Introducing Gabriel Thomas Brubaker!

On Thursday, January 29th 2009 we welcomed our newest addition to the family. That morning I was contracting and went to the hospital where the doctor decided to go ahead and break my water to move labor along. So at 8:40 my water was broken, a few hours later I started experiencing the loveliness of back labor, and at 3:08 PM beautiful Gabriel Thomas was born. When he came out he was as purple as can be, which was the only thing to lower his APGAR scores, but his color rebounded quickly and he was very alert. He weighed 8 lbs, 14 oz, which is WAY bigger than I ever expected. Big brother Jimmy was 7 lbs flat and Big sister Susie was 7 lbs 11 oz, so I never expected a baby who was over a pound bigger than the last. But we'll keep him. :) He was 21 inches long and while it took a little longer for labor to progress than with the other kids (6 hours from water break 'till pushing, while the other two were 5 hours), the nurses and doctor said his birth was fast, and that it contributed to some slight bruising on his head (which I never could see, but they are the professionals, so I believe them).
Gramma Paula was watching the older kids at home, so she brought them to the hospital once we were out of the delivery room. Sam had gone with Gabe to the nursery to get his immunization and first bath, and I was waiting in the room to see my kiddos. They were so excited to meet the baby, and Jimmy was impressed that my belly wasn't "SO BIG" anymore (thanks kid, I was so afraid you would ask why I still looked like I had a baby in my belly).

When daddy got back with Gabe the kids and Gramma took turns holding him, and then they had to go eat dinner and go to bed while Mom enjoyed the peace of a night in the hospital (not so much).

I had planned on milking the delivery for all it was worth, and staying the full 48 hrs allowed by insurance in the hospital, but after that first night I changed my mind. It was so hard to sleep with nurses coming in and out all night, and I really missed my bed, my refrigerator and my satellite tv. So as soon as all of the tests were done on the baby, we got packed up and went home. Paula made us dinner that night and I got to tuck my little, um... big kids into bed. All in all a pretty good couple of days!