Welcome Kerri Jean (Part 2)

After about three hours I was just 2 centimeters dilated. Ugh. Then things started to go crazy. About 15 minutes later I was four. By the time the doctor came to numb me, I was in pretty serious labor. Apparently an emergency C-section takes precedence over my contractions! Well, this (getting the epidural) was a mistake. First he put it in wrong, hit some nerves and sent very painful shocks all down my legs. He tried again... this time the painful shocks were down my arms. So he had to start all over. New hole, another shot or two, some leaking spinal fluid... fun times. Second epidural worked... too well. My arms were numb. I was numb all the way up to my neck, not good. They turned off the epidural. Didn't really matter anyway. By the time the very inept "doctor" finished, I was 10 centimeters. My blood pressure was falling 50/30 and the baby's heart rate was dropping. They quickly set up the room for delivery and started telling me to push. I was trying, but I was so numb it was hard. I was also vomiting a bit with each push. As soon as I was done one push, they would make me start again, no rest between contractions. The vacuum came out. There were panicked looks (but calm voices) between nurses. The topper, was when the nurse put her hands on my belly and gave the final push to get Kerri out.

When the doctor cut the cord I knew we were in trouble; we had just talked about Sean doing that. Kerri was not moving. The doctor said she was in shock from everything happening so fast. They called in the NICU nurses and started giving Kerri oxygen. We were scared. The room was silent, except for doctor saying she was going to be okay. And she was. After a few very long minutes, Kerri was pink and breathing fine on her own. Her APGAR score went from a 4 to an 8. But she was mad, and showing it! What a relief to hear her cry. She has not cried like that since. I guess she is over it!

The night continued with blown veins, lost uteruses and the such, but by morning, things were calm, and it was like Kerri was always there.

The girls came to meet her and celebrate her first party with her. There were cupcakes and hats and favors and presents... they loved her for bringing such fun. Maura loved holding her. Maggie just looked at her and patted her a few times. B hit anyone who was holding her. It was loud and crazy in our room, just a preview of what the rest of our lives will look (and sound) like. Actually, I thought it was a little slice of heaven. Would have been a bigger slice if my insides didn't feel like they were going to fall out!

Welcome Kerri Jean (Part 1)

Well, she is here. Our newest addition to our family could not be more perfect. We had a very, very busy weekend of holiday festivities; she decided to keep the excitement going for one more day. All the girls slept very late on Monday morning, so I decided that Mo could skip school and head over to Mimi's for some extra time with their cousins. After a nice visit, we left around 2:30 to head home for naps (B and, hopefully, me). This was not to be.



At 3:30 I was on the phone catching up with my friend Meghan... in the middle of a good story... and whoosh, my water broke. I tried to finish my story, but, at her urging, I hung up and began the mad rush of packing for the hospital: packing M&M for Sean's parents, and B & Jameson for my parents. You would think this would be done, as I was planning on being induced on Thursday. The weekend was just so crazy, and I really was doing laundry on Monday with plans to pack that evening.

After two unsuccessful attempts to contact Sean, two unsuccessful attempts to contact Sue, and a successful attempt to contact my dad, I was convinced my water broke (could have just been peeing myself!). I called the doctor, they said to head to Paoli Hospital. It was a bit of a whirlwind getting everyone packed, but soon I had my mother in law, dad, and husband rushing home. We finished getting ready, left a mess in the kitchen (I was in the middle of making a BLT for myself... can't remember the last time I made one of those!). On the way to the hospital I said to Sean, "I just hope to God I am not only one centimeter. I want to be at least three."

I was one! Ugh. We checked in, got settled in our room and began the waiting game. We got there around 5:15 pm. I was not really having contractions yet, just some minor back pain. Everyone kept telling me what a smooth, fast delivery this would be, after all, not only was it my fourth, but my fourth in less than 5 years!

Well they were wrong.

She listens to me!

Yes, one out of four ain't bad. I looked at my last entry on the morning of December 1st and noticed that I asked Baby O to please make an arrival soon. Well, she did! At 3:30 that afternoon my water broke. A few crazy hours later, Kerri Jean O'Reilly was born. I will write more about the events leading up to and since the birth later, but for now, I want to say, it sure is nice holding a healthy newborn baby in my arms.

Still waiting...

It is 5:30 am on December 1st (Happy Birthday and Congratulations Aunt Colleen!). Every day that goes by I keep my fingers crossed that this little baby will make an appearance. So far, nothing. However, each day I feel a little more and more uncomfortable. I have back contractions and feel this baby digging lower and lower, but nothing. I was really hoping to go on my own, before being induced, but I will take what I can get. A healthy baby, however it happens.

We had a great holiday weekend, so I am glad I did not miss any of it. Between yummy dinners, birthday parties and engagements, and the kids just flat out having a blast with their cousins, life was good. I was uber impressed with the kids this weekend. Logan, Caitlin, Brendan and Cooper were all in town to play. Ryan was here on Sunday. The girls were so excited for it all. Besides one (maybe two or three) minor (maybe major) meltdown by our Mags, it was pretty smooth sailing. B just walked around smiling and happy. She went right to Aunt Nancy, which is highly unusual for her; she usually takes a while to warm up to a person.

The kids played in the basement and had a blast. On Friday night they set up a store for about 3 hours. At 10 pm when they wanted to open it, it was time to go to bed/home for us. They said it would open the next day. It never did. It really was funny, they worked so hard setting it up, were so excited for customers, but any time anyone came near, they would say, can't you read the sign? We're closed. There really was a sign!

Saturday, the Devon 5K was a fun way to start a nice day. Followed by more make believe play, and tons of time with Aunt Nancy. When I asked Mo if she loved Aunt Nancy, she said yes, she is so fun. I then said "She must really love kids." Mo said, "Why?" genuinely confused. I think I need to spend some more time actively playing with my kids!!

Saturday night the babysitter came, and we headed downtown for a surprise 30th birthday/you're engaged party for Dave and Colleen. It was lots of fun, and Coll was truly surprised. I am very happy for them.

Sunday Oba, Grandad, Chris and Ryan came over. It was a fun visit. I was exhausted, luckily my mom pretty much brought everything, including a delicious turkey right out of the oven!! The girls were in heaven seeing Ry-Guy (as Maggie always refers to him, even to say "Stop that Ry-Guy!"). It was a nice visit. We then got some baby stuff ready and set up. Girls are starting to get excited. So back to the original thought... any time you are ready, we are too. The holiday and parties are over and it is time for some more excitement. A new little baby in my arms would feel great right about now!

Animal Sounds

A milestone for B... she is mimicking animal sounds. We were doing a puzzle today. I held up the cow and she said: "Moo." I thought it was a coincidence. Then I held up the duck, we quacked together. This went on and on with all the animals. She must have been waiting to show off this new skill. Just dying to have someone ask her all of the sounds animals can make. Maybe Mo and Mags have been practicing with her. I am glad she finally got to show it off, and B, I am sorry it took me so long to ask! I love you!

Looking forward to meeting you...

I know I have not mentioned it much, but we are about to have a new baby. Two weeks from today we should be checking in for a scheduled induction (because of the kidney stones). We will have a new little baby girl or boy to cuddle and snuggle with. We will have a new personality to get to know. We will have late nights with feedings and diaper changes. I am anxious to get to know this baby and learn all her ins and outs, all her quirks, all her preferences. I remember how each of my kids liked being held a different way. I wonder what this baby will prefer.

I will admit, I am a little anxious, a bit nervous, and at times I feel overwhelmed by the thought of it all. But then I look at the three little ones I already know and get excited all over again!

Can't wait to meet you little baby! (And if you wouldn't mind coming on your own before December third, that would be fantastic!)

Paci-Fairy cometh

Yes indeed, little Maggie is being forced to grow up. 3 was a big year for her. We kept telling her all the good (and the bad) things that would happen on her third birthday. She would get to go camping with grandad (and, oh yeah, we would take away her water at bedtime); she would get to take gymnastics (and don't forget, we would take away her pacifier).

Everything went pretty well. My parents took her "camping" in their back yard. Luckily their yard is kind of like a campground, complete with built in fire pit! She loved it. We said goodbye to the water cup, no problem. We told her three days of dry pull ups, and she gets to wear panties to bed (we are on day number two! tomorrow morning is a big day!). She is very proud. She absolutely loves gymnastics and may be the hardest working kid in the class (Mo is in it too. She is naturally talented, but I have seen her take a shortcut or two). And well, it was time to say goodbye to her pacifier. Now this girl loves the pacifier. Actually, love is not strong enough a word. It truly is like a magic switch for her. When we limited her pacifier use to the bed, she would literally put herself down for naps and bed. It was amazing to see a two year old get up from watching TV or playing a game and head up for a nap. She would even put her pull up on before settling in for her nap. I would not even have to walk upstairs.

We took Maura's pacifier away on her third birthday, so we thought we would do the same with mags. Maura, like always, made the transition with no problem. She, howver did not have the same relationship with her paci as Mags does (did). Well Mags 3rd birthday rolled around, snd I went and got sick, so no way were her grandparents going to be the big meanies and take it away. I totally do not blame them. Not only that, but she got to have it more and more throughout the day. It was no longer limited to her bed. She may have had it in her mouth half the day. Needless to say, no one was looking forward to the day we actually cut it off. I think too, deep down, I did not want to see my baby girl grow up or stop cuddling. Whenever she put that thing in her mouth, she would snuggle up to you, twirl her hair and stay there until you made her move. If the paci was gone, would all my cuddle time be gone too?

Well, we are on night four, finished day three with absolutely no pacis. It is going pretty well. The first night was fine. She loved waking up and getting her presents -clothes, shoes and a glass (broken by Maura about 15 minutes after she opened it) princess. Mags is the only three year old I know who would prefer a new dress to a toy! The first morning was miserable. She would get upset and want her paci. The poor pathetic child would go up to the clear plastic container we put them in the night before, look in it, see nothing, then still open it, hoping they might appear. She dumped all her toy bins looking for the one we may have forgotten to put in the bin. She looked in the basket in the kitchen where I often kept them (there was one in there, but luckily I got it before she saw it through the tears). Since then there have been a few little cries for it, but bedtime is going well, and most of the time she is just proud to be a big girl. They were even playing in the basement playroom and found a stray. She picked it up, looked at it funny, and have it to Sean... good for her.

So, we dreaded the day; we put it off, but I am glad we did it and I am glad we are surviving. Life without the paci will be a little more difficult. But worse than that, my baby is growing up. Good thing I've got B and baby #4 to take pacis from too!