Lots of change....

Well, it's been over a month since I posted anything and it's probably been the most eventful month of our lives. Here are some highlights.

• Alisha officially retired from working at a "real" job. I was able to finish out one last tax season with James & Company. The last couple of weeks I was torn between wanting to finish up and being ready to have the baby come. But, in the end I was glad to make it through the 15th. It was really strange to leave that day. I have quit and come back so many times that it didn't seem like I could be leaving for real. It has been a wonderful job with wonderful people and I will miss seeing them all everyday. But, I'm also super excited for the new job of being a mom.
• Steve finished his class work for his Master's of Accounting degree on Monday the 19th. He was compiling a group paper (his last assignment) as we were at the hospital that morning. We were sent home from the hospital so he was able to go to his last class that afternoon and turn in the paper. He was super happy to be completely done with school. That is until he decides he wants to go on to get a Doctorate degree or go to law school or something. I told him he has to work for a while before I can handle that.
• And the most exciting thing of the month was that we welcomed Mitchell Steven Shepherd into our family. Here is the story...

On Monday (19th - my due date) morning I had woken up leaking some fluid and a little blood. We called the hospital and they asked us to come up to see what was going on. We were there from about 7:30 until 11:30ish and then they sent us home saying that my cervix was starting to open, but it wasn't progressing enough to admit us yet. The nurse thought that she would see us back fairly soon.

Steve went to his class that while I was at home having increasingly strong contractions. After dinner Steve wanted to go back to the hospital, but I was afraid they would send us home again. I made him play a game with me and promised I would go afterwards if the contractions were still consistent. So, about 7 pm we headed back to the hospital. We thought it was a very fitting activity for our Family Home Evening.

This time they admitted us as I was dialated to a 3 and having consistent 4-5 minute apart contractions. The doctor called and talked to me for a minute wishing me luck with a very long night. And a very long night it was. No fun, no sleep and lots of pain. By the morning I had given up any desire to go without pain medication and had Steve call for an epidural. After that happened I was able to sleep and it was so nice!

It was another long day with very slow progress. My doctor was doing surgeries all day and stopped in a couple of times to check on things. He broke my water around 1:30. I was complete by 3:30 and started pushing around 4. (I think - Steve remembers better what was going on). The doctor was pretty nervous that things were taking so long and he kept bringing up a C-Section. I didn't want to have one, but told him that if he thought it would be safest then we would trust his judgement. With the use of a vaccuum and some super hard pushing we were able to get the little man out vaginally. He arrived at 6:39 pm on Tuesday April 20th. He was a little tanker weighing 9 lbs 14 oz and was 22 inches long.

And here are the pictures because that's what everyone wants to see anyway.

This is me and my huge belly. I'm smiling because I can no longer feel anything from my waist down.

Dad is cutting the cord.

The little man is not so happy about the trip to get here.

I never imagined that we would have such a large baby. Steve kept joking that he would be 9 lbs. And even mentioned 9.14 within the last few weeks. He is not allowed to guess on the weight of our future babies.

Our very first family photo.

Cleaned off and given back to mommy. He was trying to eat his fingers.

Not long after delivery they wisked him off to the NICU to check on his oxygen levels. They kept telling us that he would be back soon. But, whenever soon came around the time would be pushed back again. His oxygen levels were just below where they wanted them to be and he was doing great with a little bit of oxygen. But, everytime they tried to wean him off it he would drop back down where they didn't want him to be. They eventually admitted him to the NICU and put him on some antibiotics to clear up a little bit of fluid in his lungs.

He was there from Tuesday evening until Monday morning. Not a fun time for Steve and I. I was released from the hospital Thursday evening and cried most of the way home.

Here he is with all his wires. One of the nurses referred to him as monkey toes because he would wrap his toes around the wires and pull them off as he kicked. I don't blame him. I wanted to pull the wires off too.

We had to supplement with formula while in the hospital because the little tanker was eating around 4 oz at every feeding and Mom's milk hadn't come in yet.

Proud Papa.

I love these toes.

This was our rooming in experience. Sunday night we stayed in a special room they call the "bonding room" at the hospital. They took all the wires off the little man and we had a sleep-over together.

We were glad that the little man fit into his coming home outfit. One washing later it no longer fits.

On the way home. First time in the car seat. He didn't seem to mind the car seat. I was expecting screams and we only got squirms.

Steve's been amazing and has taken the little man every morning so I can sleep a little longer. One morning I woke up to them both taking a little nap.

First real bath. I'm not sure he liked the bath, but he didn't cry during it. He had a confused look on his face for most of it.

 This is the face we got after the bath. He's wrapped up warm in the monkey towel from Aunt Shelby.

Mitchell likes to be wrapped up all snuggly. One morning he was hanging out with Daddy in the kitchen, but Daddy didn't have a blanket with him. He hid however have his super warm hoodie. Mitchell slept quite soundly wrapped up like this.

Well, that's all for now. Thanks for all the calls and dinners and love and support. We're having loads of fun with the little man and will try to keep you better updated.