Joshua Maxfield Laskowski - Born October 11, 2006 - 9:36 AM

Joshua Maxfield Laskowski has arrived! As many of you know he was conceived down at Celebration Station in New Orleans, thus the reason I didn't stay for the month of February. Anyway, here is the story... My water broke at around 10:30 pm on October 9th. Then we went to the hospital the next day (the 10th), and they concurred that it broke but sent me off to walk around to hopefully fully start my labor naturally. After a day of auction previews, we came home and at around midnight the labor became more regular 3-5 minutes apart, and more painful, so we went in (the 11th). Then after nine hours a intense labor that was getting nowhere! I was not dialated, thus they gave me drugs to induce stronger labor. At this point I, who wasn't going to take any drug that would affect him in anyway, wanted the drugs! After taking them, labor got stronger and I finally dialated to 3-4 centimeters, but he hadn't dropped down. The pain was so intense I was shaking. Joe kept up with the encouraging words, but now the nurse and doctor wanted to talk to us. They wanted to do a C-section for his heart rate was dropping with each contraction. I was so out of it I didn't respond. I wanted to ask questions but just couldn't. Joe asked if he had time to get a cup of coffee. They said yes, but by the time he got back up they threw a gown and mask at him and had me rushing down the hallway to the operating room. I was then given a epidural. Joe was soon allowed in the room, and saw Josh come out. Apparently Josh had the cord wrapped around his neck. Joe went off with Josh while they stuffed me back together and sewed me back up. So I spent the next three nights recovering in the hospital. The worse part was just getting up and down off of the bed. My stomach, now missing the structure that was once inside it, was like jello, and the muscles had been toyed with having had a c-section. Today that is almost 100% better. Josh and I have learned how to breast feed. Yes, they said it wouldn't be easy, I didn't understand why, now I see he just doesn't always know where to latch on. I finally learned a few tricks and we have our system worked out.
So here is, weighing in at 7 lbs and 15 oz. 21" long. Born at 9:36 am on the 11th. I find the time interesting considering he was conceived around 9:30 am New Orleans time. Did he know? Josh is sporting the first piece of clothing we bought him before we left Celebration Station/New Orleans. I do believe he is the youngest person to ever crawl under a house to rescue dogs.