Eli Owen

Little Eli Owen joined family this Saturday. I've always joked that this little man didn't want to wait a long time to join our family...Saturday proved his true in-patience even more. He is a tiny little bundle of fire-ball energy that we are all enamored with. We decided to go with the name Eli Owen, after his great-great Grandfather Christiansen. He makes a perfect little Eli.

Eli Owen Christiansen

Saturday, August 21

10:37 am

6 pounds 12 ounces

19.5 inches long

So, the birth story. At my last OB appointment I had discussed an induction date with my Dr. We were thinking that Thursday, August 26th sounded like a great date. This wasn't set in stone, in fact, I was really didn't know if it would happen then. I've always been induced because of medical reasons, and since I was perfectly healthy this time, I was sure my OB would drag it out a little bit longer if he could. I've never gone into labor on my own, so I really didn't think it would EVER happen. Plus, my OB was gone all week last week, and I really didn't want to go into labor or have anything happen while he was gone.

Friday I felt great. We played with some friends, I cleaned up the house. We got some errands done. Stayed up late watching a movie with Wade, had a normal day. Then we went to sleep. I've had braxton hick contractions at night time before, but I woke up around 5am Saturday morning with some contractions that hurt. I tried rolling over and laying on my other side. I had a few more. I didn't time any of these, I was trying to sleep, and I thought they would just go away.

My stomach continued to hurt, and I heard Avery wake up and start talking at 6:30. So, I thought I would get up, get her some milk, take a shower, get going, if they were false contractions, that they would go away. I got up and noticed that I was bleeding a little. This really worried me since I've never even spotted a tiny bit during any pregnancy. (sorry if this is too much information for you). I got Avery milk. Woke up Wade and told him I was taking a shower because I was having contractions.

At this point, we kinda freaked out a little. I'm feel really dorky that we made it to the 4th pregnancy and freaked out when I went into labor, but I have never gone into labor before! I was rushing around the house freaking out! I took a shower, made the beds, put on some make up and then I realized, I needed to stop and that we needed to go NOW, they were not getting better, but worse!

Our friend came over to sit with the kids while my parents drove up and we left in a rush. I was in some real pain. We got checked into the hospital around 8 am. Checking into the hospital seemed to take forever, but by the time the nurse figured out how much pain I was in, she found out I was already dilated to a 6, and that I really wanted my epidural NOW, things started to get moving a little faster.

It did seem to take a long time to get my epidural, but I am so glad I got it. Just the day before I had told Wade - maybe I'll try to be brave this time and not get it. HA! Fat chance. I'm so glad I did it. At 9:45, after my epidural, I was dilated to a 9, they paged the Dr. to come in and break my water and deliver the baby.

Since, if you remember, my OB was gone, the Dr. that takes his call was my OB for the day. She was great, there was a 3rd year medical student rotating with her, that I had some great conversations with once I got my epidural. I let the student do a lot of the delivery, since the OB was sitting right at her side. They got to my room around 10:20, broke my water, sat down and we started to push. I pushed just about 10 minutes and at 10:37, little Eli made his appearance into this world!

As a side-note, we talked to the OB a little after the birth about some of the blood before and during the delivery. We think that I had a small part of the placenta that had come off the wall before delivery, causing me to go into labor. I'm glad that we went to the hospital when we did and that little Eli made it here safe.

Eli is a tiny little one, the smallest baby I've had so far. He is also the earliest! On my to-do list for Saturday morning was to post a "Guess the baby's birthday contest" I had sat down one day last week and looked at all the kids due dates and figured out Gage had been born 13 days early, Noah 12 days, and Avery 11 days. I was set that Eli would follow suite and be born on Wednesday at 10 days. Instead he made his own plans - he said no to an induction and pictocin - and was born 14 days early, showing us all really who is the boss!

He has perfect long fingers, lots of dark hair and dark eyes if you ever get him to open then for you. He loves a dim room and to hear me sing to him.

Gage and Noah are in love with him. Avery loves to point at him, give him blankets and then sit herself in his car seat and say baby. So far, he loves to sleep during the day and and then nurse and be held all night long, something we have got to work on! We can't wait to see how his personality develops.

Today I said something to Wade about us being a family of 6! Crazy to think about, but we are! We love it and wouldn't have it any other way!