Here's Ryker!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ryker Benjamin Frank was born on Sunday July 25th, 2010 (his due date)!! He is now officially one week old today! He weighed 7 lbs. 4.8 oz and was 20 inches long. Average for my babies but he was really easy to deliver...Thanks to my epidural!!

The story is on Saturday July 24th I was kind of feeling crampy off and on all day but nothing consistent or painful. That night Ryan's mom, Dawn, flew in to stay the week with us! We picked her up from the airport then headed to our church for the Pioneer Celebration. We had dinner there and mingled then came home as we were all tired!

Sunday morning I woke up at 3:30am due to contractions. They weren't consistent and about 5 minutes apart so I just laid there until 4:30 Ryan woke up and I told him so of course he couldn't go back to sleep. Finally around 6am they were getting closer and more painful so Ryan told his mom and I finished packing the hospital bag. We arrived at the hospital at 6:30am and checked in but the first nurse we spoke to almost made it seem like they weren't going to take us! Ryan asked if we should go to another hospital but she was just confused as my doctor rarely delivers there but I was on the schedule Monday morning for an induction but they didn't have any of my paperwork. Turns out it was just sent to the hospital up north (same hospital just a different location which apparently happens all the time) so it was faxed down and they let me stay! Ryan and I had been told this hospital is not that busy and we would love it but for some reason there were lots of babies born days before us so it was busy...

They checked me and I was dilated to a 4 which never happens on my own! Usually a bath or breaking my water gets me past a 3!! After that exciting news the contractions were getting more intense and they put us in a room to deliver!! I received my epidural and the doctor who did it was amazing! I think it was the least painful one I have had and it worked great until the end! Finally around 11:30 my doctor came in and checked me but I was still about a 4 or 5 so he broke my water. About 10 minutes later when he came back to put in an internal pressure monitor to really measure the contractions I was already a 6!! Another hour later I was telling Ryan the contractions were getting painful not just pressure but pain! I have never felt that and so I called my nurse and asked her what it was and she said oh just contractions and I could up my epidural medicine if I wanted but Ryan suggested we get checked and I am glad he did because the baby was ready to come out!

She called my doctor who only lives a few miles away and in the mean time the baby was moving down and I was actually feeling the pressure to push. I didn't but that is a first also! Ryan and I go to church with the doctor and he is really laid back. Ryan asked if he could help deliver so they got him all prepped and Ryan and Dr. Nelson sat at the end of the bed and he talked Ryan through everything. Ryan did about 90% of the delivery. The doctor of course took the cord off from around the neck and turned the head a little so it would be down. I pushed once and the head was out. I started on a second push but was told to stop and I think that is when they took the cord off but then the shoulders came out. I kind of coughed / laughed and the rest of his cute little body was out! Ryan held him up and I couldn't believe it was a boy! Ryan usually is crying at that point but he was so excited and in shock both from I think doing the delivery and that it was a boy we just kept smiling! Next Ryan and Dr. Nelson cut the cord and this might be too much information for some but Ryan even delivered the placenta.

Ryker came out with peelie skin and long fingernails and our doctor was showing us how the placenta was showing signs of aging because he was full term! Dr. Nelson then hung out with us and we talked about a pediatrician and he recommended one which we really like. She performed his circumcision which we opted for in her office not the hospital but Ryker is already so tough he didn't even cry!!! But then he got a diaper rash that is the worst I have ever seen on my kids! We are still treating it but it isn't going away quickly poor guy!

We stayed 24 hours in the hospital which I am glad we did as I had a rough Sunday afternoon with cramping and sweating. Ryker did great and even pooped about 10 times while we were there. I had GREAT nurses the entire time! They were very informative and extremely friendly! Of course the food was decent but I didn't have high expectations as I was not that hungry the entire time I was there! Monday afternoon we had to wait to be released as Ryker's bilirubin level was a little low but he was fine when we took him to the doctor Wednesday. When we came home Monday afternoon two of the women from church made a huge, DELICIOUS meal for us. It had everything! It was also Dawn's birthday so she was excited to have a nice meal and we were glad that she at least had that for her birthday! We have been receiving meals since then and it is so nice not to have to cook every night. I think I have cooked twice since we have been home and Ryan has been able to take lots of time off work as he has a ton saved up! He goes back this next week but can come home if I need him...

Cooper, Chloe, and Reese all LOVE their little brother. Cooper is so happy that Heavenly Father answered his question if he could have a little brother! Chloe LOVES to hold him and is very good at it! She is always kissing him and hugging him and just loves to be with him. Reese keeps calling him "baby". She is always saying "hi baby" and kissing him! Ryker is great and rarely cries unless he has a dirty diaper or is hungry! Which reminds me of when he was first born he was just looking around and the baby nurse kept trying to make him cry and he wouldn't. She was a little nervous at first but that is how all our babies are!

The nurse was able to get some pictures and overall we had a great experience. Dawn was able to come and stay with us until this last Friday and was a huge help not only with the baby but also the three oldest. She had them all day Sunday while we were at the hospital and off and on she would watch them for us so we could run an errand or Ryker to the doctor. Ryan and Dawn took them to IKEA and swimming also. It is a lot to take these kids anywhere but they needed to get out of the house a few times! Thanks Dawn for coming down to Arizona!

Now here are all the pictures!!!!!