How it all came down

Some people have been asking me about Michael's birth - how it went, what it was like, you know...they want details.  Be aware that this is going to be a little....descriptive.
Most of you know that getting pregnant in the first place was something of a miracle for us.  I have something called PCOS, and because of the condition of my ovaries, I don't ovulate on my own.  But with much advice and help, we were able to conceive.  :)

...

Michael never decided it was time for him to come out.  He wasn't terribly overdue, but a week overdue and doc said it was time to induce.  We went in early in the morning and they administered the pitocin.  The doc came in and broke my water and I started having heavy contractions.  I dilated very fast, and finally decided I wanted that epidural they kept offering me.  The doc administered that, and then they checked me - it was time to push!  Whoa - the moment was here - so fast and it was already upon us - soon we would be holding our little bundle of joy!  We were eager to meet the little baby that had already been tugging on our heartstrings and keeping us entertained... 

But wait. 

And push.  

And wait.

And push.  

Little baby was stuck.  And facing the wrong way.  And going into distress.  And there was maconium.  All this took 6 hours of pushing to unfold.  They tried to turn him but no dice...stubborn little lad...  

The doc came in and told us we had a choice to make - baby had to come out now.  We could do an emergency c-section or we could try with the forceps and see if we could get baby out through the birth canal.  Sean and I stared at each other and prayed.  We came to the decision to try forceps first, then c-section if that didn't work.  

I felt like my insides were being ripped out of me.  Despite the fact that they had started the epidural again and I couldn't feel my legs, I could feel what was going on inside my body.  We heard a crunchcrunchcrunch and realized the doctor was cutting.  Making room.  Had to get baby out.  

FINALLY the head and shoulders came through and it was like this little baby just fell the rest of the way out.  

We have a boy!  

Why wasn't he crying?  The doc quickly passed him to a respiratory specialist who cleared his lungs and got him breathing...  And that little cry was the BEST sound in the world!