A long road.. but well worth the prize

Gerhard posted updates during baby Camden's birth on Facebook, so they are now copied here (sorry for those of you that are not on Facebook and missed the live updates).

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September 24 at 1:48pm
Pre-labor! So it means I've been having contractions 5-8 mins apart since 5am. They have been mild as I can still talk/walk through them. They are SLOWLY increasing in intensity. No telling how long it will be now, but the Dr is thinking in a day or two.

September 25 at 3:00am
Well, we're in! Got to the hospital around midnight and she was at 3 cm and all the way effaced. Contractions started at 5am Thursday and have been pretty strong for hours now. Char desperately needed some sleep, so finally had an epidural put in. Just waiting now and maybe try to get some sleep. Also here are Char's mom and grandma, and G's mom.

September 25 at 7:00am
4 cm and water broke ~3:00am; 4-5 cm ~7:00am

September 25 at 8:03am
Taking forever

September 25 at 9:20am
Been in the hospital since midnight.. Things seemed to be moving along well, but nothing much for a while now.. got an epidural at 2:30am and just started pitocin, hope that goes well

September 25 at 10:38am
Sleepless in Sacto.. 30 hours and counting

September 25 at 11:26am
Contractions looking pretty regular now.. Hope that means things are back on track.

September 25 at 11:29am
Now a bunch of flat ones :(

September 25 at 11:58am
Woo hoo! 7-8cms now, so progress is being made.. Next check in 2 hours

September 25 at 1:34pm
Lots of strong contractions.. Big spikes on the graph!

September 25 at 1:50pm
Starting prep for delivery!!

September 25 at 2:03pm
9-9.5 cm!!

September 25 at 2:53pm
10 cm and ready to push! Where's the doctor?!!

September 25 at 6:33pm
Poor Char pushed and pushed for three hours but the baby is just too big for her small body.. So c-section soon

September 25 at 9:02pm
Meet the new li'l miss Prottung!! It's a girl!! Both mom and baby are doing fine, with baby having an alien cone head from all that pushing and mommy recovering from the c-section.

September 26 at 11:37am
Ladies and gentlemen, may I present miss Camden Elise Prottung! Born 9/25/09 at 7:31pm, 9 lbs 2 oz, 21 inches.