He's Here!

Brett Michael Kochenower arrived at 10:54 pm on December 26, 2010. He weighed 9 lbs 1 oz and was 21 inches long. Everyone's mouths dropped...so much for the guesstimate that he would be high 7s/low 8s!

We arrived at the hospital at 8am. Everything got started around 9am and then my doctor broke my water a little before 11am. After that, early labor finally started around noon. I was feeling great. Scott and I watched "The Proposal" and just visited. Active labor began around 3pm. That's the time I had to start concentrating on my breathing. I finally broke down and got the epidural a little before 6pm. I was able to rest for a couple hours after that, which definitely helped keep my strength up later. Brett kept dropping down further and further, but I wasn't quite dilated to 10cm so I really had to resist the urge to push...I started humming and singing, which made Scott laugh. I began pushing at 10:10pm. My nurse was the most amazing person ever. I really don't think I could have done it without her there. I was in a panic at first because I was so surprised that I was feeling everything (so much for "you won't feel a thing if you get an epidural"), but she calmed me down and I was able to focus. Dr. Colangelo arrived at 10:35pm and was surprised with how far I was...she even asked if she had time to change. Our little man entered the world at 10:54pm.

It's such an amazing feeling. You wait and wait for the moment never expecting to feel all the emotions that you do when the moment arrives. It's a feeling that can't be put into words and emotions that can't be explained, but if you've been there you just know.

I can't believe we made this little guy. He's perfect in every way.