Snow Belted: August 2010

When I showed up at the OBs office back in January she almost fell out of her chair. She basically said something along the lines of "weren't you just here?" referring to my post partum check not quite a year prior. Then she said "well third times a charm so this one will be smoother". See, my first 2 deliveries were not so smooth - My first delivery I had an urgent c-section because of my fever of 102 affecting the baby. 2 days later I had sepsis with a very aggressive bacteria that kept me in the hospital for 2 weeks. Then 2 years later we delivered #2. It was supposed to be a nice, relaxed delivery until my uterus ruptured while I was still at home. So 10 months later when I became pregnant again, my OB was nervous. Kevin said I had already used up 2 of my 9 lives so this one had to be smoother.

Well, there were several hiccups during the pregnancy requiring the baby to be monitored every other week throughout the pregnany, but in the end, it was a nice, calm, uneventful delivery. So at 12:25 on Tuesday August 10th, Francisca Corinne Coloton entered this world at 36.5 weeks weighing 6lbs and 6oz, 18.5 inches long.

The second we heard her cry, we were relieved. The night before our c-section we had to decide if we should proceed with the c-section or delay it by a week. The amnio showed that lung maturity was borderline. The risk of delivery was breathing problems possibly requiring intubation. The risk of waiting another week was that my uterus could rupture and I might not be as lucky as last time to survive. I told the OB I wanted to go ahead with the delivery but not without hesitation. So when she cried and she continued to breathe on her own we were relieved!

Catalina had been talking about the baby on her Tobii for a few weeks leading up to the delivery. She was also picking to play with a babydoll more than she had ever cared for before. So I thought she would be super excited and have an easier time with the new baby. Tomas didn't really understand about the baby prior to delivery. I was worried about the shock to him when I would be gone for several days then return home with a little baby that was in my arms, taking time and attention away from him. But interestingly their reactions were opposite. Tomas is ecstatic to have a baby. Baby is his favorite word right now. He gets so excited to see baby.

Catalina on the other hand was more resistant to the idea of the actual baby. Maybe it's because she can't express her emotions as easily? Maybe it's because she remembers the last time I brought home a baby? Maybe she's just in a tough spot and she wasn't ready for me to be less available? Maybe it's the revolving door of visitors (family) helping to take care of her? I know the time away from her is hard on her, so she was definitely mad at me when I got home. But now she seems to be coming around. We kept her routine with all her therapies as they had been so she would still have that.

But now things seems to be getting back to normal. Francisca has been amazing. We went to the pediatrician at 6 days because of jaundice and a weight check - she was almost back to birth weight already! She goes about 4 hrs between feeds, with 1 or 2 three hr stretches, she is awake more in between now, looking around, she isn't much of a crier except if I am not ready to feed her the minute she wants it. We are excited for this new bundle in our family! Below are just more pictures. Enjoy.