section date on the 3rd.  I was having some "contractions" leading up to that night, but they were sporadic at best.

Around 2am, I began to have those contractions again.  But this time, there was something different.  Mike was sleeping soundly and I didn't want to wake him in case it was a false alarm.  So, for the next hour I tried regulating my breathing and counting the minutes between each one.  These felt a little more intense.  At 3am, I experienced what felt like my water could be breaking.  But it was such a small amount, I wasn't totally conviced.  I quickly popped up and woke Mike with "I think my water is about to break."  The pain intensified over the next hour and they started to come with less time between each one.  We sent Eva (our awesome delivery nurse and friend) a text to update her on my status to which she replied "Yep, I think we're going to have a baby soon!"  So we mobilized and I began to throw a bag for the hospital together as quickly as possible.  (Remember I said I still had things to do over the weekend?)  Luckily, I had packed for Addison already.

Calls were made to family.  Maggie met us at the hospital to take Jack back to her house and we were admitted to the Birthing Suite.  Around 4am, my water officially breaks while sitting on a gurney in admitting.  Yep, we are DEFINITELY having a baby today.  And boy, let me tell you what.....I have never felt such agonizing pain before.  It is no joke.  For the next 5 hours I am in full labor and unable to have any pain killers because they didn't want it to interfere with the spinal I would receive in surgery.  I was whimpering like a baby.

Then finally, Dr. Stubbs and Eva arrive and the operating room opens up.  We are good to go.  Around 7am-ish, I receive the relief of my spinal and all was right with the world.  Addison would be making her arrival in just mere minutes!  At 7:13am, my family was made complete.  We were blessed with a beautiful and healthy baby girl. 

Note: Some of the pictures were taken with the subject not in her best shape.  Remember, they pump you full of fluids and the result is not pretty!  Plus, I just had a small human being plucked from my body.  Nevertheless, it's all part of the day.  Please be kind. ;)

 Proud daddy

 Uncle Dave

 One of our nurses.....a Gator!  Needless to say, she took great care of us. ;)