Birth Story, part #2

If you follow my blog, you might remember reading about the Birth Story, part #1. It's just taken me a long time to get around to writing part #2....

Part #1 was written on Monday, March 2nd. Tuesday, March 3rd I went into work since I didn't receive any phone call about having a baby. I was surprised to have to go to work, I thought FOR SURE I wouldn't be at work that week....but, no phone call meant go to work for me. My co-workers looked at me when I walked in the door with that look on their face of, "sorry, it's not today". I would guess about 90% of my co-workers knew the date I was having the baby and NO ONE spilled the beans! I was shocked that NO ONE let the cat out of the bag -- what a wonderful group of people I work with, huh?

I worked on Tuesday and felt like I was going to pass out or break -- I just had a really hard time getting around (it was 7 days before my 'official' due date...so, I was working down to the wire). People who didn't know my due date looked at me with that look, 'you're STILL here?'

I went home and did my normal routine on a Tuesday -- picked up my daughter from the babysitter, made dinner (frozen pizza -- that was about all I had energy for that night!) and got ready for bed early...probably fell asleep in the chair in front of the TV.

My husband and I looked at each other by the end of the night and said, "I can't believe the doctor hasn't called yet!" So, we went to bed, thinking it was still another day or two (or three or four?) off. I had just fallen asleep at 10:30PM (being that big and pregnant makes it hard to fall back asleep and get comfortable)...then, my cell phone rang at 11PM!!!

I shot out of bed, "the phone is ringing" I yelled to my husband. He just said, "huh?" (he was fast asleep!) It took me too long to get my bearings and realize what was happening that I actually missed the call...I ended up having to call the doctor back! :)

He said to me, "are you ready? You have 1 hour to eat a snack before you can't eat...you're having a baby tomorrow!" I got on the phone to my parents and in-laws (they both wanted phone calls after I got 'the' call) and then to my friend who agreed to take my daughter for the day.

Of course, I couldn't fall back asleep then -- it was too exciting! I took my bags downstairs and got everything ready for the next morning -- we had to be at the hospital by 6:30AM!! :) My c-section was scheduled for 7:30AM.

It was a whirlwind of excitement and activity -- my daughter did really well getting woken up early in the AM and ready to go to her friend's house -- she was just as excited as we were.

This 'planned' c-section was so much more enjoyable than with my daughter -- probably because my daughter wasn't a planned c-section, it just ended up being that way after ~11 hours of labor (she was stuck in my pelvis). The doctor and staff were joking around with me in the OR room...everyone asked, "were you surprised?". The nurses, doctors and staff all knew that I wanted it to be a surprise and they were all shocked that I didn't know about the date -- I think it was fun for everyone!

At 8:16AM, our little son was born. Perfect in God's eyes (and ours)! Big sister is THRILLED with her little brother (even now, a month later). We are getting used to having a newborn around again -- all the diapers, fussing, sleepless nights, etc -- but, we wouldn't change it for the world!

Spring Break

This week was spring break -- we decided to head down to my parent's house for a couple of days -- I wasn't ready to be stuck in the house for another week with 2 kids! We met up with my sister-in-law and my neice and nephew and had lunch and played at the park -- it was such a beautiful day and fun was had by all!

What's better than rolling around in the rocks on a bright and sunny day?

The tire swing was a BIG hit -- thanks to Sarah for pushing the kids!

The new baby was also a big hit -- everyone wanted a chance to hold him.

Little Cori was by far the most infatuated by the baby, "I hold baby" was the phrase of the day!

The tire swing was the BEST!

Not just pizza...

We ventured out to Chuck E. Cheese after church today -- to celebrate Jeffrey's birthday (our friend from the babysitter's). It's always a lot more chaotic than I remember....but, all the better for the preschooler!

You pay for tokens to play games and then earn tickets -- depending on your score of the various games. The preschooler won 108 tickets and she redeemed them for this: a plastic ring and 8 suckers -- what a bargain, huh?

She told me as we walked in, "I hope I see the REAL Chuckie, not just the stuffed animal one"

She was so proud of herself for being able to play skee-ball -- she just didn't realize that she was only getting 'gutter balls' and wasn't getting any points....oh well -- I was just happy that she was able to keep the ball in her own lane!

our day in pictures....

What a beautiful day -- 70 degrees outside, a new baby and a proud big sister!

HAPPY St. Patrick's Day!! (Kiss me, I'm Irish)

Playing some baseball -- surprisingly, this girl can hit the ball!

A new take on "tire change" -- she's painting her tires!

A little fresh air and some vitamin D.....

The boy with the pink wrap...

I borrowed this wrap from a friend who had a baby girl. I am able to wear this wrap and go for a walk or be out in the yard playing with the ability to use both of my hands....it's a wonderful invention! However, it's brown with pink dots, but I can reverse it and it's plain brown on the other side. So, the pink dots are on the inside. I just make sure he's wearing blue or 'boy' colors!

He's so warm and snuggly in the wrap -- he falls right asleep!

The big sister LOVING her new little brother:

More photos....

I'll get to the "Birth Story, part 2" at some point, but how can you resist these adorable photos?


our new little boy, with fuzzy hair after his first bath!

The big sister LOVES her new little brother....so far.

Reading a book together, it even looks like the little peanut likes the story!

Sibling love...

Baby Reilly #2.....the big debut:

Our little peanut: weighing 7 pounds, 9 ounces...19 inches long:

Birth Story, part #1

So, as I'm counting down the days, hours and possible minutes until baby Reilly #2 arrives, I thought I would get some journaling done here so I don't forget in the next couple of months.

It all began back in August 2007. We had our townhouse up for sale, on the brink of selling it and ready to begin our life in a new house and soon a new family. We moved in October 2007 and I found out at the end of that month that I had a miscarriage. We then tried for 6 months to get pregnant again and found out the good news in June 2008. I had some complications at the beginning -- an ER visit (bringing back bad memories from Oct. 2007), but found out that everything was okay. My doctor believes that I might have been having twins and miscarried one of them, but the other baby was alive and doing well at that point.

In November 2008, my doctor asked me to choose a c-section date -- I had a c-section with my daughter, so I was planning another c-section with this baby. I just couldn't bring myself to choose my baby's birthday and I also didn't really want to know the date -- especially since I wasn't due until March 2009 and it was only Nov. 2008 -- that's just too long to know and wait. So, my doctor agreed to call me 1 day ahead of time of the c-section, so I could be surprised -- as if I was going into 'real' labor. He had never had that request before, so I think he is just as excited as I am about the situation!

Now, to March 2009: I sit here and wait.

We cleaned the house (with the help of a wonderful housekeeper), stocked the freezer and the pantry, cleaned all the clothes, washed all the dishes, have little 'treats' for my daughter for when the baby comes, read lots of new baby books, have friends ready to take my daughter for when the 'big day' arrives, have a boy and a girl outfit ready (we don't know the sex), charged the camera batteries, wrapped everything up at work last week (just in case), notified my daughter's school of possible people picking her up/dropping her off after I have the baby, have my cell phone attached to my hip (not literally!) in case my doctor calls....WE ARE READY!!!

My husband and I thought that this weekend was going to be the weekend. I figured maybe my doctor was on-call this weekend and he would have me come in, so as to not interrupt his weekly appointments, etc. We didn't get the call.

We thought for sure it would be today-- that we would get the phone call last night, or maybe at the latest this morning -- my doctor said he might call early in the morning, before 5:30AM -- before my husband leaves for work. We were waiting and waiting.....we didn't get the call.

This morning, my husband says to me, "I really didn't want to go to work today".....sorry.

So, we sit and wait some more...there's not much left for me to do, except wait for the new arrival. I am ready to start our life as a family of 4 -- a mother of 2. I feel like I've been pregnant for well over a year -- probably because I really have been either pregnant or trying to get pregnant since August 2007.....that's a LONG time!

I'm ready to start a new chapter.