The long version...

So we arrived at the hospital for an induction on Thursday morning around 6 am. Doug had flown in the night before and was ready to take on the household blindly, but with such charisma you'd have thought he played Mr mom every day=) Such a great brother! Little did he know what he was in for...
I was started on pitocin around 10am and by 3 pm had dilated to a 7. At 5 pm I was still at a 7, but was in such pain I had an epidural, and shortly there after the doctor coming on agreed to break my bag of water to move things along. He did so about an hour later...6:30 pm. That is when everything fell apart. Upon breaking my water the baby's heart rate dropped and it was determined that the cause was a prolapsed cord. Meaning that the cord was between the babies head and the opening of the cervix, so as the baby came down he would cut of his own blood supply. Not a good scenario. Immediately I was flipped from my back to my stomach to take the pressure off the cord and was rushed to another room for the c-section. All the while with the babies head being supported by my Doc. I was very shaken, but awake, and thank goodness for a sensitive staff that helped to keep me calm through the whole ordeal. I was so relieved to hear his lusty cry, and to see him briefly, though the morphine left me unable to respond much.
I will say the loneliest hour was spent after that as I was in recovery unable to see him and the full impact of what my body had gone through was realized. I was grateful that Dave was able to call me during that time to help calm and comfort me.
I am also so grateful for my angel, Angelle Lord, who was able to be with the baby at that time, while waiting for me to arrive, and would relay info and pics to Dave as soon as she was able. She was amazing!
Once I could move my legs again I was able to join the baby in my room once again, and it was such a relief to hear that he was healthy and wonderful to see his little fingers and toes,

and know that the worst was over.
My recovery has been slow, I do not recommend a c-section, but so grateful there is that alternative when things go wrong. (As of today I am in significantly less pain, and have more energy and an appetite again. Wahooo!)
Over the course of the next 48 hours I had pretty much constant help at the hospital. Thank You to the wonderful sisters in my ward, who gave of their time to see that I was not alone, and that my families needs were being met. I am forever in their debt.
By Saturday afternoon I was ready for some alone time with my little guy and it was wonderful to spend some time bonding and sleeping and reflecting on the whole ordeal. We were able to come home Sunday,

and while it has been hard to get around and even harder to watch Doug tackle the household while I sit on the side lines watching, I am so grateful for him and everyone else that has brought meals, taken kids out for play dates, and made it so I can recover quickly.
The kids love their new brother, even Spencer who is very jealous of the time his mom spends with Jake is doing well after a few days adjusting. Amanda and Maren planned a Birthday party for Jake Sunday night...with help from Aunt Emily making cards, a fleece blanket, and a chocolate cake (thanks Doug for following through with those plans).


(You can see that I am still in a lot of pain, and that Spencer is loving Jake's swing...just one of the many ways he showed his jealousy=)
Dave has been able to be an enormous support to me and the kids, and I am so grateful for his time and modern technology for that. He will be coming for R&R at the end of August! We are at the 4 month mark of his deployment, and given that it is looking to be 8 1/2 months rather than 9 we are almost halfway!