Lucy's Arrival on Saturday 12/6

Friday evening, Dec 5- Fernando and I had dinner and talked about all we needed to do on his weekend off to prepare for Lucy's arrival in the coming weeks. It was only week 37, we had time! Ha! We were going to pack the bags for the hospital and go to Babies R Us for a few more things. Fernando was going to finish up some shelves he was working on for her room.
9:30 PM, I am SO tired and go to bed early.

During the night...I get up to pee WAY more than I have been. Looking back, I think my system was cleaning itself out.

WARNING: possibly too much info!

Saturday morning, Dec 6- 6:30AM I go to bathroom for what seemed like the 10th time...back to bed and gush of water...however, I think it is just mucus plug as lots of mucus coming out. I check birth book and it says labor is anywhere from 1-7 days when mucus plug comes out. I feel fine so go back to bed. I tell Fernando that I lost mucus plug. We go to sleep.

7AM- Start feeling not so great. Abdomen starts hurting. I still do not think these are contractions.

8AM- I am pretty sure what I feel are contractions but we have a hard time timing them. Fernando is now awake and I am stating to be in pain, but not SO bad.

9AM- Fer is running around packing bags, calling parents, etc. I am in bed trying not to lose it from the pain. I am in shock and cannot believe these contractions are the real thing although I cannot stand up my legs are shaking so bad.

I take a HOT shower somewhere in here. Fer said I was in there for at least 30-45 minutes.

10AM- We call the doctor's office as I am sweating uncontrollably after getting out of the shower. The midwife asked me questions and decided I should come to hospital. I am still in shock and wonder if I can withstand labor if this is early labor without epidural. I had not submitted my early hospital registration or have chosen a pediatrician!

Midwife sounds very skeptical on the phone that this is the real thing. We agree to meet at hospital in an hour. Fer helps me dress.

10:30 AM- We drive to hospital. Me with my eyes closed the whole time. Still cannot believe this is happening...we are not ready!

11AM- Arrive at hospital...I have to tell the nurse all my registration info. She apologizes but I was not preregistered! AH!

11:30 or so- We are checked into a labor/delivery room. Midwife arrives a short while later. She has monitors attached to me and checks to see status of dilation. She is SO surprised...I am at 7 1/2 centimeters!! She asks if I want epidural. I decide to hold off as I am much more calm, although in shock still, and feel better just being at hospital in good hands.

Midwife and main nurse were wonderful and so calm and reassuring the whole time. Fer was by my side and even though I had several opportunities the midwife agreed that I could deliver the baby naturally within a few hours! Wow!

2:00PM- Pushing started....longest hour and 41 minutes of my life! I was getting so tired...I had not had breakfast or lunch. I did get to have water and then ice chips since I did not have epidural. IV was pumping fluids into me though as I was near exhaustion.

3:41PM- Lucy finally arrived! Her shoulder did get stuck on my pelvis which resulted in some tearing...I think worse than the pushing...butt recovery!

Anyway, that is the story...we are sleep deprived and happy and I am starting to get get cabin fever. Breast feeding is a whole other saga...but I will leave that out.

Merry Christmas to all! Our present is here early!!

LUCY MARCELLA

Born: Saturday, December 6, 2008, 3:41 PM

7 pounds 5 oz

20 inches long

Full head of black hair!

And she is cute cute cute!!

More pictures and story to follow...

Surprise at 37 1/2 weeks!!

The reason for not adding pictures sooner is the surprise arrival of our little girl on Saturday! One day after I posted! I am resurfacing just now from everything! The whole story follows...

Catching up at 37 weeks

So I know I have been really bad about keeping this up. I had every intention of getting everyone caught up with pictures, etc today. I went to plug the camera into the computer and I had the wrong cord!

I apologize for the long delay. At this rate we will have our little girl here before I get the past two months of news, showers, etc. posted.

Short update:
I am still on schedule for Christmas Eve. I really think she will come after Christmas though. Work is fine, but I am SO over the daily comments and questions!

"When are you due? You're still here? You are HUGE! Oh...a Christmas baby...you better make sure you give her two presents and a proper birthday! I know someone with a Christmas b-day and they hate it! Did you plan a Christmas baby? You must be ready. You are getting there. Waddle-waddle."

I could go on...

I think one of the worst though was from a guy in the elevator on my way home to my car. This is a stranger and he said, " I have already had a terrible day. Don't you go into labor in this elevator!"

Nice, right? People are such joys to be around. I have been protecting my belly so no one has dared reach out and rub it. I suppose it helps wearing winter clothes.

Well, that is all for now. I will get some pictures up soon!

9 Months Pregnant Quote

Quote of the day:

Whatever you give a woman, she will make greater.
If you give her sperm, she'll give you a baby.
Give her a house, she'll give you a home.
Give her groceries, she'll give you a meal.
Give her a smile, she'll give you her heart.
She multiplies and enlarges what is given.
So,if you give her any crap, be ready to receive a ton of $#!+.

La La Land at 30 weeks

Yesterday marked 30 weeks for me. 10 weeks to go!

I am finding it increasingly hard to concentrate and the sleepiness I felt in the first trimester is coming back in full force. It is going to be interesting to see how I survive these next weeks at work. And as the days are getting shorter with less daylight...that is not helping!

One exciting update...I met some neighbors yesterday evening (not new neighbors, but we do not know anyone hardly, quite sad). I would tell you their names, but seeing how my brain is starting not to function on top of I am already crap at remembering names upon introduction...I do not remember their names! The exciting part is she is pregnant, due January 3rd, with a girl! This is also their first child. She works as a dietician so of course she looks great. They live right down the street from us. I hope to run into them again sometime. At least it looks like there will be someone to walk/stroll with during the 3 months I will be home. Hurray!

More of our trip to FL

Here is another belly shot of me in FL apartment. I am at 7 months.












We had several rounds of very competitive ping-pong and pool (billiards). I managed to beat Fernando several times at pool! I was surprising myself at my skills...or luck!







Here I am at the beach. We actually got in...very nice bath water...calm and pretty. I don't mind baring my pregnancy belly on this beach. However, I don't think I will post the bathing suit pic. I do look pretty darn good compared to all the wrinkles and tan, leathery skin of the retirees living in Naples.