Finally...Dre Matthew Downs has arrived

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Dre finally made it! He decided to join our family on August 6 at 7:43pm. He weighed 6 lbs 15 oz. and was 18 1/2 inches long. He was a really hard labor and took all day, but oh so worth it. We love him so much it's crazy! Everyone who has seen him says he looks just like Matt. We both aren't quite sure who we think he looks like. I think he just looks like Dre.

As for the story. I started getting contractions around 11pm on Wed night.(I had my membranes stripped earlier that day) I just watched them for awhile and around 12:30 they were about 5 min apart. We headed to the hospital. They monitored me for an hour with no progression they sent me home on 2 percocet and said to come back if my water broke. Well, by the time we got all the way home to Saratoga my contractions we going every couple of min and were getting more painful with each one. Not to mention the percocet did not sit well on an empty stomach. I puked like 5 times while I was contracting. Very fun!!! We both didn't want to go back but they hurt so bad. A couple hours went by with this pain and I finally said we have to go back. When we got back they checked me and I was at a 3+ so they admitted me. The next step was the epidural. Well that didn't go to well either. He took 45 min trying to get my epidural into me. He said my back was very tight and he couldn't really find where to insert. (Who is this guy) So I'm sitting there on the edge of the bed contracting and getting poked over and over. Finally, he gets it in and I;m relieved of some pain. I go from a 3 to and 8 real quick after they broke my water. But then the epidural slowed me down so I was put on pitosson. I was in labor all day and my epidural kept wearing off so I could still fill a lot of my contractions. I'm telling you the guy didn't know what he was doing. By 4 i was feeling contractions and told Matt that I really needed to start pushing. They were not going to come check me till 4:15 but I told Matt to get the nurse I really needed to push. She came in a few min later and I was right I could finally start pushing. Well, I pushed and pushed for 3 1/2 hrs. The first nurse I had didn't make me work that hard or I think it would have happened faster. When they had their shift change the second nurse came in and really made me work. They told me at 7 that I had 20 more min of pushing and if nothing happened I would be reassessed. I'm not sure what that means but I think subconsiously I didn't want to find out so I pushed my hardest and finally he had crowned. Then they had to call the doctor that was on call and I had to wait. There was nothing worse than pushing and than all of the sudden having to stop. I swear he kept coming out! Finally the doc came and by this time my epidural had worn off and I felt everything. It was horrible. I pushed twice and Dre was out. What an experience. It was the hradest thing I have ever done and I can only hope the next one goes more smoothly.

As for being home it has been so fun and challenging at the same time. He has his days and night mixed up so we have been up with hime for the past two nights. Hopefully it will get easier, but really it's so worth it. He is such a huge blessing to have in our lives and I'm so grateful that the Lord has placed him in our lives. We are truly blessed. Thanks to all of you for your support throughout the pregnancy and after we love you all and I know Dre will too!