He's Here

It's been a little while since I've posted.  We've had quite a bit going on.  We moved into our house, Quinn got back from training, we went to NJ for my dad's surprise 63rd birthday, had our first barbecue over 4th of July weekend, and our little boy showed up just over 4 weeks early!
Liam Quinn Overton was born at just under 36 weeks on July 10 at 5:02pm weighing 6lbs 14oz and measuring 20 inches.  On July 9th at about 7pm I got in touch with the on call doctor because I thought I was leaking fluid.  I thought for sure they'd tell me to see how it was the following day or worst case have me go in and get checked out.  I know sometimes you can have some fluid without it being a big deal.  I wasn't having any contractions (that I was aware of) so I had no reason to think it was anything to worry about.
I had JUST installed the car seat that morning because we were planning on going to NJ that weekend for my sister's baby shower.  I wanted to be prepared with the basics just in case I went into labor in NJ.  Again, I had no reason to believe that would happen, but I like to be safe.  My hospital bag was partially complete.  I figured I'd throw the last handful of things in before we left on Friday.
Anyway, the doctor suggested I come in to get checked just to make sure my water didn't break.  I grabbed the hospital bag just to have it and we headed out the door (without me showering or anything).  We stopped so Quinn could get a drink and snack in case it was going to be a long night of monitoring.  Once we got there we had to wait for a room because the delivery area was filled.  I ended up in a double room to start while I waited for the midwife to see me.  At around 10pm she came in and checked me out.  My water did break, and she pretty much told me that I wouldn't be leaving the hospital until the baby was born.  That information took me a little while to process.  I had to ask her a couple hours later if I was being admitted because I still thought there was a chance that they were just going to have me go home and keep an eye on things.  I had Quinn go home to Bubba and get some sleep because I was barely 1cm dilated and we figured it would be a while before anything major happened.  I told him I'd call if I needed him to come back.
At around 3am they started pitocin to try and get things going.  I had decided a while ago that I was going to try to go natural since I really didn't want a catheter put in or a needle that close to my spine.  Nobody informed me that delivering naturally was a bit more uncomfortable if you have to be induced. I might have reconsidered my choices if I had known that.  I told Quinn to come back by 6am because I was ignorantly optimistic that after the pitocin started it wouldn't take long to deliver.  He finally made it by around 8am.  My mom and dad left NJ early that morning to try to make it in time for the birth.  I didn't think they'd make it in time, but I knew they'd be able to see him at some point that day so it was ok.  By noon I was about 7cm.  My parents arrived (with more than enough time to spare).  My sisters and brother in law left NJ around 9am to come up.  I thought for sure they'd miss the actual delivery because they wouldn't get in until at least 3 or 4.  Apparently Liam wanted to wait for everyone to be at the hospital and settled before he made his grand entrance.  The contractions were the worst and getting my cervix checked was terrible.  I was stuck at 8cm for a while and even when I was arguing that I needed to push I was just barely 9cm.  I was having contractions every 2-3 minutes for HOURS.  It was rough.  At one point I bit Quinn's hand.  He loves telling people that story.  Finally at 5:02pm Liam showed up.  I was so tired and hungry by then that I don't remember how much time passed before I got moved and was able to go to the NICU to see him.
It's still weird to think about because even though we've been home for a week and a half I still don't feel like he's mine.  We're all doing well...just a little tired :)