Bloggy Style

So, I've decided to embark on a new journey into the wonderful world of blogging. There are many reasons why, mainly because I wanted to document Ben's milestones and typing is just so much easier for me. Secondly, I think it is a great way for our family to get to "see" the baby without physically being here. And, of course, I just needed something else to be addicted to since myspace is starting to get old.

I'll start off with the birth story. I started having contractions around 4:30am on Tuesday morning, May 20th. (My due date was May 23rd.) They were very light, but consistently coming every five minutes. This made me freak out a little, so what did I do? I went into the nursery and started cleaning and straightening up! Then I decided to shower. I paced for awhile and finally woke Brad up at 6:30am. Unlike in the movies where you see the husband jump out of bed upon hearing their wives are in labor, mine informs me that he will get up in 10 minutes and goes back to snoring! In the meantime, I decided to call my doctor. He told me to hang out until my contractions were a 10 out of 10 on the pain scale!! This seemed extreme, however I took his advice. I went out to lunch with my brother and mom. I took a nap. And then around 2pm the contractions were so strong that they took my breath away. I knew it was time to go to the hospital.

Upon arrival at the hospital, I was only a fingertip dilated but 100% effaced. They admitted me anyway around 3:30pm. From 3:30-7pm, I dealt with paralyzing contractions. Thankfully, around 7 I was 5cm dilated, so in came the anesthesiologist. Let me tell you, that epidural was pure bliss. I had so many friends and family at the hospital and since I was feeling great, they all came into my room and we watched the American Idol finale until they were kicked out to the waiting room around 930pm. At 10pm, I was fully dilated, but my contractions were not strong enough for the doctor's liking. I was given pitocin to create longer, stronger contractions and my epidural was turned off! By midnight, I was ready to start pushing...or at least THEY were ready for me to start pushing.

The first hour was HELL! The nurses were all very calm and quietly coached me to push. This did not help me and actually discouraged me to the point that I started begging for a c-section. The nurses seemed to give up and in came Dr. Brescia--my knight in shining armour! He scolded me for wanting MAJOR SURGERY and told me that I COULD naturally deliver this baby. For the next hour, he coached me all the way through and finally, at 2:20am, our beautiful baby Benjamin was born. As you can see, I was so out of it and just exhausted that I couldn't fully appreciate the moment.

But, Brad was on CLOUD 9!! He was absolutely amazing through it all. I couldn't have made it through without him...even if I did tell him to be quiet a few times during labor!

Benjamin John arrived at 2:20am on May 21 and was 7 pounds 1 ounce and 20 inches long. He has been the light of our lives ever since.