Graham Woodrow

He has been called "Teddy Graham", "Candy Graham", "Graham-a-lam-a-ding-dong", "Graham Bam Thank you Mam", but Lucy just calls him "Baby Graham".

Graham Woodrow Jefferies has arrived, 5 days early. Here's the scoop:

I awoke at 3:49am on Wed morning with a contraction. I waited for the next one, they were painful, 12 minutes apart. I knew he was on his way, but I thought I might be able to buy a bit more sleep. 10 minutes later, my water broke, we called the doc, they said to get to the hospital. Taylor is awakened, the girls are kissed goodbye and we are out the door. (Sidenote, I scared Ian and Taylor to death when I walked out of the house and screamed. I had stepped on a slug and it had exploded all over my legs. I might be in labor, but that is still scream-worthy!)

At 5:30am, we get to the hospital and I am checked- just 3 cm dilated- no more than a month before! I put on my brave face and they start an iv- I only slightly hyperventilated. I stayed on it for 10 minutes and we were off and walking to get the baby moving. That lasted until 9:30am. At that point I told them that I wanted to take a shower. The nurse said she thought that the baby was facing the wrong direction and told me a stretch to try while I was in the shower. I was 4cm dilated so the idea was that the baby would turn over and that would get things going. I hit the shower, was in there for about 30 minutes. As I got out I had a contraction that was incredibly painful. Moments later I had another and told Ian that I needed to push. He signaled to the nurse. She wanted to get me checked out. I told Ian that if it wasn't time to push, then I was giving in and asking for drugs because it was too painful and I was out of energy. Within about 5 minutes I was standing next to the bed and pushing. I was having a hard time getting onto the actual bed and the hospital staff started a bit of a panic thinking that I was going to have the baby standing, and he would fall to the floor. I eventually make it onto the bed, I looked at the clock and it was shortly after 10am. I decided that I wanted the baby out by 10:20am and was going to make that happen. With that goal in mind, the pain was bearable-until I pushed his head out and thought I was finished and they told me that I still had several more pushes to go. I remember the 10:20 mark and gave it my all. At 10:16 he was out and laying on my stomach. Ian clipped the cord and there our little boy was, or not so little boy. He was more than a pound heavier than either Lucy or Harper! He weighed 7 lbs, 10 oz and was 20 inches long. His face was a bit bruised since he came out so fast but other than that, he was perfect!

The midwife who delivered him offered her congratulations and was off to deliver another baby. There was a line of laboring moms on the floor so we were moved pretty quickly to our recovery room and that was that. Not only did we suddenly have our third child in our arms, but Ian and I hadn't even had time to realize what all had just happened. Burgers and fries were in order, as was a nap. We enjoyed all of the above and Ian was off to give the news to the girls and to get them ready to visit their new baby brother.

The girls arrived with Aunt Taylor and Ian at dinner. Lucy was so excited. She wanted to hold him, sing to him and know all about him and to make sure I was ok. Harper was excited about seeing a baby and about running through the privacy curtain that hung in the room. She was also excited to see me, and I have to say I was pretty excited to see both her and Lucy.

The next day was quiet and the girls visited again. They were a bit less thrilled to be at the hospital this time, and I have to say I was tiring of being there as well. (Second side note- the hospital was a bit overwhelmed with ob patients and the nurses kept trying to get me to go home less than 24 hours after I had Graham. I may not have had a complicated labor or delivery, but I was bruised from head to toe, tired and not ready to go. I knew I had the right to stay a second night and I insisted on staying. When else am I going to have meals delivered, a nurse to watch my newborn and a snack cart that arrives at 10pm every night with cookies and juice?)

Friday morning I pack Graham and myself up, Ian arrives and we head home to greet the girls. Lucy is again so excited to see Graham, Harper was excited to see me (and not so sure about the baby) and we begin life at home with a newborn. All is going well. We had a rough night last night with Graham up most of the night and doing a lot of crying which eventually woke Harper and Lucy. Sat was better, he is sleeping more peacefully, getting the hang of eating and isn't so upset about diaper changes. He had a doc appointment today and is doing great and is already gaining weight again.

Lucy is relishing her role as big sister and "momma nurse". She is eager to help, and wants to take care of me. She even came over and covered me up in a blanket when I had fallen asleep on the couch.

Harper is getting used to seeing the baby and hearing the crying. She needs a bit more attention, but who doesn't want more cuddles with Harper?

Graham wore his first UK blue today- not a day too soon- and the Cats beat the Cardinals in his first UK/UL football game. He has discovered his thumb and looks like he will follow Harper's thumbsucking ways.

Taylor escaped this afternoon and won't return until tomorrow. She needs a break and we owe it to her. Hope she is having fun out in the city tonight!

3 days in this world and such a story to tell already! Ian and I look forward to exploring the world through a little boys eyes and to see the relationships he will develop with both Lucy and Harper. So call him what you may, be it "Graham Cracker" or "Little Woody", we are just happy to call him part of our family.