Well this should be my three week in the hospital update... instead it's a birth announcement!!!

Our baby is here. 7.5 weeks early, but here.

I started having "the contractions" on Thursday (the 2nd). They were pretty consistent all through the day. By late evening it was quite apparent (I was 4-5 cm dilated) that they weren't going to be able to stop the baby from arriving. I was praying, but they told us our odds of a healthy baby were better then most because I had the surfactant shots for the baby's lungs.

Midnight, December 3rd. I was 6cm dilated. At this point we decided against an epidural for the baby's sake. The risk to this was, if I needed a c-section, I would miss the birth. I still decided against one.

Progress was slow to be made. I tried to sleep, but the contractions were regular enough that I couldn't get any productive rest in. After another couple of hours at about 3:30am, I was only 8 cm. We all predicted that it would be another couple of hours before I was ready to push.

But we were wrong. Only 35 minutes after that I started feeling some pressure. Sure enough, once I was checked, I was completely dialated. There was a made rush to get me to the delivery room and have everyone ready. I was told not to push, just pant. That was very very hard. Finally I could stand it anymore. I told the doctor that the baby was coming. Only one push was all it took, and at 4:32am, on December 3, 2004 our little Bean was born.

Right away I heard a cry. I cried too. Sean looked down and said "It's a Boy!". I was so relieved, and so excited.

Noah Sean weighed 4lbs. 3oz. (1900g) at birth. He was 16.5" (41.5cm) long. Absolutely adorable.

As soon as he was born they put him in the NICU, which is where he still is. He had to be put on a ventilator, but they are hoping to take him off of it either tonight or tomorrow.

I love him to pieces. It will be a long road in front of us. But I am so happy he is doing as well as he is.

Laura