He's Here!

Well, Evan Albert Balls made an unexpected appearance into the world on Friday, May 15th at 6:56 p.m. He made his way here via emergency C-section and came out just fine, weighing 7 lbs. 7 ozs. and 19 3/4 inches in length.

For those of you wanting to know what led up to his arrival and how planned C-section turned into an emergency C-section, just read on (I'm also documenting it for posterity's sake). He has been in the breech position for about the last 4 weeks so. My doctor has tried to turn him twice...once at my appointment about 3 weeks ago (with no luck) so we had been praying and hoping he'd turn on his own...I REALLY did not want a C-section and couldn't believe that I might have to have one. I went to the doctor last Thursday, May 14th, and the doctor tried to turn him again (more aggressively this time...and it didn't feel good!) but with no success again so rather than tempt fate as the doctor put it (he figured there must be a reason he was in the position he was in) the doctor scheduled me for a C-section on Wednesday, May 27th. Ray and I had a little bet going...he bet me that there would be no way I'd make it until the 27th since I'd been having contractions the Friday before but they had stopped and I actually thought I would but Ray was right.

Anyway, I was planning for my last day of work to be Friday, May 15th and then spend the next week and a half doing last minute preparations and just relaxing before his arrival. However, as with most babies, Evan had different plans. I had sporadic contractions all day Friday and when my final meeting was over around 3:30, I packed up and went home to try and rest and get the contractions to stop, as the doctor suggested. However, by 5:00, it was apparent they were not going to stop and Ray and I busily made plans for someone to come stay with the boys (apparently all out back ups had plans on a Friday night but we finally found a neighbor to come while we waited for Ray's Aunt Pam and Uncle Reed to make it to our house) so we could head for the hospital. We left for the hospital around 5:30 (right during rush hour!) and I am not sure but think we got to the hospital and into the room around 6:00 p.m. They checked me and realized I was between 5 and 6 cm dilated and the nurse could feel his foot headed down the birth canal. At that point, things began moving VERY quickly and before I knew it, I was headed to the operating room with Ray in tow and he was delivered at 6:56 p.m.

I was really not looking forward to a C-section but it was the safest way to deliver him considering his position. The one perk of a C-section is that they come out with perfectly round heads! Evan is doing great and I'm doing as well as can be expected for having had surgery and we are both at home recovering. Luckily, my mom is able to be here for the next week and Ray's company allows him 2 weeks of paid paternity leave so I should have plenty of help during the next two weeks which are the crucial recovery period. Kaden (5) and Jackson (2) are doing great with their new brother. Kaden is super helpful and loves Evan very much...Jackson knows he's here and only pays attention to him every once in a while.

I am so glad he's out and it's hard to imagine that I'll ever be back to "normal" but everyone assures me I will be. He is a very calm baby (let's hope that continues) and each day is a new day with him gaining weight and filling out and me having a little less pain and being able to spend time with my precious boys. I've attached some pics of our new baby Evan with some of his family.

Evan and his daddy, see any resemblance?

Evan and big brother, Kaden

Evan and grandma...what would we do without her?

Evan - not quite 3 days old, the day we went home from the hospital

Evan - not quite 4 days old

Evan a few hours after he was born