Hospital Visitors

We have come such a long way in terms of our community of friends since we first had Alivia. Matt and I laugh when we think our only visitor with Alivia was my parents and sweet Mandy Cloud. This time around, we were blessed with numerous friends that came by on Sunday to see us and love on Matthew. . .(Not pictured: the Dugans, PRip and KRip, Liza and Ian Sanchez-Alward)

My dear friends Amy and Jill

The Schoolers brought us lunch from P. Terry's

Sweet Rebecca with Matthew

Melissa and the Blue boys - they were excited to hold him - so cute

And dear Mandy - always faithfully visiting us with each baby!

Matthew Meets His Family

The three older kids stayed with Mimi and Grandpa while we were at the hospital. On Saturday evening, they came up to meet Matthew for the first time. I think Alivia and Will just needed to see Matt and me to make sure we were OK. They had no interest in holding Matthew and everyone just stayed a short time. On Sunday, Alivia and Will had warmed up to the idea and were more comfortable at the hospital.

Will's face when he first walked in and saw me and the baby is priceless

John still looks like such a baby himself with that crazy paci! None of the kids wanted to hold him at this point.

Aunt Emily dropped by on Sunday

Where's Peyton? (He has a germ-phobia and stays away from hospitals)

On Sunday, Alivia and Will returned and Alivia was more than ready to hold her baby brother.

Daddy sweetly talking about how tiny Matthew is. . .

Mimi and Matthew

I have been surprised by how Will has embraced the baby - he is really sweet with him. Anytime he cries Will says to me, "I think the baby is hungry, Mommy."

Upon arriving home on Monday, we had a visit from Avery and Paige

Grandpa, Matthew and Alivia

Who does Matthew look like?

Alivia - 2 days old

Will - 2 days old

John - 2 days old

Matthew - 2 days old

Matthew Kurt Risinger, Jr is HERE!

Our family is complete! Baby Matthew arrived on Saturday, February 4th at 3:46 pm weighing in at 8 lbs 11 oz. Here is the birth and baby story as best I remember. . .

My water broke right at 8 am as I was about to get out of bed on Saturday. I had felt really uncomfortable the night before but never expected to go into the labor the next day. It always seems like such a surprise. . .

We called Mimi and she arrived at our house by 8:30. I had been warned to not linger at home to labor so (to my dismay) we headed to the hospital before labor had really even begun. We met Mia (my "doula") there around 9 am. We checked in - it was all very laid back and quite a different experience from my other births. I was about 4 cm upon arrival and absolutely no contractions were happening yet. Dr. Binford was on call for Dr. Gooch and we had a discussion about an epidural. I was really anxious about going through all of that pain again and decided to try an epidural this time around since I had never done so before. I was hoping that the delivery would be more controlled and less tearing would occur down there. Plus, I just wanted to have these "relaxing" births that everyone talks about!

Dr. Binford told me that if no contractions had started by 12:15 pm, they would start me on pitocin anyway. . . By about noon, my contractions had started on their own, and by 1 pm they placed the epidural. The rest of the birth was PAIN FREE - I never in the world expected it to be so great. They had to start me on pitocin after the epidural slowed things down. I felt pressure at the very end and it was when Matthew was crowning. I was able to give some very controlled pushes and he came out after about 2 pushes. I could feel the pressure but no pain at all. It was awesome. I am so glad I experienced birth both ways.

The only thing I missed with the epidural was the natural high that occurs after natural delivery - it is hard to describe, but is amazing. You feel like you can climb a mountain. With the epidural, I just wanted to go to sleep!

Here is the timeline:

8 am - water broke

9 am - arrival at hospital - 4 cm

12:05 pm - contractions started

1 pm - epidural placed

1:30 pm 5 cm dilated

2:30 pm pitocin started

3:46 pm - Matthew arrives! 8 lbs 11 oz

I am so thankful that the birth went well and most of all that Matthew is healthy. Next hospital procedure - vasectomy for Matt. Ha ha!

Last Day of Work (as an MD) for Awhile

Today was my last day of work at Seton Topfer until I return from maternity leave in mid-May. It was bittersweet, strangely enough. We have just transitioned onto a new electronic medical record system and this was the first week of our "go-live." I am dreading returning in 3 months with baby-brain, all the while trying to breastfeed in between patients, and re-learning the very complicated system. Plus, it is always so excrutiating to go back to work after I have gotten used to being at home with the kids every day - I get out of the habit of thinking like a doctor VERY quickly.

With that being said, I really love my work and am so thankful they will hold my job for me until I return. I have also decided to cut back 1/2 day upon returning, which they also have allowed me to do. I remember in medical school thinking "How will I ever be a physician, wife and raise children?" And God worked it out! I am blessed to be able to work for Seton.

Upon walking into work today, the staff surprised me with this sweet gift basket for my baby boy. I was so touched!

Pictures for Ms. Jenny

Will came home from school today convinced that Ms. Jenny wanted him to "take pictures of everyone in the family." Here are his shots. (Matt was still at work).

39 weeks

Here are a few last shots of me preggo! I have been thinking about posting something poignant about being pregnant - so here goes:

Dear Pregnancy:

I have spent about 3.07 years/160 weeks/1,120 days/26,880 hours with you. It has been bitter and sweet, but mostly sweet. Before I got pregnant for the first time I was convinced that I would have great difficulty, but you proved me wrong.

I won't miss the burning round ligament pain, the itchy skin, the hemorrhoids, the groin pain and the restless nights. But oh how I will miss the miracle of it all: feeling the babies move inside, seeing a little hand or foot brush just underneath my skin. Having people smile at me simply because they know. . .

I just cannot imagine not believing more in God after spending so much time with you. As I close on my last pregnancy, I am so thankful that you got to know me and I got to know you. I thank you (actually, God) for the 4 beautiful gifts that you have given me. In about 2 years I will long to be with you again, but alas our time together has to end at some point. Sigh. . .

Love,

Christy