INTRODUCING BENJAMIN GRANT RENCHER

He's here!!!

Benjamin Grant Rencher has finally arrived. We are convinced that his Grandpa Rencher had a great deal of influence on this little man. Irvine Rencher (Mitch's Dad) was notorious for being early for everything. Being early, however, didn't mean he arrived at his destination quickly. Irv would avoid left hand turns if he could help it. He didn't like to drive on the freeway if at all possible and I have never been in the car with Irv when he wasn't driving exactly the speed limit or slower. Traveling with Irv was painfully slow sometimes, but he was always early.
Ben showed a little bit of this characteristic on his journey to this world. Ben's first due date was March 5th. The doctor bumped that up to February 26th at his 16 week appointment. Ben actually arrived on Monday, February 23, 2009 (3 days early of his early due date!). However, Ben did take his sweet time. I started labor at about 11:30pm on Saturday (Feb 21st). I was having major contractions every 30 minutes all night long with smaller contractions in between. I finally woke Mitch up at about 3AM and told him I was going to take a shower to see if the pains would slow down or become less intense. They didn't.

(Right before we left for the hospital)

At about 5AM Sunday Morning, we went to the hospital. They monitered me for 2 hours and confirmed that I had started labor, but I was progressing so slowly that they said it would be better for me to wait it out at home. We went home and all day Sunday the contractions got more painful and closer together until I couldn't even breathe through the pain. Mitch begged me to go back to the hospital to see if they could at least give me something for the pain so I could sleep - even if they didn't admit us that night. I finally agreed. We were checked in at about 9:30pm Sunday night and after some monitering of my contractions and Ben's heart rate, the doctor felt it was best to keep us there. Ben's heart rate was dropping after some contractions and by Monday morning, I had progressed so little that they threatened to do an emergency C-Section.

(Here we are with our nurse, Heather . . .

I was drugged up on an epidural and it was wonderful!!)

Mitch & my brother-in-law Andrew (Weber) gave me a blessing and our Heavenly Father promised this baby would come without surgery - and he did. Finally, after 36 hours of labor, Benjamin Grant Rencher entered the world. He weighed 7 lbs 5 oz and measured 20 1/2 inches long.

(Ben was in the birthing canal so long - he was a cone head by the time he came out!)

(Dr Harward delivered Ben - He was awesome!!)

Grandpa Rencher always gave his children an "Obedience" talk before they left on their missions or got married. I'm convinced that Benjamin received this same lecture because he is so good and he keeps both his mom and dad on track. He nursed like a champ right from the beginning and he loves to be awake in the day (some of the day) and sleeps through almost all of the night when he's not eating. He must have had a really good discussion with Grandpa because 36 hours is plenty of time to get any message across even for the long-winded-worry-wart named Irv (love ya Mirv!)

WELCOME TO OUR FAMILY BENJAMIN!

WE LOVE YOU!!!