All Natural

Well, I got "the call" at work today.


I had spoken to Crystal at 1 pm after her morning doctor's appointment only to be disappointed like her that there was no progression (she was only dilated to 3 cm and had been for week). However at 3:30 while in a meeting my co worker came and got me. He said my phone was ringing off the hook. (I had left my cell phone at my desk). I called home to find that our friend Heather Grundei answered the phone. She said they were leaving to the hospital.

I got to the hospital first and had to wait for Crystal (I work right by the hospital, but Crystal had a 20 minute drive and she had to get Douglas situated with the Grundei's). She got here just after 4 and I pushed her upstairs. She was in a lot of pain at this point and said the contractions were about 2 to 3 minutes apart. She immediately asked the nurse for her epidural. The nurse let her know that they had to hook her up to the IVs and check her out first. However, when the nurse got her onto the bed she went to check Crystal and immediately brought her hand back out and said she was fully dilated and ready to go. But they weren't ready for her yet.

Then the room became quite full as five nurses appeared out of nowhere hooking up IVs, taking blood, hooking up monitors. Dr. Petrovski showed up and also checked her out. Crystal was still wanting her epidural. Dr. Petrovski said the only thing holding the baby in was the water sac hadn't popped. They said they didn't have time for an epidural, but said they could give her a quick shot to help with the pain. They rolled her over to position her for the shot and "pop". Water went everywhere; however, mostly on the poor nurse. It made me laugh a little. Well with that there was no more time even for the quick shot. It wasn't two minutes later and Harrison was here at 4:17.

So it was a very quick delivery. Contractions started at 2:30 and delivery at 4:17. It was all natural. What a trooper that Crystal is. I will say it didn't seem all peaceful without medicine, there were a few loud screams of pain, but it was over quick.

So now that you heard the story, here are the important details and pictures. Harrison Gulsvig Hill was 9 lbs 4 oz and measured 21 inches long. Check out the pictures below. I know he looks like most other babies, but I say he is the cutest (tied with his brother Douglas). Thanks you every one for your support through the pregnancy and for those that helped out today.

Mom and Baby

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Harrison taking his first nap as he rests under the heat lamp

Perfect as can be & birth story

I'm getting back some energy (don't know how) and wanted to post some new pictures of Douglas. Let's just say this week has been something else. Everytime I look at Douglas I think of how blessed Travis and I are. He is such a good baby. He's a vigorous eater, even tempered, and as cute as can be. Yesterday he had an hour plus of awake time where he just stared and was content. We took him outside in the back yard in the sun, played with him and took some pictures. Here are the latest.

Following is the delivery story: We went in at 7:15, got situated, etc. The doctor came in and I was 3 to 4 cm dilated and 90% effaced, so a good start to be induced. The nurse started me on a low dose of pitocin (this is suppose to make you have contractions). At 8:30 the doctor broke my water and had the nurse up my pitocin (said it was too low). It wasn't 3 to 4 minutes later that I felt my first contraction. People have always said its a more intense menstural cramp. I don't get menstural cramps really so I was curious to see what a contraction felt like. Boy did I quickly find that I don't like them. It was only in my left inner thigh and I now understand why people say that they just wanted their leg cut off. I spent most of my labor and delivery on my side b/c I got nauseous on my back. Travis was holding my hand with one hand and pressing my thighs together with the other because during each contraction my legs went shaking like crazy! I hated them shaking like that and told him to hold them so they weren't balistic. Around my 4th contraction I was asking for an epidural. The nurse checked me and I was 5 cm dialted. They weren't keen on giving me an epi. that soon so they gave me a pain medicine called Newbane (not sure on spelling). It was supposed to just take the edge off but I couldn't tell anything. So a little later I asked for the epi. and the nurse checked me and I was 7 cm 100% dilated so I got an epi. Oh my gosh, it is heaven! I didn't hurt when they did it and I can't imagine delivery without it. The pain was gone just an intense pressure. Finally I got the okay to push. I pushed 1 1/2 hours of my 4 hour labor. They said the labor would have been shorter if Douglas was turned the right way. He was face up instead of face down. Overall I'd say it was good labor. I'm surprise at how well I've recovered in suck a quick time. I'm just glad my beautiful baby is here!!!

Douglas Alan Hill has arrived

Well, Douglas came late, but he is well worth the wait. He was born Monday, November 13 2006, just after noon at 12:38 pm. He looked a little funny when he came out but I understand all babies do after being squished through the birth canal. He came out face up and rather large so Crystal was cut first (episiotomy) to prepare her; however, Douglas still tore her a little more on his way out.

Douglas weighs 8 lbs and 14 ozs and he is 21 inches long.
Crystal really did a good job pushing such a large baby turned the wrong way out of her. Overall it was a relatively short labor, 4 hrs. Everyone is healthy and happy except a little soreness for Crystal.


In these two pictures he is getting his temperature taken. His toes look funny as he was spreading them in this picture, but no need to be alarmed. In real life they are normal.


Here is the family. We are all happy, but Douglas and Crystal are both so tired at this point (about two hours after delivery).


And just as a final reference back to pre delivery, here is our last family picture with Crystal still pregnant. The night before we left life without children behind forever.