Introducing Henry Walker Summers

Nice to meet you, Henry!

It's go time (around 1:30 am May 19th)

42 weeks!

Sam's t-shirt quilt

So,  getting him here was no easy feat, but rarely are the most amazing experiences and accomplishments deemed easy in life.   Henry was too cozy in my belly and did not want to make his debut willingly.  I carried him 13 days over his due date which was May 6th.  After having my membranes swept 3 times, trying natural methods of induction including anything from eating eggplant until it came out of my ears to bouncing on an exercise ball for what seemed to be hours a day, I was scheduled for induction on  May 19th at 7 am. In the meantime, I read three books, began and made pretty good progress on a t-shirt quilt for Sam, got a pedicure and haircut, and went on many walks.  Then, after getting up to go to the bathroom, my water broke at 12:30 am on May 19th.  I called the on-call doctor and he said to go ahead and make our way to the hospital in the next hour or two because with broken waters, there is an increase for infection.  Therefore, contractions needed to begin within 6 hours.

At the hospital

Once we arrive at the hospital, I got checked in, and went to sleep for a little while seeing as I was going into this with an hour of sleep.  At 5 am I started walking around and bouncing on a ball to try to begin my contractions.  To no avail, I was induced at 6:30 am.  Painful contractions didn't begin until around 8-8:30.  Once they kicked in, there wasn't more than 30 seconds to a minute and a half between contractions which neither gave my body time to adjust to the intensity of pain nor time to change positions between contractions.  With only an hour and 45 minutes of  sleep, I couldn't sustain these conditions.  At 12:30 pm, I threw in the towel with the words "I want an epidural."  Although disappointed with myself at first, I soon realized it was the best decision because it allowed me to get a little more sleep which I would definitely need, and our birth plan had been thrown out the window anyways.  By 5:30, I was ready to begin pushing.  I pushed for almost two and a half hours with little progress, falling asleep and/or throwing up between pushes. The doctor decided it was time to use a vacuum to help get Henry out.  She pulled him while I pushed until he crowned. It then took only three pushes, and Henry Walker Summers was born at 7:59 pm on May 19th 20.5 inches long, weighing 7 lbs 15 ounces. After a long 18 hour day, Sam cut the cord and through tearfully overjoyed eyes, we welcomed our son, and he was placed directly on my belly and chest.

In the mother-baby unit

Sam getting Henry ready to come home

Because there were no complications,  we were able to leave the hospital rather quickly.  We were out by Wednesday at 2 pm.  Upon homecoming, we introduced Henry to Delilah.  She was a little skeptical at first, but she has a deep-rooted maternal instinct, so she has adjusted well and always tries to run to Henry when he is crying to figure out what is wrong. 

It is hard to believe that it has already been a week.  Henry is an amazing little guy.  He is very strong, very laid back, and is very good at eating.  And not to speak too soon, but he has been fairly good at sleeping.  He has allowed me to sleep 5-7 hours the last three nights in a row.  The two nights before that, however, I only got 1.5-2 hours.  The night my milk came in he wanted to eat every hour.  He has kept us busy, but not in any way that we mind.  His poop is even cute.  We have enjoyed learning about him.  We already know that he likes some alone time, likes to dance and listen to music with his dad, read books, be outside, and cuddle with his mom.

After first sponge bath

Skin-to-skin with Daddy

He checked out beautifully at his two day old doctor's appointment.  He had lost down to 7 lbs. 6 ounces which is normal.  He is so tiny!  We also had a new born/family photography session.  It started off a little bumpy with Henry being a little fussy, but as soon as we went outside, he calmed down.  We can't wait to see the pictures.  

Becoming a parent is the most powerful, beautiful, frightening thing ever.  It is an overwhelming responsibility, but one that is abundant with joy and requires you to really live in the moment in order to not miss anything.  Henry has already begun to change; his cheeks get rosier and fuller every day.  He has me on a pretty tight schedule with nursing, but I don't mind because I could just sit around and look at him all day long.  It has also been awesome to watch Sam with him.  He is a natural, very calm when Henry cries, and very engaging and tender when he is alert.  Henry is a lucky little guy.

In other news, I had my placenta made into pills.  It is supposed to replenish my body and balance my horomones and help my milk supply.  Because Henry decided to debut so late, I don't have as much time as I wanted between him getting here and summer semester gearing up.  I have an online class that begins Monday, and clinic that begins the week of June 16th.  Luckily, my clinic will only take me away from home for a few hours on Tuesday and Thursday, and Sam will get to spend some guy time with Henry. 


A note from Dad:

That was the most horrifying and amazing experience of my entire life.  Once he popped out of there, I cried like a baby.  There just aren't any words to describe that experience.  Sometimes I look at him, and I just can believe we actually have a baby.

I'll move on to describe the sounds I heard today:  a baby crying as he pees up into the air like a fountain, bird songs coming from a swing, and a wonderful wife being so motherly to Henry as she changes his diaper saying, "Goodness, you got pee behind your ears!"  Decide for yourself who she's talking to.  

Walk through the garden for the first time

What can I tell you about Henry?  I think I'll write this as if I'm talking to him.

You love to go outside.  Calms you right down.  Maybe it's the wind or the fresh air, but if you're crying, I always take you outside for a bit to settle you.  I think you likes trees.  I know you can't see very far, but I always catch you staring up into their branches.  Maybe it's the color contrasts.  You like listening to birds.  You gets cranky in the afternoon around 7:30-8:00.  Right now, I am sure you like your mother better than me.  For the first few days, I could calm you down, but now I think you've put two and two together (literally) and realized that I can't feed you.  I think you're a thinker.  You furrow your brow and your forehead looks like a plowed field there are so many lines.  You look like you're deep in thought.  Then you kick your legs and poop.  It would be amazing to experience the zen-like relaxation you experience after a feeding.  You just lay there in perfect bliss.  Must be nice to experience that.  Not a care in the world.  Sometimes you remind me of a little drunk person.  The way you roll your head around, can't control your limbs, start flailing everywhere, your eyes roll back in his head, your eyelids get heavy, you starts hiccuping.  Then you pass out wherever and however you want.  You have really strong legs that push against me when you're hungry and trying to get to Mommy.  You nod off when I read to you.  You nod off when I listen to music and dance with you.  You nod off when I'm talking to you and telling you important guy stuff.  You have beautiful deep blue eyes, and holding you is the best feeling ever.

On a related note, I have a broody hen on my hands right now.  No, I'm not talking about my wife.  Really.  Blaire has gone broody.  Now, if you don't know what that means, it means she's ready to hatch some eggs and sit on some chicks..  First she pulled all her breast feathers out and looks like a chicken you'd get at a grocery store.  She did this so the egg could be closer to her skin and warmer.  Whenever I steal her eggs, they are really warm.  Second, she sits in her nest all day.  Third, I have to kick her out everyday so she'll get water and food.  She doesn't like this and make intimidating noises and bustles her feathers up.  It's interesting that she went broody about the time we went to the hospital.  I think she and Kellie share a connection. 

Though we've been busy with Henry, I've had a little bit of time for other things.  Although it did take us three days to watch one 20 minute tv episode.  The garden is coming in ok.  I realized I over-fertilized most of my tomatoes and burnt them up.  Replanted a few.  Did the same thing to some squash, zucchini, and peppers.  My Dad set me straight, we replanted a few things, and hopefully the garden will recover a bit.  It's great to have a smart Dad (and Mom too of course).  Henry, I'm working on it. 

 The first book Henry actually appeared to stay awake for was my personal favorite, The Story of Ferdinand.  One quote reminded me particularly of Henry:

"It was his favorite tree and he would sit in its shade all day and smell the flowers."