Oliver Mitchell Brinkerhoff

Little Oli joined the Brinkerhoff ranks Sunday, June 28th at 3:03 p.m. Weighing in at a whopping 6 pounds 15 ounces and almost 21 inches long. The delivery was absolutely nothing that I had anticipated or prepared for. It was the most exhilarating moment of my life that it will be hard to put into words and express to you just how amazing it is to have a child. After a crazy Saturday trying to organize and pin things down in preparation for our Sunday's child, we headed to JVH planning for a LONG night. They started my induction by giving me a pill to thin my cervix. The plan was that they would be administering this pill every 4 hours and then start me on patossin Sunday morning to get the party started. They also gave me an ambian to help me sleep and get my rest (I am so grateful for that!) When it came time for my second dose the nurse told me my contractions had gotten pretty steady put my body wasn't progressing like they had wanted it to. So around 3 a.m. they started my patossin.

When the nurse came to check me around 5:30 I was at a 2 and 75%. She told me I could get the epidural anytime I wanted but I needed to let her know if I wanted it now because shift change was at 6 and she wasn't exactly sure what time I could get it after that. I opted for the epidural at that time and then my nerves started to come upon me. I had heard a lot of different stories preparing me for what the epidural would be like. Being the pessimist that I am at times I was expecting the worst. Anesthesiologist Ron, my new best friend, quickly helped me realize the epidural was nothing to be scared of. He was AMAZING! It was quick and practically painless. I just felt a tiny pinch and an odd sensation in my leg. I shortly became numb and my legs would flop around like a dead fish. Curtis and I continued to sleep and relax, watch episodes of the Office and Ratatouille we had just started August Rush when my nurse gave me some great news... I was at a 9 and 95% She told me she would be pushing with me for maybe an hour or two and then my doc would be joining us. I could tell Curt was getting hungry and I figured we had about 20 min before we would start pushing so I sent him down to the cafeteria with my mom. My nurse came back in, birth cart in tow, and said "uh... they left you?" I hurried and called Curtis and told him to turn his butt around because it was time! After one round of pushes the nurse said she was going to go Page my doc right then because he was coming and coming fast. It didn't even take 5 min for doc to get to the room. During my break after our second round of pushes just couldn't believe how different this was than how I imagined it, I couldn't help but laugh. Because I just kept laughing Oli just kept coming... It took one more set of pushes and he was here! Oli was laughed into this world! I was looking right into my baby's eyes and overcome by joy. Just the sheer shock of the whole experience left Curtis and I in disbelief that our little baby boy had finally arrived. Now that we have had a week together I must say motherhood is bliss. It has for sure been quite the adjustment and learning curve but I am loving it! Curtis is such an amazing father. I couldn't do this with anyone else. I love seeing the love that Curtis has for his son. He loves just holding him and does everything he can to help me through recovery. I am so grateful for my family, the Lord has truly blessed me.

On our way to the Hospital, Our last picture just the two of us!

I had to be put on oxygen :( My mom says this picture reminds her of those dog photos with the huge eyes

All about Oliver!!!!

My sweet family

Jack loves his new little buddy. He gets somewhat protective and will sit and lay by his new best friend. Sometimes when Oli cries Jack will try to mimic the cries, or maybe he is trying to tell us "what have you two done?" or "Please make it stop!"

Finally, here is Oliver's room! I love how it turned out, it is exactly how I imagined it!

I love this outfit!!

Oli was a little jaundice when we came home and is starting to not be so yellow