Parker Rokes Connolly is here!

Parker Rokes Connolly was born on May 7th at 8:02am!  8.06 pounds and 20 and 3/4 inches long.  We were supposed to get induced on May 6th...we were supposed to be there by 7am.  5am the phone rang...it was Covenant.  They were too full for us to come in at 7am and we could call back at 11am.  Not what we were expecting at all.  There were too many women in labor and they were not progressing.  So...we loaded up the kids, stopped at Panera to get the kids a treat for breakfast...took Noah to preschool.  Dropping him off was hard...he knew something was going to happen and mommy and daddy were going to be gone for a few days.  He got very teary in the classroom, but two little boys were very sweet and asked him to play as well as one of the teachers.  As I watched him walk away...my heart hurt watching him as I knew his life would change again.  We drove to daycare and dropped Ryder off...he trotted on in...not knowing how much life would change.  We called back at 11am...and again they were too full.  At this point, I had a mega meltdown...no one's fault...I was ready and Scott only gets so many days off.  The nurse was very sweet...and Dr. Girardi was near as well...telling me to not cry:)  They told us to call back that night to see if we could go in the night.  Scott hopped on the phone and called school to figure out what our game plan was going to be for the next few days.  Luckily...they were great about being flexible as this was not our fault. 

We had supper at home and started watching a movie with the kids.  We called at 6pm and they told us they would call us back.  7pm the phone rang...could we be at the hospital around 8pm?  We said yes!  Called my parents...they came to get the boys...both did ok leaving...Ryder more so than Noah, but they were our brave little men!  We headed to Covenant...talking a mile a minute...is this baby our last?  Would we go for a 4th?  What are we having??? 

8pm...checked in...Pitocin around 9/9:15pm.  Covenant has walking monitors now...which was awesome.  We were only at a 2...so walking could only help!  We walked for about an hour...contractions were 2-3 minutes apart.  They got stronger each lap.  A bit before 11pm...Dr. Girardi stopped in after a c-section with the anesthesiologist (I was at a 3).  Got the epidural and she broke my water.  Hurry up and wait.  This was around midnight...Scott went to bed...I had to be moved every hour to even out the epidural.  It was super strong...I couldn't move at all...a bit nervous at this point.  At 2:45am...I was at a 5 and at 5:30 am I was at 8cm.  6am moved to 9cm.   The nurses started watching the baby's heart rate as with each contraction the heart dropped.  They went and got Dr. Girardi around 7am...they inserted some fluid into my uterus to give the baby more fluid.  The doctor thought the baby's cord was bunched up near his chest so with each contraction it got pretty tight.  The put the bed as vertical as it could be...and the heart rate evened out.  Scott and I thought the team of nurses was getting nervous and letting us know it was more serious...but they know what to do:)  Dr. Girardi decided we could start pushing!  Scott held one leg...another nurse the other (again...the epidural was so strong, I couldn't lift my legs!!!!).  I began to push and Dr. Girardi was pretty sure the baby's arm was stuck.  The nurse hopped on the bed...she began to push on my stomach as I was pushing.  The baby's arm came out and out came baby!  I wanted to baby on my chest...and they announced, "it's a boy!"  I was crying and he began to cry as well...all good things!  Scott took pictures and the team of nurses and Dr. Girardi did their thing:)  Scott did not want to cut the cord (he hasn't done it with any of the kids:)...even thought the nurses tried to convince him!  Sorry if it is TMI...but trying to remember everything!!  Had a small tear...but otherwise, all looked well.  We had narrowed down the names to Walker or Parker by the time we were in the hospital...we went with Parker (also a name we had when we were expecting Noah).  Parker latched on right away which was great.  My mom got there around 8:30 and then Scott's parents and grandparents.  Brittany stopped by and my dad...then my grandparents as well as Scott's teacher friends and our neighbor friends.  Parker had to have a quick x-ray because of his shoulder/arm...all was good.  The boys came that night.  Noah was excited about Parker...Ryder wasn't really interested!  Saying goodbye to them was hard...Ryder cried the whole way out and Noah got teary as well.  We continued to work on breastfeeding during our stay...Parker got circumcised...everything went well!  Thursday...the big boys got the pukey flu...my poor parents had to do a lot of clean up!  Friday morning we headed out...and went home:) The boys got home and chaos began!  Ryder gave Parker a good push in the swing...anything and everything that could make noise...well...it got turned on:)  But...Parker slept through it all!  Hopefully we continue down this path!  So far...Parker is a lot like his brother, Ryder...calm and chill.  Here are some pics:

Life is about to get crazy!!

Well...tomorrow is a big day!  We are set to be induced tomorrow with baby #3!  My blogging has taken a back seat to being with the kids, keeping a clean house...resting...ya know:)  The kids have had a fun Spring when the weather has cooperated.  Noah and Ryder LOVE LOVE LOVE being outside!  We have enjoyed the days here and there where it was warm enough, playing outside on the swing set.  Both boys love swinging. Noah does not enjoy pumping and wants to be pushed...but he is going to be 5...so he needs to pump!   Ryder loves to be pushed, "up and under"...so cute to understand what he is saying.  He is trying to keep up with Noah...so he tries to climb the tree house all on his own.  Sometimes is goes great...other times not so much!  Noah is wrapping up preschool here in a few weeks.  It has been a great experience for him.  I am amazed at how much he has learned.  Letters and numbers have clicked and he enjoys the kids.  We are working on some of his fibs...I hear that it is normal...but hard to know what to believe.  He is switching preschools for the fall...I am a bit nervous about how this will go, but we will play it by ear.  Hard to believe he will be 5!!!!!!  Ryder is saying more and more every day...love how much more he can say.  He is loving super heros as much as Ryder.  One of his favorite sayings right now, "Hulk...SMASH" HILARIOUS!!!  Easter went well...and I will post a few pics!  Scott is busy with track and softball beginning...his student teacher wraps up this week.  He has really enjoyed working with him and he will be teaching with Scott in the fall!  Great way to end the year!