The Nicolini Family: Happy Birthday Leo!

We are so excited to announce the birth of our son LEO ANTHONY NICOLINI!
I thought I would share a little about the labor process for us (nothing graphic so don't worry) and of course include many, many pictures too!!!

Let the Labor Begin:
So, it all began Friday at ~3:30 am when I started having contractions. Of course, being a first-timer at this, I was unsure if I was having true labor or just my body just changing and this discomfort could go one for another week or two. Discomfort changed to true pain very quickly and I could not sleep. However, I decided it would still be a good thing to try to go to work that morning. After showering and getting ready for work, waking Kevin to tell him that I was having contractions and him telling me to call in to work, and finally speaking with a seasoned veteran of labor and delivery (Mom), I decided to call in to work. My contractions at this point were 10 minutes apart and lasting for 30-45 seconds.

Visit to the Doctor/Hospital:
So later this morning I was to go into the doctor's office for a "labor check." So Kevin and I packed up the car thinking that we may not be returning home until after the baby was born and headed to the doctor. After checking my status I was sent (via wheelchair mind you) to the maternity floor in the hospital for triage. Once there I was put into the triage area where I was quickly told by a slightly annoyed nurse who did not even tell me her name that I would be monitored for 20 minutes, walk the maternity floor for 40 minutes and then repeat monitoring for 20 minutes followed by another exciting 40 minute walk around the maternity floor. My only question to her was "Can I get some food???" She almost seemed too pleased to tell me "NO! You can not have any food until after the baby is delivered." Argh! Little did she know that it is my pleasure to bend the rules and my hunger trumps their food eating policy- so, Kevin, being the dutiful husband, brought up some chicken nuggets from the hospital cafeteria. YUMMY!

After 2 hours of monitoring and walking (and I might add, stopping mid-walk to breath through contractions ~every 2 minutes that were lasting about 45 seconds to one minute in length), I had not dilated ANY more than what I had when I was at the doctor 2 hours ago. I was hurting and my "lovely, patient" triage nurse (please note my sarcasm) said I have 2 options: 1.) go home (and to me this meant suffer) through more contractions- she said and I quote- "until they are more painful" and then return to the hospital....uh okay lady- I am already hurting big time so I don't think this is an option. Or 2.) get a shot of morphine, be placed in a dark quiet room, and have what she termed "therapeutic rest"...which meant the morphine would knock me out for anywhere from 1-4 hours so that I could sleep and then I would be checked again to see if I was any more dilated. I chose #2, was placed in a quiet dark room, and left to experience "therapeutic rest." As a side note, ~10 minutes into this, a different nurse came in, turned on all the lights and was about to bring another patient into my room- so much for my uninterrupted therapeutic rest! But I did sleep for about 2 hours and after this was no further dilated! Argh!

Bring on the Pain Meds:
The next couple of hours are kind of a blur of contractions, pain, and finally, our decision to get an epidural ~7 or 8pm. As a side note, not long after getting the epidural, my blood pressure dropped down causing Leo's heart rate to drop down as well. To then compensate his heart rate went way up- if anyone wants the longer version of this story just ask me or Kevin- some of the highlights of that conversation may include: oxygen masks, a corkscrew in Leo's head, Leo's preference for me to ONLY lay on my left side, talks of having a C-section, and Kevin's favorite- a nurse now having the nickname "Tsunami." Like I said, if you want the longer version of the story, just ask!

As a result of this WONDERFUL epidural, I FINALLY dilated more and more and more- to the point where at 2am, they told me I was ready to push! We decided that we needed some music for all this excitement so we turned on Pandora radio set the the Lady GaGa station. So just imagine, there are about 6 people in the delivery room plus me and Kevin- and in between contractions, we are talking to the OB about Pandora since she had no idea what it was- at one point I was like- enough about Pandora- I am having a contraction people!

Leo Anthony Nicolini:
The OB told Kevin that he could announce the sex of the baby to the delivery room. So at 3:30 am, when (formerly known as) Baby Nicolini came into this world, I waited for Kevin to announce the sex- I swear it took him a good minute to get over the initial shock/excitement/emotion of it all to finally announce "It's a BOY!" And, by the way, he was born while the song "Fly Like a G6" was playing.

Stats
Name: Anthony Nicolini
Birthday: 4/2/11
Time: 3:30 am
Length: 21 inches
Weight: 8 pounds, 3 ounces

Pictures (I know, I know- FINALLY)

My blue little baby boy minutes after birth

Check out that cone head and those swollen eyes!

The nurses were simply fascinated by his hair. So they decided to comb it into a "faux hawk"!

Kevin walks out into the waiting room much to the anticipation of Mimi Mary, Grandpa Jeff, Grandpa Nick, Auntie Jules, Grandma Carla, Auntie Moe, and GG Sue...

It's a......