Welcome Baby Ryan!

Years before I was married, even while I wasn't dating anyone, I prayed for my future children. I prayed for the blessing of children and for their little heart(s). After I got married I couldn't wait to start a family. Being able to look an answered prayer in the eyes is the greatest feeling and it brings tears to my eyes.

On Wednesday July 15, 2009, Tom and I welcomed our little baby boy into the world. Ryan Thomas Wassmer was born at 8:34pm, weighed 7lbs 10oz and measured 21 inches. He is the sweetest thing! We love his little cry, it is the sweetest, and I know it won't stay like that, but we enjoy it for now. Becoming a mom hasn't seemed to really hit me yet. I'm sure it will, but after all the exhaustion from labor, I kind of feel like I'm still just a babysitter. I can't wait to bond with Ryan even more, day by day.

Labor was...well, labor. I went in on Tuesday evening to be induced. After waiting 3 hours for a room I was finally admitted. For the night they used "Cervadil" which is a ripening agent. Most of the time it only serves to prepare the "areas" for labor, it is not used to induce contractions. In the morning they would put me on Pitocin, which is what starts contractions. Well, at about 2a.m. my contractions started so they didn't need to put me on Pitocin right away. I let the contractions last until about noon before I asked for the epidural. They got too close for my comfort and I wasn't able to relax in between. Once the epidural was in, I was golden! Tom got to see his real wife again! At about 6:30pm my midwife Renee came in and broke my water. She told me to rest for a 2 hours and then we'll start pushing. Well, at about 7:30pm I knew I needed to push! There was no one in the room and my delivery nurse was with another patient. It grew more and more intense until I sent Tom out of the room 3 or 4 times to find anyone that could catch this baby - he was coming! Finally my nurse came in and we started pushing at 8pm. I had heard that pushing can last for hours, so I wasn't enjoying every moment of this. But around 8:20 the nurse called for my midwife because it was time to deliver him. Ryan wasn't recovering as well as they hoped in between contractions and they determined it was because the cord was wrapped around him and cutting off his oxygen. So one quick episiotomy and few pushes later, out came Ryan! I hope I never forget what it felt like to see him for the first time, to see Tom hold him and to hear his first cry. I was crying, and it was great. I was glad I to be done and have Ryan in the world.

I am now on the road to recovery, which will take a few weeks. I was looking forward to recovery while pregnant because there were so many discomforts. Tom and I are in love with our baby boy. We look forward to many days of joys and many nights of wishing we were asleep. We know it won't be like this for long. I can't wait to share more stories and pictures with you!