The Adventures of Vin, Lex & Hazel: Welcome Hazel Rae

Hazel Rae came into the world at 12:15a.m. on August 21st, 2011 at 7lb 10oz! We started off, aiming for a birth at home and I labored at home until my contractions were lasting way longer with a much shorter break than all those lovely birthing books told me (ha). I was way overwhelmed and when I was at 4.5cm, I made the decision to move to hospital for DRUGS! The contractions continued strong, heavy and over-frequent on the 25-minute car ride to the hospital that when we finally got checked in and were in our room, I had already progressed to 8cm and drugs were no longer an option...ahhhhhh! So I got what I wanted originally, but was scared shitless! The doctor broke my water, found meconium in the water (the crazy contractions made poor lil' Hazel go poop), and needed me to get her out pronto! So get her out pronto I did. The contractions soon turned to the pushing ones and Hazel popped out about 20-30 minutes later! Unfortunately, I suffered from some intense post-partum hemorrhaging and am still recovering my blood levels, but the good news is that although I wanted to move to the hospital for drugs (and didn't get them, ha), we needed to be there any way due to the complications - thank heavens! Now, we're all settling in to our "routine" at home, I'm regaining my strength, Vinny is a rockstar dad and little Hazel is a healthy little hoinker and just breastfeeding away!

Here are a few pics for you all to enjoy!

Starting off at home...