The loooong version of James' birth story.

I have lots of pictures and details to share. If you plan on reading this whole post I hope you have a lot of time on your hands!

On the way to the hospital at 6:50AM on March 18.

http://www.dropshots.com/">Photo Sharing - http://www.dropshots.com/">Video Sharing - http://www.qualityphotoprints.com/">Photo Printing

While waiting for contractions to start, Rod hooked me up with the laptop and some TiVod shows. I watched a couple of episodes of 17 kids and counting. If Mrs. Duggar could do this 18 times, I should be able to handle it once!

http://www.dropshots.com/">Photo Sharing - http://www.dropshots.com/">Video Sharing - http://www.qualityphotoprints.com/">Photo Printing

Rod was with me from start to finish. He watched over my every move and made me as comfortable as possible. I knew he would be an awesome support person, but never imagined he could make me feel as at-ease and confident as he made me feel that day.

http://www.dropshots.com/">Photo Sharing - http://www.dropshots.com/">Video Sharing - http://www.qualityphotoprints.com/">Photo Printing

When I arrived I was having contractions about 7 minutes apart but they were so mild I couldn't feel them. I was at 4cm dilated and about 80-90% effaced. The Pitocin was started around 8AM. At 10:25 the doctor broke my water. I felt pretty good until about 12:30 and got the epidural at 1:45.

http://www.dropshots.com/">Photo Sharing - http://www.dropshots.com/">Video Sharing - http://www.qualityphotoprints.com/">Photo Printing

Mom arrived around 10:45.

http://www.dropshots.com/">Photo Sharing - http://www.dropshots.com/">Video Sharing - http://www.qualityphotoprints.com/">Photo Printing

Amy arrived around 2:00.

http://www.dropshots.com/">Photo Sharing - http://www.dropshots.com/">Video Sharing - http://www.qualityphotoprints.com/">Photo Printing

My sisters also came and sat with me for a little while. It was so nice to be surrounded by close friends and family. I cannot imagine having to go through labor alone.

http://www.dropshots.com/">Photo Sharing - http://www.dropshots.com/">Video Sharing - http://www.qualityphotoprints.com/">Photo Printing

At 3:30ish the doctor wanted me to do some practice pushes. He said that I was at 9cm and just needed to get rid of a tiny bit of the cervix before I could push for real.

http://www.dropshots.com/">Photo Sharing - http://www.dropshots.com/">Video Sharing - http://www.qualityphotoprints.com/">Photo Printing

I started pushing for real at about 4:30.

http://www.dropshots.com/">Photo Sharing - http://www.dropshots.com/">Video Sharing - http://www.qualityphotoprints.com/">Photo Printing

They had me trying many different positions because I could not feel the urge to push. I look calm because I wasn't feeling pain. The only thing I was worried about was that pushing was going to last forever!

http://www.dropshots.com/">Photo Sharing - http://www.dropshots.com/">Video Sharing - http://www.qualityphotoprints.com/">Photo Printing

I continued to show a few signs of making progress. Every time the doctor came in she said she would give me one more hour then we would talk about the options. I got to the point where the nurse said there was about a silver dollar sized amount of the baby's head showing and they thought that was really promising. The nurse reported that the baby had a ton of hair!

A little before 8 the doctor came in and checked me one more time. The baby would make progress during pushes but then would slip back after each contraction. The doctor and nurses said that indicated that he was just too big to fit through the birth canal. I was really disappointed but made the decision to go forward with a c-section at 8:02PM. Here is a picture of me and Rod after they started the prep work.

http://www.dropshots.com/">Photo Sharing - http://www.dropshots.com/">Video Sharing - http://www.qualityphotoprints.com/">Photo Printing

The c-section was worse than I expected. Being as clausterphobic as I am, I have always been terrified of surgery. They strapped my arms down on the table, placed a curtain in front of my face (it kept getting moved so my face was covered by it), and they gave me oxygen in my nose. It was all I could do to keep from having a panic attack, but I knew that wouldn't help anything. Because I had been crying and the room was freezing cold, I was extremely congested and felt like I couldn't breathe well. I was all alone during the preparations as they made Rod wait in the waiting room. He later told me that was the scariest moment of his entire life. I was pretty scared, too! They made the first incision then let him enter the room. It was such a relief to hear his voice (even though he was complaining at the doctor for starting surgery without him!). Anyway, after much pain (which everyone told me I wouldn't feel), tugging, and hearing statements from the doctor like "wow, this baby is really stuck in the birth canal", they finally told Rod to stand up. As he stood up and looked over the curtain, I heard the doctor say "8:50PM" and then heard that adorable little cry that I've been waiting for! Here is James' first picture.

http://www.dropshots.com/">Photo Sharing - http://www.dropshots.com/">Video Sharing - http://www.qualityphotoprints.com/">Photo Printing

Rod stayed standing up so he could see what was happening. He relayed to me everything he saw which made the waiting a little bit easier. All I could think about was "someone PLEASE bring me my baby!". After cleaning him up a little bit, I finally got to kiss my little man.

http://www.dropshots.com/">Photo Sharing - http://www.dropshots.com/">Video Sharing - http://www.qualityphotoprints.com/">Photo Printing

They wisked the baby off to the nursery and I asked Rod to follow him. I knew I would be ok but wanted to know someone was watching over James. They told me I would be in recovery for about 1 hour. It turned into 2 1/2 hours due to some nurses that seemed to thrive on imposing pain. I was still having contractions, had just been sewn up after major surgery and they were pushing on my abdomen with all their strength. Despite the pain medications, I was screaming out in pain. At one point, my heart started beating in a weird pattern due to the pain which set off some alarms. It was the most painful thing I've ever had to endure. I would gladly do the contractions, pushing, and c-section again but that part in the recovery room was absolutely awful. Here is a picture of me waiting in the recovery area (Rod was finally able to come sit with me after about an hour).

http://www.dropshots.com/">Photo Sharing - http://www.dropshots.com/">Video Sharing - http://www.qualityphotoprints.com/">Photo Printing

While I was being tortured, Rod was in the nursery with James. This was his first bath.

http://www.dropshots.com/">Photo Sharing - http://www.dropshots.com/">Video Sharing - http://www.qualityphotoprints.com/">Photo Printing

James was crying his little eyes out until Rod starting singing to him. He immediately turned to look at Rod and quit crying. How sweet is that?

http://www.dropshots.com/">Photo Sharing - http://www.dropshots.com/">Video Sharing - http://www.qualityphotoprints.com/">Photo Printing

At around 11:30PM they finally allowed me to go back to the family birthing center so I could hold my baby. I arrived in my room and was surrounded by lots of friends and family (and LOTS of cameras!). Here is a picture of the first time I got to hold James.

http://www.dropshots.com/">Photo Sharing - http://www.dropshots.com/">Video Sharing - http://www.qualityphotoprints.com/">Photo Printing

This is Rod's first time holding James.

http://www.dropshots.com/">Photo Sharing - http://www.dropshots.com/">Video Sharing - http://www.qualityphotoprints.com/">Photo Printing

I was so out of it that I can't remember the situation surrounding this picture but I think it is cute!

http://www.dropshots.com/">Photo Sharing - http://www.dropshots.com/">Video Sharing - http://www.qualityphotoprints.com/">Photo Printing

Rod's first diaper change. Actually, he did all of the diaper changes the whole time we were in the hospital!

http://www.dropshots.com/">Photo Sharing - http://www.dropshots.com/">Video Sharing - http://www.qualityphotoprints.com/">Photo Printing

Rod took such great care of me. He helped me in and out of bed, to and from the bathroom, putting my compression stockings on and off, getting me snacks and water, etc. the poor guy never got a break. He was SO tired by the time we left the hospital.

http://www.dropshots.com/">Photo Sharing - http://www.dropshots.com/">Video Sharing - http://www.qualityphotoprints.com/">Photo Printing

Our sweetie pie.

http://www.dropshots.com/">Photo Sharing - http://www.dropshots.com/">Video Sharing - http://www.qualityphotoprints.com/">Photo Printing

James loves to sleep on his daddy's chest.

http://www.dropshots.com/">Photo Sharing - http://www.dropshots.com/">Video Sharing - http://www.qualityphotoprints.com/">Photo Printing

I could stare at him all day long!

http://www.dropshots.com/">Photo Sharing - http://www.dropshots.com/">Video Sharing - http://www.qualityphotoprints.com/">Photo Printing

He wasn't too thrilled with his going home outfit but he sure looked cute!

http://www.dropshots.com/">Photo Sharing - http://www.dropshots.com/">Video Sharing - http://www.qualityphotoprints.com/">Photo Printing

Finally going home! Saturday afternoon around 5 we were released from the hospital. I was sooo happy to be outta there.

http://www.dropshots.com/">Photo Sharing - http://www.dropshots.com/">Video Sharing - http://www.qualityphotoprints.com/">Photo Printing

Thanks for reading our story!

Some pictures from James' birth day

I promised pics so here are a couple to hold you over until I have more time. Right now Rod is at Target and I'm home alone with the baby for the 1st time. I'm trying to feed him and type at the same time.

James right after he was pulled out.

This is what he looked like after his bath...the 1st time I saw him!

Rod with James in the nursery. This was while I was in recovery. They wouldn't let anyone (even Rod) hold him until I got out of recovery.

Just because he's so cute, here is a picture of him today.

James is such a peaceful baby. We love him so much and look forward to sharing many more of our hundreds of pictures with you very soon.

Small update

I'm still recovering from my c-section and not able to sit in this chair for very long but I wanted to drop by and give a quick update.

I will have to give you the whole birth story another time (James did a good job but he missed a few details). Right now we're home and doing great. I feel pretty good and my incision is healing well. James is just as cute as a button and he is such a good baby. Feeding is still presenting a few challenges but nothing we won't overcome.

Rod and my mom have been doing everything and allowing me to just relax, heal, and cuddle with my little sweetie.

I know you're dying to see more pictures. I will try to get some uploaded for you tomorrow. Thanks for all of your support throughout this pregnancy! I hope you will continue to follow along as we explore the newborn stage. :)

I am finally here!

Wow,

What a journey. I got pushed on for 3.5 hours until the doctors finally agreed that I was just to big! Off to surgery we went. My mommy was very scared but she was brave for me. Turns out that there was a full overhand knot in the umbilical cord. I could have told them that but they just couldn't hear me. But don't worry, the knot never cinched and my pulse stayed a nice steady 140 for the whole ordeal. I saw Dad first. He was describing my cute hair and overall awesomeness. That Daddy is a good man you know. He was scared too but stayed brave for Mommy and Me.

After all was said and done, I came in to this world at 8:59 PM, weighing 8lbs and 9oz with a length of 22.25 Inches. I had great Apgar scores, nines across the board. Yeah, I am a bit of an overachiever. So anyway, just had to toot my own horn since Mom and Dad are so tired. Good morning world!

Love always,

James Edward Kerbs

10 minutes to departure!

Today's the day! I will try to have Rod post all the gory details and a picture this evening. :)

Are we going to have a St. Patrick's Day Baby???

Wouldn't that be nice! At this point I'm going to guess NO to the St. Patrick's Day baby. Nothing has changed despite my (and Rod's) pleading with our baby boy to PLEASE come out! I was really hoping to go into labor on my own before Wednesday morning. I know the induction won't be a big deal but I am still hoping labor starts sometime today.

Our friend Aaron and his wife were also due on March 19. Judging by his facebook status today, I think they are headed to the hospital. Congratulations to them! I'm only slightly jealous. :)

Doctor's appointment update

I met with the doctor this morning. Currently I am at 3cm and 90% effaced so progress is coming but very slowly. He said that I could go into labor as early as this afternoon. But he went ahead and scheduled me to come to the hospital on Wednesday for an induction. So, hopefully by Wednesday evening we will have some baby news!