He is here!

Post-Pit drip/post-epidural/pre-Matteo:
D wanted to take one final pregnancy photo before M arrives.
After receiving...then reducing...then stopping the Pit drip and 9.5 hours of back labor, I finally receiving my epidural. I was able to sleep for about thirty minutes to an hour; just enough to give me a second wind. I am laying here relaxing before I am given the go to push! It is Thursday morning; the rain has let up and we are so very ready to meet our baby.


Little Matteo Anthony has arrived!

Thursday, October 9, 2008
12:29 pm ET
8 pounds 7 ounces
20.5 inches
Our first family photos

Meet our newest edition--just born!

This is right after Daddy helped to give his first bath
He is holding his binky here
He is such an amazing baby. We are so in love with our new little one and cannot wait for him to meet our family and friends.

It's almost time!

D and I went to our 40 week appointment today. Although I have dilated more, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera, little M is still not completely ready to arrive. An ultrasound was done to make sure my amniotic fluid was okay and to make sure all was well with our baby. He looks good and is happy in in his mamma's womb! The little man doesn't want to go anywhere just yet!

The doctor who we would like to deliver M is going out of the country on a mission trip. If we wait another week, he will not be here to deliver M. In addition, my feet are so swollen that he chose to put me on maternity leave effective immediately. If we wait another week and M isn't born, I risk using a week of family maternity (FML) leave that I do not get to spend with M after he arrives.

Our obstetrician gave us a few options to consider:

• Come back next week and see what has progressed.
  ...We will not be able to choose who delivers M--which might be a little stressful for us.
• We can choose to be induced (two options here).
  ...This way I will have the baby to enjoy, as FML has already begun.

D and I chose to sit down over lunch and decide what will be the best choice for us. We decided to schedule the induction and begin a Pitocin drip. We then returned to the doctor's office and discussed our decision. I then went to work and turned in my FML form to my boss. I headed home, did some last minute packing, ate dinner, showered, put on some ultra comfy clothes, and D and I got ready to leave for the hospital that evening.

Jonesy knows something big is happening here and isn't sure if he likes it!

Look at that big belly; it looks like there's a basketball under my shirt! It's almost time! We'll keep you posted...

Childbirth Class and Bad Doggies

This afternoon we had our childbirth class. Since the instructor had been hospitalized due to illness, our original mid-September class was rescheduled to four days before our due date. We joked that we would probably go into labor during class, thus serving as an example for the demonstrations.

A lot of the information was a refresher, while some of it (like the breathing exercises) was a lot to take in all at once. D and I did the best we could to absorb everything in the five-hour class. We were the oldest couple in the class. We spent the afternoon laughing (due to shock value) at some of the info. Possibly due to our age we laughed alone all day. ;0)

The day was great until we returned home. One of the dogs (D thinks Riley) left us a steaming hot pile of poo on the basement floor. After many repeat occurrences, D decided that the dogs would officially habitate outside. Although I love having the dogs inside, I agree with and stand by D's decision. We are a united front!

Great Quote and Condolences

Thanks to the wonders of Google, I have a personalized Google web page (AKA iGoogle) which I love. One of the various gWidgets (AKA iGoogle Gadgets) on my iGoogle page is the Leadership Quote of the Day. Today I found the quote to be very inspirational. Here is the quote for Saturday, October 4, 2008:

"You may have a fresh start any moment you choose, for this thing that we call 'failure' is not the falling down, but the staying down."
—Mary Pickford

Yesterday was my stepfather's birthday. I sent him a card and an e-mail [I'm trying to be better about this sort of thing]. He responded to my e-mail by mentioning that his favorite aunt had died! :(

D and I are very sorry for your loss. Our condolences go out to you and your family during this difficult time.

Have a blessed day and enjoy this first weekend of October--including the wonderful, cool weather! We love you all and wish you well.

Week 39 and Counting

The countdown to the due date is now 7 days. It is hard to believe that it's almost time for baby M's arrival. Today at my Ob appointment my cervix was 2cm dilated and 80% effaced.

These are my predictions for labor:

• Back labor (which I've heard is painful) since I usually have back cramps during menstration
• A birthdate of 10/09/08 (which would have been the due date if 2008 hadn't been a leap year)
• A birth weight of 8 pounds 6 ounces (factoring my 8 pounds 3 ounces birth weight and D's 6 pounds ? ounces birth weight (as a twin, mind you)
• A birth length around 21 inches (mine)

We'll have to wait and see if my predictions are correct.