Welcome to our family

We are so excited to announce the addition of our son Benjamin Graham Shelton. Ben was born at 7:49 am October 7, 2009. He weighed in at 6lbs 2 oz and 18 inches long. Those are the quick and easy stats. Here comes the full on story:

5:00am- I started feeling a little crampy, but did not think it was contractions. I decided to go take a bath to help with the cramping.

6:00am- I realized that the cramping was coming in waves and I started timing. They were at 5 minutes.

6:20 am- Contractions move to every 4 minutes, we kick it into high gear, and get ready to leave

6:30am- Call our neighbor Michelle to walk over until Matt and Tori could get to the house to watch Zeke

6:45 am- We leave the house and I notice the contractions are now every 3 minutes. Spence is telling me to breath and not push. I tell him I know how to breath and I will not be pushing the baby out in the car

7:10 am- We arrive at Western Wake Med Hospital. They bring us a wheelchair because it is clear that I can't walk. They take me back and Spence has to move the car and check me in, as they are wheeling me I am asking for an epidural

7:15 am- My nurse, Jaton, checks me and sees that I am 7 cm and tells me I can't get an epidural

7:20 am- Spence comes in and I tell him that they won't give me an epidural. I tell him that I want them to just cut him out of me. Jaton tells me as she is walking out the door that I don't want that. I tell Spencer that she doesn't know and yes I do want that

7:25 am- Dr. Brannon comes in and says he has a quick surgery to take care of and will be back. He asks to get an iv in me and hopefully I can get an epidural and should have the baby by 8:15.

7:30 am- Dr Brannon checks me before going to surgery, and says "she's at 10, I'm gonna break her water, on the next contraction you are gonna push, Courtney"

7:30-7:49 am- I push through a couple contractions, Dr. Brannon asks for a vacuum because Benjamin is sunny side up. After pushing and using the vacuum on a couple more contractions, he is born! Oh, and the dr says that the labor was stalled because of Ben facing up- seriously that was stalled labor? WOW!

Ben came out flailing and screaming, total opposite of Zeke. He has a headful of light brown hair, blue eyes, pretty lips and a cute button nose. He has long fingers and long skinny feet. We can't see a lot of resemblance to Zeke. I think they have the same lips, but other than that...

We are so excited that he is here even though it was not the way we expected or planned. I am really ready to get home and see Zeke, I miss him. He can't come to the hospital to see us because no one under 18 is allowed in to visit. I know he is being well taken care of and is having a fun time with our family, but I will be glad to get home and begin our new life as a family of 4.

Benjamin Graham Shelton

Snoozing

Look at those fingers! Look at those HUGE feet!

Mommy and Ben

Daddy and Ben

Close up with his eyes open

Family pic (please ignore my Mufasa hair, remember I had him with NO DRUGS, I should look rough!)