Here is a quick recap of labor & delivery.  I had been having braxton hicks off and on all week.  My last Midwife appt. was the 19th of April and I was 70% effaced & dilated at 2cm.  I was sure he would be born on the 26th (my sisters 21st bday) but I missed that by a few hours ;}  I called DH at 3 in the afternoon and told him that he should make sure he was not running late coming home that night.  Around 6 I called him and told him h should probably come home right then.  He asked me if I had called the midwife yet and I told him no because I still was not sure that I needed to ;)  He told me I better.  So around 6:15 or so I called the one on call.  I had all ready talked to her earlier to let her know that I was contracting and feeling them but not hurting and that I had bloody show, I am guessing that they are somewhere b/t 5-10 minutes apart and about a minute or so long.  So, anyway she says she is on her way after asking me how far apart they were.  i told her I had not been timing them but that I could feel them ;)  So DH arrives around 6:30 and gets water into the crock pot and starts heating up the wash cloths and gets the extra shower curtain in the floor so I don’t mess up the carpet.  Robin (the midwife) showed up around 7.  I am about 90% effaced and 5 cm at this point.  Contractions were 4 minutes apart.  I was in my nursing gown that I had "planned" to give birth in b/c I was sweating and wanted out of the sweaty clothes.  After a few minutes we decide to get me into the tub with contractions about 2 minutes apart and a minute long at this point.  I went from the 4 minute contractions to A 3 minute contraction and a while of 2 minute contractions.  Robin told me that I would not really feel the contractions in the water.  So when I did I teased her about it!  No, I am not kidding, I was being normal b/t contractions.  After a bit they turn to 1 minute contractions and I start to hurt. Laura (the other midwife) shows up a few minutes before this.  The kids are downstairs watching the Brady Bunch on DVD until this point.  Now they are sitting in the hall floor just outside my room listening to all that is going on.  Robin asks me if I want out of the tub or what.  I said I thought so but I did not think I could get out - she told me I was strong and to just do it - so i did.  Then i sat on the toilet for a minute and my water broke ad it was go time!  I told them i needed to push and somehow I managed to walk to my bed and get on it (with some assistance of course). And after 3 minutes of pushing my DS was born.  All in all actual felt labor was one hour and 41 minutes long and yes I am serious I only pushed for 3 minutes.  I told them it hurt and I could not do it and they said here's his head and had me touch it.  Next push and out his head came.  He was laid on my tummy immediately and I pulled him up and they put a blanket over us.  I tore a bit and was glued together.  Laura ran me a bath and I got to take a bath & chat w/the midwives while DD held her baby brother and DH & DS picked up dinner at Carvel’s.  He is nursing well although I wish I could get him to nurse a bit more often.  He is a very happy quiet baby.  The kids watched through a crack in the bedroom door and came in afterwards and saw their new little brother whom they adore J  the last 15 minutes were the most intense and more so than I have ever experienced and more than I think I would like to experience honestly but I would definitely do a home birth again if we have another one!  I was more alert and fully conversational if I was not in the middle of a contraction.  At one point I told DH that I could hear his voice but I had NO idea what he was saying ;) He jokingly told me that he was giving me permission to go spend lots of $$$ and I told him that my new bed set was going to cost about $300 then another contraction hit.  It has certainly been different recovering at home.  It has been more peaceful and I feel as if I am recovering MUCH faster than I did in the hospital with the other 2.  BTW, the first 2 were natural no drug deliveries as well but at the hospital.  OK so maybe the recap was not so quick ;)  LOL  I typed the previous up a few days after he was born.  

Today, 2DS is 15 days old.  He is eating and sleeping well.  Still nursing about every 2-4 hours.  Sleeping well.  Alert.  I am doing pretty good.  We have his co-sleeper set up now.  His cord fell off within a week.  My mom was here for a few days after he wos born and helped out a great deal.  We are still (of course) adjusting to the new baby.  I have lost about 20 pounds and 2DS has gained about a pound.  I am in transition for clothing - I hate this part - where NOTHING fits. 

When 2DS was 4 days old, DH took DD to a breeder NW(?) of Denver and bought us a puppy.  I did not mention it before it beofre b/c it was too tough, but our dog died of poisoning on EAster.  We beleive it was the Iams Chunks dry dog food.  He had not been sick really and suddenly started acting really wierd and lost muscle control and stuff and within 2 hours was dead on Easter night, we buried him in the back yard.   

We will start doing some school work 2 days a week soon I think.  I just about have everything for school for next year.  DD has a ballet recital next week and then she & I celebrate our bday the week after that.  I am looking into swim classes for them too.  And possibly going ice skating once a week or something like that.  Grandma is living in her new home out here now too so we will be making trips out that way every so often, she is going to teach the kids how to sew and cook :) 

Well, baby  & puppy are napping now.  I need to vaccum (might get 1DS8 to do taht though) an dI need to pay bills :(

~ Rachel