Written 2-23-06

have been up for 40 hours… This may be a little fuzzy

Denise had a doctor’s appointment yesterday. When they performed the ultrasound the baby had not grown and the uterine fluids were not optimal. It was decided then to induce labor. 9 am 2-22-06. By the time I arrived to the hospital a little before noon, after packing the bags (Denise was scheduled to be in Indianapolis today on business and she had postponed packing her hospital bag until she got back), loading the car, making arrangements for the hounds, she was in triage and waiting for a labor room. She was having contractions then.

Her labor progressed through the day until around 9 pm she jumped from 4 centimeters to 7 centimeters in about and hour to and hour and a half. Several explicatives were uttered and the soldier needed a break. Also Gabe’s heart rate was dropping after each contraction at this point. The contractions were coming about every minute to two minutes and were lasting from 10 to 30 seconds. Ouch!

They gave her and epideral and the both of them proceeded to drop blood pressure’s. They got them stabilized. However, the contractions eased and progressed all but stopped. Fast forward to about 9 am this morning. LONG NIGHT!! She was about 8.5 cm dilated. And they decided to pick up the pit drip. Gabe’s heart rate began AGAIN to drop with each contraction but she got up to 9.5 cm. We had a choice. C-section or start over pit drips. We chose pit drips knowing that if it still did not work we could always go to c-section but once at a c-section you could not go back. INSERT PRAYERS BY ME HERE…..

Gabe was doing well and we got her to full dilation around 10:30 am. They started her pushing around 10:45. After the second push Gabe got off his umbilical cord and all his vitals were clear. By 12:00 pm he was born.

Gabriel Jordan Ellnor

7 lbs 8 ozs
20.5 inches long
Black hair ( more than his father)
13 inch head!!!!!! Ouch!

Pictures to come….one more stiff drink and good night.