Introducing... NICHOLAS LUCA

Hi Everyone!

Thanks so much for all the warm wishes and hugs

My sister posted my birth story, so I wont have to go into those details again but I will let you know how everything went...

The actual birth was again, one of the most powerful and overwhelmingly emotional experiences of my life...
As the Dr's said 'Ok, we're ready' I immediately welled up with uncontrollable tears.. tears of excitement, joy, amazement and sheer happiness at what was about to happen... A new life was being brought into the world.. This precious little boy that grew inside of me for the past nine months was about to be part of our lives forever... The next few minutes would change my life, change my family, change the world around me...

I do have to give credit where credit is due.
The staff at the hospital were absolutely amazing. Not only was my sister allowed to come view the birth again (which is usually a VERY strict NO NO at ALL hospitals when regarding c-sections), so not only did they honor that one wish I had
, but EVERYONE, every single person, from the nurses, to the Dr.s, everyone involved in my labor, delivery, post-partum, and nursery, everyone was warm, kind, considerate, funny and just a blessing to be around. I have been through this before and have heard stories, and I KNOW that I was lucky to have such an amazing group of people around me.

In the OR, the Anesthesiologist, my OB, the nurses, etc etc., were all joking around and making it such a comfortable environment. My OB is one of those comical personalities, so he really set the mood. Between the laughing and chatting, the HIGH state of giddyness and excitement I was overcome by (not an ounce of nervousness or fright, thank God) and the onset of the epidural, I was EXTREMELYYYY relaxed and actually felt like taking a nap! I felt like I was lying on the beach as the sun set... They laughed when I told them this, I was a first of this kind of patient for them
Most of you might remember last time, the Anest was a twin, and she let my twin be there with me. This time my OB ok'd it (what a DOLL!) and it winded up that the Anest had a set of twins at home! I thought this twin thing was tooo weird

OK, where was I.
Nicholas, my baby boy!
He is an AMAZINg baby. Ive been blessed with two GREAT babies. Our name choices at the end were Nicholas or Lucas. We both agreed on Nicholas and John wasnt too crazy about Lucas, so that was that. My twin sister, Lucia, gave her first born my name as a middle name. Something VERY touching and meaningful. I had promised her the same when I had a girl... Well with the 2nd boy, I said to myself if I have all boys, I will never use her name! So I chose Luca as a middle name to honor her, and Mario as a third name to honor my father.

Two things that have been TOTALLY different from what I expected...
1)REcovering - With my last C, I never filled the RX for pain meds. I remember my OB, a week later saying ' WOW!' because I lasted without them! This time around, I felt more pain and have needed my pain meds around the clock. I count the minutes for my next dose I feel MUCH better today than I did 2 days ago, but it definately seems like a slower recovery than the last.. I thought they said the 2nd would be easier!
John took 2 weeks off, and he's been a TREMENDOUS help to all of us. He has been MORE THAN Mr.Mom, Mr.Dad and everything in between. He's been a Godsent, anything and everything I could have asked for, and more. Preggos, you'll fall in love with them all over again
2)Breastfeeding - Last time, I had a hard time, and I BFd JA for 3months. I began supplementing because of the pain, soreness, etc etc.
Well this time, as I slowly relived the bad memories and hoped they wouldnt repeat themselves, I was getting discouraged by the 2nd day. and with the recovery being so much harder, I really started thinking of my little stash of Enfamil at home...
Well I am THRILLED (and almost CANT BELEIVE) that breastfeeding has been going GREAT so far. *KNOCK ON WOOD* With every feeding I thank God and I wonder why this seems too good to be true
Everything from the latch to the supply/engorgement getting better, everything has been smooth sailing (but I wont get my hopes up too high yet )

Nicholas is a TRUE DOLL of a baby. He sleeps ALOT (sometimes I feel BAD that he sleeps so much!) He's slept up to 6 hours at a time!
Dr. said not to wake him at nite, but to wake him in the days to adjust his days/nights.
He doesnt fuss or cry unless he's dirty, wet or hungry. He's a calm, content and really happy baby... No wonder why he stayed in my belly for so long!

John Anthony... My big boy, my first born. MY BABY
Alot of you asked about dividing your love or wondering how youd feel when #2 came along. John Anthony has ALWAYS been VERY attached to DADDY, and he has always been just fine and dandy when Ive left him at either grandma's house overnites, so I REALLY didnt think he'd look for me or miss me while I was at the hospital. Well, boy was I wrong!
John and my MIL said all he did all day was mumble 'MOMMY, MOMMY, MOMMY' and when they went to get him after a nap, he'd be standing up in the crib, like he usually does. When he saw his daddy or his grandma, he sat back down in the crib and cried 'MOMMY MOMMY MOMMY' This crushed my heart! I found it odd because he'd always do that to me and ask for DADDY DADDY DADDY, but I really think he sensed my absence in the house this time
When he came to the hospital, for about 15 minutes, he came by me, and with this animated tone continually said 'MAAAHHH-MEEEE MAAAHH-MEEEE MAAAHHHHH-MEEEE' and he hugged and kissed my arm/hand the whole time I havent been able to pick him up or hold him in my lap, so that's the closest he's gotten to me.
At home, he's been great, thank goodness that daddy is home and giving him his TOTAL and COMPLETELY undivided attention 24-7.
But it does make me weepy when he wants me to pick him up and I cant or when he comes by my lap and leans his head on my lap and kisses me and mumbles 'MOMMY MOMMY MOMMY'....
Sorry to ramble on that
He's been adjusting to 'baby', one day he'll lean over to hug him and kiss him, and the next day he'll tap him a little harder than a tap Im sure the adjusting will take a while. I know it will be much tougher when its just me and the 2 of them all day, and daddy wont be here to play with him and entertain him all day... Im sure eventually they will be the best of buddies, playing t-ball and riding bikes together...

Thanks for letting me share in my joy and for listening to me ramble about my experience with bringing home baby #2...

and this goes without saying, THANK YOU all for being there with me throughout my pregnancy, every step of the way...