Did you miss me?? LOOOONG 'Baby Story'

Hi everyone!

I'm just popping in for a quick minute to say hi, and that I MISS YOU!!!!

I wanted to share my 'Baby Story' with you today, on Nicolas' 1 week birthday, but I may not be able to finish it because it's hard for me to sit on my computer room chair (you'll understand why in a minute... )

So, last I left you, I had been to the doctor (on 11/12), he had plans to induce me that evening, but decided not to because the hospital was very busy and there wasn't a lot of room in maternity. I was going to call him the following morning to form our next plan of attack.

I was at my mom's house and was VERY excited because I was going home to MY house to sleep that evening. I had been staying at my mom's waiting for the smell from my wood floors recent sealing to go away, and it was finally GONE! Patrick was at my house cleaning so I would come home to a fresh clean house, and I was hanging out with my family.

Pat arrived to pick me up around 8:00. He had dinner with my parents, helped my dad with some 'house project', and we were heading out the door to go home at about 9:15, when suddenly (and I do mean with NO warning) my water broke. I went to the bathroom to make sure that's what it was, and sure enough, it was as if the Hoover Dam had burst. I called Patrick and told him that our plans had changed, and he couldn't believe it REALLY was time to go! I called my dr. and he told us to go straight to the hospital, and to go quickly without any pit stops.

At this point I was feeling fine, and I couldn't imagine what the rush was about. As I got into the car, I had my first contraction, and OH MY was it a doozy! We started timing them and they were 4 minutes apart. Patrick was driving with his hazard lights on and weaving in and out of traffic because we had a 45 minute ride ahead of us, and he was sure we wouldn't make it.

As we arrived at the hospital, my contractions were 2 minutes apart and severe. It took me about 10 minutes to get from the car to L&D, and at that point the contractions were 90 seconds apart. They evaluated me, and I was 5 centimeters dialated, so I started asking for my epidural (begging is actually more accurate ), and was told I needed a full IV bag in me before I could have it. WHAT?! I was freakin' DYING, and I was SURE I wasn't going to make it without my drugs, but I managed to hang on.

I got settled in my L&D suite, at which time my contractions were 45 seconds apart and hitting hard. I was in and out of reality because the pain was so intense. Patrick said that at one point I bit him on the hand, and I have no recollection of that.

At about 11:30 the angel of mercy (AKA anesthesiologist) came and gave me my epidural. It was almost instant relief, and I could have kissed that man! Patrick and I then caught a quick nap. I woke up because all of a sudden, although I wasn't in any pain, I was feeling the contractions as pressure, and the feeling was uncomfortable and intense. Shortly after that, the anesthesiologist came back to check on me and I told him about the pressure. He immediately left to find my nurse. Patrick woke up at that point, and then the nurse checked me, and said I was fully dialated and could start pushing with my next contraction! I NEVER expected labor to go to quickly!!

I pushed for an hour and 20 minutes. It was very tiring, and Nicky just seemed to be sliding up and down for the first hour or so. Then out of no where, Nicolas decided to join us, and he wasn't waiting. The nurse called for my doctor, and said he needed to come NOW, but Nicky was on his way. I delivered his head before the dr. arrived, and the nurse was trying to hold him in! My dr. came flying in and delivered the rest of the baby along with Patrick's help, and it was a wonderful moment. Nicolas Patrick was born at 2:19 am after 5 hours of labor.

Unfortunately, my body didn't hold up very well, and I am now healing from MULTIPLE stitches, both inside and outside. It is horribly painful, and today is really the first day that I'm up and around. I can't drive for another week, but that's okay, because I don't feel like going anywhere anyway.

Patrick was an AMAZING coach He helped me so much, and I honestly doubt I could have done it without him. My nurse was also wonderful.. a true nurturer, and a pleasure to have around. I want to stress that the ONLY people in the room with me were Patrick, my nurse and my doctor. It was an extremely private birth, and I was very happy about that. At the time, the entire Philharmonic Orchestra could have been in the room and I was in so much pain that I wouldn't have noticed or cared, but in hindsight, I was so happy to have had my privacy so well respected.

That's my story... sorry it's so long!


The PROUD Daddy



Notice the picture of Big Brother Arnie in the bassinet..