Time to Go Home

As much as I'm looking forward to going home, I'm going to miss being waited on hand and foot! Jim actually woke me up by calling around 8:30am. I had a rough night of sleep. The nurse came in and told me I was going to be released this morning. I just had to wait for the pediatrician to come and release baby Jimmy.

People cannot believe I want to STAY in the hospital! But, believe me, Saint Clare's Hospital doesn't have typical hospital rooms.

They have cable tv, a vcr, dvd player and high speed wireless internet ALL complementary! Not to mention the rooms... They are gorgeous! They are completely private with hardwood floors and a pull out couch for Dad to sleep on overnight. They also have a private chef and you & Daddy can both eat free! Its not typical hospital fare either!

All the staff is excellent and they really go out of their way to make your stay special!

He's Here!

Finally!

I woke up around 3:00am on November 25th. I started to feel some contractions. I figured I would try to get some rest....while I still could!

Around 6:00am, they started to become more and more uncomfortable. So, I put a call into the doctor. I heard back from Dr. Fernandez around 7:00am. At that point, I decided to take a shower and pay a visit to the hospital.

We dropped Emily off at my parents house aroun 8am and got to the hospital by 8:30am. They got me all comfy, IV placed, gown on. I expressed to the nurse that I was going to try to labor and avoid the c-section. They checked me, I was about 2cm. Still a long way to go.

Dr. Fernandez came in around 11:30 and explained my options. They were going to let me labor, but if I didn't progress at least 1cm an hour; it was going to be a c-section for me. He recommended starting pitocin, breaking my water and starting the epidural. All of this was done by 12:30pm. Now, it was just a waiting game.

At 1:30pm, when they checked me, I was at 3cm. Yay! Some progress was good and kept me away from the c-section for now! At 2:30, I was almost 6cm. By 4:30, I was 9! Jim called my parents to let them know we would have a baby soon. I saw the doctor and he said he was going for dinner and would be back soon. At 4:40, the pain became unbearable and I told Jim to call the nurse. The nurse came in and we did some practice pushing. She told me to stop and called the doctor in NOW!

At 4:59pm on Sunday, November 25th, James Liam entered the world! He weighed in at 9lbs. 15oz. and was 20.5 inches long! And a c-section was not needed!

O Christmas Tree!

We decided to get a Christmas Tree early this year. With the baby coming (hopefully!), we figured it would be stupid to take him out in the cold. Instead, we just got one much earlier than planned. So we packed ourselves up and headed out on our ritual. We started going to this place the 2nd Christmas we were married. So, this will be our 5th trip to Max's!

Its funny when people ask me when I'm due and I say, last week. Although at this point I am H*U*G*E! Seriously, it seems like there is more than one baby in there!

Here is a picture of Emily & I....

See I'm HUGE!

Christmas Caverns

With the baby coming soon, we are getting in a lot of things that we wanted to do. So, we decided to take Emily to the Fountains of Wayne Caverns. She seemed to enjoy looking at all the displays.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Well, I was just watching a Saved By the Bell marathon waiting for Jim and Emily to show up for visiting. I actually got some sleep last night, a big deal for being in the hospital. I know the nurses want to monitor the baby and I have to wait for the anesthesiologist to come and officially release me. It feels really weird being in the maternity ward without a baby!

Jim & Emily showed up around 9:30am, we ordered breakfast and watched Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Emily seemed to really enjoy it!

Finally, around 11:00, the anesthesiologist showed up and gave me the go ahead for release. We got home around noon and my parents brought up Thanksgiving dinner. Overall, it turned out to be a good day!

Birth Story....part 1!

We dropped Emily off at my parent's house at 5:50am. I told Emily we'd see her soon and told my parents Jim would call when there was a baby.

We got to the hospital at 6:00am. Went to the maternity ward, was put in a room and changed clothes. The nurses hooked me up to machines, started an IV and basically asked a ton of questions. I then asked them a ton of questions. The anesthesiologist came in and went over his procedure and asked a bunch of questions. He was great!

The room was empty and Jim & I looked at eachother. I explained my nervousness and that I was dying of thirst! Due to the anesthesia I couldn't eat or drink after midnight.

A nurse came in at that point and gave me some liquid that would help with the nausea (a side effect of the anesthesia). At this point I was so thirsty, I would have drank anything. Unfortunately, this stuff tasted like lemon antifreeze. Seriously, it was awful! She also gave Jim his space-age garb to be worn in the OR and gave me a funny hair covering. We looked great!

Dr. Shah came in about 7:50am and said we were on time and should be starting soon! We asked her a couple of questions and then she left. Less than 10 minutes later, the nurses came in to wheel me into the OR. They transferred me to this itty bitty OR table. The anesthesiologist then proceded to give me the spinal. He was great and I only felt a pinch. Very soon after, I started to not feel my legs. They laid me down on the table and put in the catheter. At this point, I could feel nothing. I was aware of things going on around me. My doctor and the assiting doctor came in. They brought the blue curtain up and I heard them say a moment later..."she's good".

And then it happened.....

I had a full blown panic attack! They had brought Jim in at this time and he tried to calm me down. I was having NONE of that. I told Dr. Shah that it just didn't feel right and there was no way I could go through with it.

She told me that I would just be back in a few days needing a c-section. I told her that was fine, I just needed to be in labor first. So, they started dismantling the OR and put me back on the regular bed. I had to stay in recovery until they got my blood pressure back up. At one point, it was as low as 60 because of the anesthesia. About 2 hours later, I was finally able to start moving my legs, that was a strange feeling. They started to rub the benzocaine off my stomach and that's when it happened....the nausea was overwhelming. The nurse also told me that I had a new c-section appointment set for November 27th at 10am.

They took me to maternity, where all the beautiful rooms were. Since the anesthesiologist had given me so much pain medication for after, I had to stay overnight for observation. I then made the phone calls. I told my parents that they could bring Emily up to visit, but there was no baby. I had to tell everyone the story. Jim & Emily stayed until around 7:30 and my parents left around 6:00.

I was able to get some rest even though nurses were coming in every few hours to do their checks. It was definately an eventful day!

40 weeks...and 1 Day!

Today we meet with Dr. Shah for my last OB appointment. We will also discuss the c-section that will be taking place tomorrow. Pretty soon we'll be holding a new baby!

The first snowfall...

If you remember last year's snow pictures, you know Emily doesn't like the snow! This year she did much better!

I also got my new camera, so I was trying it out. I didn't want the first time to be when the baby is born...just in case I was doing something wrong!

40 Weeks...and NO baby...

Today I am 40 weeks. I was really hoping that he would have been here before now. I guess he's all comfy in there, though he's got to be running out of room!

My 40 week doctor's appointment is tomorrow and it looks like the c-section will happen.

Caesarean Section is scheduled...

We discussed it and I reluctantly agreed that a c-section should be performed.

So, as of now, we are having a baby November 21st at 8am. This means that I will be in the hospital for Thanksgiving. I have to be at the hospital at 6am. All blood work and tests will be done via outpatient procedure the day before the section.

I am still hoping that I will go into labor and he will decide when he wants to come!

Keep your fingers crossed!

39 Week Appointment.....

We met with Dr. Shah today for, hopefully, our last appointment. She reviewed the results of the ultrasound and determined that the baby will be 10lbs. She advised on scheduling a c-section.

Next appointment (hopefully not!)....November 20th

Happy Anniversary!

You and me

We're invincible together

We can be oh so tragical, whatever

We're Sid and Nancy

Fred and Ginger

Clyde and Bonnie

Liz and Richard

Kurt and Courtney

Bacall and Bogie

Joltin' Joe and Ms. Monroe

Here's Captain Crash and the Beauty Queen from Mars

Today, Jim & I have been married for 6 years!

It seems just like yesterday. We've truely been through so much together. I can't imagine having anyone else by my side as I go through life. He really is my "better" half!

38 Week Doctor's Appointment....

Went to the doctor today for my weekly appointment.

Heartbeat was good, weight gain was good and no change. Talked to doctor about ultrasound and decided against inducing early.

So, we'll let this "little" guy come when he's ready!

Next appointment....November 15th

Visit with Michelle and Tony....

Today, my parents, Jim, Emily & I all went to visit Michelle, Tony & Laura.

We ordered pizza and all had a wonderful time. We sat around, talked and laughed. Tony again was looking well, but started to look tired towards the end.

When we were leaving, I went into the kitchen to extend the invitation for Christmas. Tony stayed in the dining room with my parents and Michelle told me the bad news. The doctors told her that Tony had at most a year left. At this point, Jim came into the kitchen and we told him the news as well. I think that sent us into a little state of shock. How could that even be possible?

We are so grateful that we were able to spend this day with him, little did we know it would be our last....

Ultrasound Results...

Well, Dr. Austin sent me for an ultrasound to determine size. She was right! We have a big boy in there.

According to the technician, everything she checked on the baby was measuring 40 weeks or more! I'm 37, almost 38! So, this baby can come whenever he's ready and the sooner, the better!

37 Week Doctor's Appointment...

Overall, everything went well. Heartbeat was good, weight gain was good....

Dr. Austin decided to send me for a ultrasound to determine size. She seems to think we have a very big baby in there! Since Emily was a difficult delivery, she wants to know what we're up against.

Keep your fingers crossed!

Next appointment...November 8th