The Sterna's: Adam's Here...

...and we are SO in love!!

Adam made his grand entrance into this world on February 21, 2012 at 3:25 p.m. He weighed 7 lbs, 6 oz and was 20 1/4" long.

I was induced that morning (39 weeks) about 7 o'clock by my doctor breaking my water. They started pitocin about 8. Then it was hours of nothing! I wasn't really progressing, and the contractions weren't that bad. My contractions started getting pretty uncomfortable and the nurses encouraged me to go ahead and get my epidural since the anesthesiologist was headed into a c-section. It was only a little bit before he got to me, but my contractions were already getting so much worse so it was great timing. There were a few med students in the room observing my epidural so the anesthesiologist was going over everything. I was already asleep before he finished talking. Apparently I was exhausted and the epidural allowed me to finally relax. I slept for about 2 hours I think.

Our final picture as a family of four.

After that the nurse checking me started to worry about me not progressing and asked if there was ever talk about c-section in my previous pregnancies. That would have freaked me out, but Justin was my calming force and answered that I always did this... nothing & then bam - a baby was there! I'm sure he remembers better than me because I am always drugged up! Haha!

Justin, Katie, Savannah and my good friend Jessica were in the room - we were all talking and I was feeling great. All of a sudden my blood pressure dropped extremely low so I had monitors beeping. About that same time Savannah wanted to go back to the waiting room to see Dylan. As soon as the all the girls walked out I suddenly looked at Justin and told him I thought I felt pressure and that it was time. I was kind of surprised because the monitor that was supposed to pick up my contractions hadn't really been showing anything. When the nurse came in for my beeping blood pressure monitor, I told her I needed to be checked. She did and instantly started jumping up and down saying it was time to have a baby. She told me not to move or push and she paged my doctor and pediatric nurse. She started running around the room getting it ready for delivery. My doctor was there immediately and the ped nurse a few minutes later. As soon as they were all ready they told me to push with the next contraction. Four pushes on that first contraction and Adam Brennen Sterna entered this world. It was 11 minutes from the time the nurse checked me and he was born. He was born with his hand up on his head...an old wives' tale says he will be a politician ready to shake hands with everyone.

He is so incredibly perfect and it's amazing how a baby fills your heart when you thought it was already full.

My first glance.

Mad about getting cleaned up.

Being weighed.

My sweet baby!

Since we moved, Adam was born at a different hospital than the girls. Our other hospital encouraged sending the babies to the nursery at night and getting as much rest as possible. This one encourages lots of skin to skin and wanted the baby in the room as much as possible. The whole first night they told me to hold him skin to skin on my chest because it helps him to regulate body temperature, blood sugar, helps with milk, etc. I can't describe what it is like to hold your precious little one like that. It was the most wonderful, special experience and I wish I had known to do it with both my girls too!

Big sisters coming to meet baby brother...

We didn't get a good picture of them looking at Adam for the first time because they were freaked out by my bed and all the cords so Justin had to help them.

Meeting more family...