Our Surprise Christmas Present!

So Dave and I had a surprise Christmas Eve present!  Declan Shawn Allen was born at 3:15pm on 12/24/2011!  I had some contractions throughout the night on Friday but didn't know if they were real.  Since I didn't want to be the nurse that gets sent home for false labor, I kept waiting it out, cleaned my house, went to the gym, etc.  On Saturday around 1pm, my water broke and then I knew that I was really in labor.  Dave and I quickly got stressed out and started getting ready to go.  By the time I got to the hospital, my contractions were every minute and a half!  I was in a lot of pain.  We handed off Rowan to Dad and Trever and ran into the hospital.  I went from a 2cm to 6cm in less than 10 minutes and my contractions were so close together that they gave me some medication to try to lessen them.  His little head was stuck in my pelvis and my contractions weren't allowing my uterus to relax at all, so he was C-sectioned at 3:15pm.  He weighed 5 lbs 13 oz (I wasn't due for 3 more weeks) and was 19 1/2 inches long!  He went to the NICU because of his birth trauma (they even had a hard time getting home out C-sectioned).  He was really bruised, needed some oxygen and IV fluid.  After 48 hrs, he is now in the room with me and we are both doing great.  It was actually a really fun Christmas weekend.  Dave and I had some time together to watch a movie and relax in the room.  He has been so great about taking care of me and has made everything seem really easy so far!  It was quite and interesting experience, but we were so glad to have such a wonderful Christmas present.  He is so adorable and sweet already!

on our way in to the hospital. You can tell I was thrilled about taking this picture!

Ready to start the process!

Declan's first picture in the NICU

I didn't get to see him until 8pm because of recovery

loving his Dad

Declan's first Christmas.  This was his first picture without oxygen

He likes to have his eyes open, quiet and alert

Chillin' in his christmas stocking

Ro had a great first Christmas with James and Meieli.  Apparently he had a lot of fun with Brady and Gibson playing with the Christmas bows.  I was so glad to see him today and he looks pretty happy to see me as well.  He looks like a giant moose compared to Declan!  He doesn't care one bit about the baby because he is too interested in walking, babbling, and playing with the hospital equipment.

Our first picture together as a family!

All of the Allen Children!
The kids were so excited to meet him.  They all had a chance to hold him and then they started arguing about who gets to hold him tomorrow and who gets to change his diaper!  I am glad I have so many helpers.  My favorite comment of the night, "Your legs and feet look a little fat Aliss."  Yes, Mason they definitely are.  I hope this sausage-like feeling goes away soon!