Our sweet little Max is five days old today.  That being said, I decided that it was time to give you an update on our new family life.

I guess you could say that our delivery was fairly under the radar.  Since I was induced, we decided not to tell people until he actually arrived.  This was both because we had no idea how long it would take, but also because I didn't want to add stress to the situation with any unsolicited opinions on inductions and didn't want to keep people waiting and anxious for an unnecessarily long amount of time.  I think we made the right decision.  It was nice having the time to ourselves and being able to focus on the task at hand.

Max arrived at 2:17 p.m. Sunday, April 22nd.  I had heard a million horror stories and had no idea what to expect.  To be quite honest, I was kind of afraid of what was to come.  However, the delivery itself was actually pretty easy.  Our nurse was taken aback at the progress I made and had to tell the nursing student that was observing how abnormal our delivery was and how it isn't a good example of what the average delivery would be like.  When it came to pushing, the nurse asked me to do a practice push.  She kind of laughed at me when I asked what would happen if I was an amazing pusher and he started to come out before the doctor came in.  After the practice push she said, "Okay...you were right.  No more pushing."  Once the doctor came in, I pushed through 3 contractions (Adam says it was about 5 minutes) before Baby Max was all the way here.

Recovery was and has been equally easy.  I had very minimal discomfort afterwards and was up and out of bed within a couple hours of delivery.  Max has been a great sleeper, too, so we haven't even been all that tired.  He still sleeps through most of the day and night.  We usually have to wake him up for feedings.  He does usually wake up to poop, but it's a rarity, so far, to see his eyes open.  If I had a dollar for every time someone told me to "enjoy it while you can" or "sleep when he sleeps" I think I could probably start a good college fund for Max.  However, if I did follow that advice, I'd A. be dreading him being awake (which I'm actually rather looking forward to so we can interact more) and B. would only be awake for an hour a day.  He's been a great baby and a great sleeper.  We've been able to take plenty of time to relax, nap, adjust, and ease into family life.  My mom is here helping, but in all honesty, there really hasn't even been all that much to help out with.  I feel kinda bad that we haven't had more for her to do, but at least she got a vacation and rest out of the deal.

So that pretty much sums up life, at the moment.  We've had several visits from good friends and people have been more than generous with gifts, meals, and offers to help.  My mom doesn't want to leave her grandson, but is more than confident that we have things under control and that we have made and will make an adjustment into family life smoothly.  Adam's going back to work on Monday.  He's been super helpful, and you can tell by watching him how much he loves his son...but like I said, there's not much to do at the moment, so it'll be nice for him to feel like he's being productive at work and all that much more rewarding to come home and see his boy.  It'll be interesting to see how things go once I'm on my own, but I'm looking forward to starting our new life and day to day together, too.

All in all, it's been a huge blessing having Max in our family (and not just because he was 8 lbs. 10 oz. :)).  It has already made me appreciate the little things more than I did before, and put less importance on things that don't really matter.  I feel very lucky that everything has been so easy for us.  I don't at all take for granted that we have had such a smooth ride from start of pregnancy to now.  I'm trying to take the horror stories with a grain of salt, and am somewhat grateful for them, in a way, because I know how lucky we have it because of them.  Thank you to all of you who have been completely and utterly supportive of us and our decisions.  We are confident that we are doing what's right for our us, Max, and our family, and your support of that means a lot to us.  We'll do our best to keep everyone updated with pictures, milestones, and blessings.  We look forward to sharing Max with all of you.

-Erin, Adam, and Maxwell

Time for a quick update.  I had my doctor's appointment today...and have pretty much nothing to report :-p.  The end.

Just kidding...about the "the end" part, anyway.  I went to my appointment today expecting that they'd at least check to see if I'm dilated, and possibly even schedule an induction considering they said I was due this Saturday.  Neither happened.  The doctor said that they don't usually start checking to see if you're dilated until after your due date.  Then he asked me what mine was.  I told him that I didn't really know.  I said that I thought it was the 20th, but was told last week that it was the 14th.  He was confused as to why it would've changed when it was less than 6 days difference.  Then he saw that the original date written down was the 21st (which was the date not accounting for the leap year) and since that's 7 days difference, they changed it.  But ultimately, he said because of the confusion, nobody really knows.  Gotta love when the doctor is as confused as you are. That's fine, except it somewhat complicates the schedule of things as far as when they check, schedule induction, etc.  

So basically, since it could be this weekend and could be next weekend, we're somewhat splitting the difference.  If he's not here by next Wednesday, I'm doing a non-stress test followed by a doctor's visit where they will check me and then schedule an induction (though I have no idea for when).  My mom is convinced he's coming on his own (which I hope is the case, as I'd rather not be induced).  She's kinda glad I don't have any labor signs because she wants to be here when it happens.  I'm kinda convinced he might need a little coaxing, but we'll see what happens, I guess.  

Anyway, it's still a waiting game...with no definite end point other than he'll be here before May :-p.  I guess I'll just have to keep walking a lot and hope I walk him out :-p.

More Wednesday (but hopefully before that).

As most of you are aware, by now, I'm apparently due in about 4 or 5 days according to the doctor.  They apparently decided this in December, but I just found out last week.  Initially, as anyone I talked to is aware, I was (as Adam put it) freaking out.  I don't feel like this was all that unjustified since our house was kind of a mess and Adam was unavailable for me to contact at work for 5-6 hours at a time all week.  This combined with me thinking he'd be late for the April 20th due date, but realizing they expected him to come much sooner just sent me into a minor panic :-p.  

Once Friday rolled around, though, and I got the call from Adam that he was on his way home, my mind was put a little more at ease.  Adam started a new project at work, this week, and should be pretty accessible from now until Baby Kuester comes.  I have only 1 or 2 art lessons left (if I don't go into labor before Thursday) and have canceled the rest until a couple months after the baby arrives.  Adam and I both got a lot of work done around the house on Saturday, so if something happens, we can come home to a clean house instead of feeling more stressed.  So, things seem to be falling more into place.

My mom, however, booked her flight before we found out that the due date had been changed. She planned to be in town a few days before said due date...so she booked her flight to arrive next Monday (a week from today).  Because the odds of him being late, and the cost of changing tickets is high (not like the tickets themselves aren't enough as it is), she's still planning on coming next week.  I think she's kind of on pins and needles, though, hoping that he holds out until after her arrival.  At this point, I'd be okay with him coming whenever, because I don't like waiting for things...especially when there is no definite end point :-p.  Regardless, I have a doctor's appointment on Wednesday, so we'll see what, if anything, new they have to say then.

Other than that, people have started to pretty consistently ask when the baby is coming.  To that answer, all I can give is a wholehearted "I don't know."  What really bugs them, though, is the follow up question of "Well, when is your due date?" which I also respond with "I don't know." If they stick around long enough for an explanation, I give them what I know about when and why it was changed (apparently, both me and the baby measure a week ahead of schedule), and tell them a brief background of how confusing this whole pregnancy experience has been as far as numbers, dates, etc. go.

In any case, I'm pretty sure that all that them changing the due date did was to push up the potential induction date.  If anything, I'll probably get induced pretty close to, if not on, my initial due date.  So, I guess that it's just effectively making the day we get to meet our son that much sooner.  Adam's feeling is that he'll come sometime next week...which would be "most convenient" for him and my mom since he just started a new gig and my mom would be here.  I really have no idea and am trying my hardest not to care :-p.  

In the meantime, I'm doing my best to chip away at anything left I can do around the house before he comes (and if you're a homeowner, you know that is endless) without expending all my energy.  Perhaps this is as close to nesting as I'm going to get :-p.  

So...Adam and I will keep you posted when something significant happens.  Fair warning, though: I've heard wifi at the hospital sucks, so we'll do our best.  Facebook will probably be your best bet, but I'll post on here someday once I feel up to it and have time.

Thanks for all your support and prayers.  Keep them coming.  ___________ will be here soon!