Welcome to the World Levi!!!

Welcome to the world Levi William Meyer! Born on April 9th at 5:53pm weighing a meager 5lbs and 10oz and 17.5 inches long. He was born at 36 weeks and 3 days which was a little earlier than expected. I woke up on April 9th expecting to attend my baby shower thrown by my fabulous friends and family but instead found that I was contracting. I decided to ignore it for awhile because I was only 36 weeks along (1 month early) and it was the day of my baby shower of all days!! Anyways I showered and did my make-up but the contractions just got stronger and stronger till I had to head to the hospital. We dropped Austin off at Melanie's house and off we went. Hans drove to the hospital like a maniac and I was sure to be wearing my seatbelt :-) we got to the labor unit at like 11am and I was 3 cm dilated which was totally disappointing to me because I was in sooooooo much pain. I dont know if any of you out there have had back labor but it is awful. I have never been on that much pain in my life! It was even worse than 3 degree burning my foot. Anyways I had to stay in triage for 4 hours in intense pain because there were no rooms for me. It was brutal because they wont let you have an epidural until you are in the room. They gave me morphine, which did nothing but make me dizzy and loopy and they gave me laughing gas. I was saying all sorts of crazy things like "I wasn't born in the 1800s you know!!" and "this is not right!!". I feel like apologizing to those nurses now. I finally got a room when I was 5 cm dilated and I told (yelled at) the nurse to get me an epidural but she told me the anesthesiologist had gone into the OR for a c-section. That is when I lost it and started bawling all over the place. Let's just say I screamed hallelujah when the anesthesiologist came into the room. Notice my face in the above picture. It was instant relief. I think Hans might be scarred for awhile from how much pain he had to see me endure. Then the Dr. came in and broke my water and he came out an hour later in 2 pushes! He was 5lbs and 10oz and such an easy delivery.

All wrapped up after being born. Levi was not breathing very well at first so they had to take him to the NICU the first night. That was very sad for me not to have him in my room.

They had to give him tube feedings the first night because he had such a hard time breathing.

By the next morning he was doing really well so they gave him his first bath.

Then we had all sorts of visitors come. They have a really strict visitor policy at the hospital so only grandparents, siblings of the baby and one support person are allowed to visit. Austin loves his new baby brother and is constantly wanting to hold him and kiss him.

Papa, Austin and baby Levi

Granny Lanny and Levi

Checking out his new brother.

The day after we got home from the hospital a home health nurse came to the house to check on the baby. She did a blood sample to check Levi's bilirubin level and told me she wold call back with the results. Well they were high so she told me we would have to be readmitted to the hospital downtown for phototherapy. I just started crying because I wanted to be home with my little family but I knew it was best for Levi. I stayed with him all night and felt so bad for him laying naked all night under the lights. They let us go home the next day thankfully!

Here is an open eyed picture of Levi. I think he looks like a Meyer. He is such a sweet little guy. So calm and a good sleeper so far. Let's hope that keeps up!!

We love our new little man and our so grateful to have him in our family.