and now there are four....: January 2010

I can't believe that it is already 2010.... So much going on in our lives since the holidays! Sorry it took so long to post pics of Christmas, but how wonderful it was with Ava! She totally got the entire concept of Santa this year. It was so great that she was able to have Christmas to herself before the arrival of her new baby brother. Now she is trying to understand why Christmas is over... just like any kid would love for it to last all year!! New Years was low key- a dinner out to our favorite Mexican restaurant- just the 3 of us and home and in bed by 11pm.

The first couple of weeks of January were great. I got to be home from work with Ava and spend some quality time with her because she has no idea how her world is going to change once we get home with Charlie. She was so excited that she was becoming a big sister but we have been talking about it for so long that we think that she really wasn't 100% sure of what was about to happen.

Most of you probably know the whole story, or pieces of the whole story--so as I sit here in my hospital bed waiting for my little man to be ready to go home I thought I would blog it so when Charlie gets older he too can read about it too.

My official due date was Jan 21, 2010. We found out on Dec 22nd, that the baby was going to be big (they were estimating 7lbs 10oz at that point with a month to go) We got through Christmas and New Years and both the baby and I continued to grow.
Tuesday, January 12th, I came to the hospital to be monitored because my contractions were about 5 minutes apart but I was only 2-3 cm dilated. I was hoping and ready for the baby to be born that day, but he wasn't quite ready to make his debut!

Wednesday the 13th I had a schedule Dr's visit and we said see ya next Wednesday at the next one!! Still on 3cm dilated... no action going on, but I did have a scheduled ultrasound on Thursday.

Thursday the 14th, had my ultrasound at 9am and the ultrasound tech informed me that he was anywhere from 9lbs 4oz and 9lbs and 11oz. Now, anyone who has had a ultrasound and then had a baby can tell you that 90% of the time they aren't close to what they say, but when someone tells you that you have a baby that big inside of you... time to freak out, just a little. All the thoughts of trying to self induce labor at that point slowed down and I was really trying to figure out how I could deliver something that large. All I was thinking about was what a 10lb turkey at the grocery store looked like. The ultrasound tech said she wanted to talk to the nurse and the doctor and see what they thought we should do. I would get a call later at home.
Within an hour the nurse was on the phone with me, letting me know that we were going to do a scheduled induction on Friday because of the estimated size of the baby. The good thing was that I am so tall they weren't concerned about the baby's health and if I was going to be able to push him out.

5am on Friday the 15th- called the hospital to see what time I needed to be there for my induction, they said come at 7:30am

8am- checked in and hooked up to Saline drip (can't get the epidural without enough fluids in you) I was just about 4cm dilated at this point.... long way to go but having contractions on my own about 3-5 minutes apart

9am- hooked up to the pitocin to help get the contractions moving along

11am- Still only 4cm dilated..... I was thinking this baby was never going to come!

12pm- Sent everyone for lunch and Toni stayed with me

1pm- Contractions getting closer and a little tougher but still not there. The nurse had me sit in a chair to see if gravity would help get the baby's head in position

1:30pm- Everyone came back from lunch and I stood up for a while. Pitocin got cranked up at this point.

2:30pm- GIVE ME THE EPIDURAL NOW... oh, your gonna have to wait 30 minutes cause the Dr and the Anesthesiologist are in a Csection and they can't leave the OR. YOUR KIDDING ME?!?!?! No, but your doing great.... hang in there. Within 15 minutes the Dr was in the room and I was 7cm dilated. I probably could have finished without the drugs, but I knew how comforatble it was going to make me and I just wanted them!

3pm- got the epidural and my water broke on its own-- and most of you know that because they had to break my water with Ava one of my biggest concerns was not knowing that had happened. For those of you who have the same concern and are wondering...its like sitting on a water balloon. You'll know when it happens!
As soon as my water broke it seemed almost immediate that I was 10cm dialted.

I remember looking at the clock at 3:15pm. I started pushing at 3:20pm and by 3:36pm Charles Sebastian Parisi was born into the world!

He weighed in at 8lbs 7oz (just like his mom was) and 20.5inches long. He is absolutely adorable and doing great!

Big Sister Ava unfortunately can not come to the hospital because of the H1N1 craziness-- they have banned all visitors under the age of 18. She knows that her little brother is here but still not sure since all she has seen are pictures. We are so anxious to get Charlie home today and for Ava to meet her little brother. I have gotten to talk to her a couple of times but she is still unsure of what is going on except that she hasn't seen her "momma" in a couple of days and only seen a little of "daddy". We are so lucky to have both sets of Nana's and Pop Pops, an Aunt Toni, Uncle Shawn and Auntie Ellen to keep her busy over these past couple of days. Thank you everyone for your help and support. Jon and I really couldn't have had this experience with Charlie not knowing what and where Ava was through it all. We love you all!!!

So Sunday is here already, my stay in the hospital is over and we can't wait to get home and start our lives as a family of four! Thank you everyone for all your well wishes-- we hope you get to meet Charlie soon!