On Mother's Day, May 13th 2012, Jason and I checked in to St. Agnes Hospital to begin my induction of labor. I was so nervous but so excited to meet my little girl I had been waiting months for! When I checked in and got hooked up I wasn't dilated at all, nor was I efaced, man...I knew it was going to be a long road! They began the induction process that night with a gel to soften the cervix and hopefully get things started! Jason and I just hung out in the room, I had Broilers for dinner and we watched the series finale of "Desperate Housewives." Jason was such a good sport, he would get up with me every hour and help me drag my IV to the bathroom! I barely slept, for many reasons. One, I was so excited to meet Giada the next day, two, I hate hospitals and three, I had to go to the bathroom every hour! At 5:00am the nurse came in to check if I was dilated...nope, nothing, fabulous. She began the pitocin drip anyway and the contractions started about an hour later. Dr. Swanson came by to check on me about 8:00 and finally...I had done something, I was dilated a fingertip...woo! Dr. Swanson told me he thought I would have Giada the following day, he was expecting me to do more and I hadn't. This crushed me, I was so sad and became determined to get this baby out! Time went on, contractions started coming on stronger and closer together and I was dying! Time seemed to stand still and I thought this was never going to end. Dr. Swanson came by about 2:00 and I had dilated to a 2 1/2-3. He was pleased and broke my water! I was so excited because this meant I could get an epidural! Finally...I could relax and breathe! The next time the nurse checked me I had progressed to a 4 and things were looking up! Then...about 3 hours later we hit a road block. My nurse began to notice Giada's heart rate dropping and called Dr. Swanson. I began to shake immediately, so many things going through my head. Is Giada okay? Does this mean I am going to have to have a c-section? When Dr. Swanson arrived he quickly told us he was not worried about the baby, that they were variables, which meant she was probably squeezing the umbilical cord or sitting on it...whew! The bad news...I had not progressed at all in 3 hours and my cervix was beginning to swell. He gave me two options, wait it out or c-section (my worst nightmare). After much discussion with Jason and Dr. Swanson I decided the c-section was the best decision so off we went. I couldn't stop shaking and the tears wouldn't stop pouring, I was so scared but so thankful to have Jason by my side and the best doctor in my corner. The rest is history, the surgery was fast and as soon as I heard my baby girl cry nothing else seemed to matter. Don't get me wrong, the minute they wheeled me into recovery I told Jason I was never doing this again (which has already changed, someday...way down the road). I am so thankful for Jason, for his support through the whole delivery process, I couldn't have done it without him, my rock. I am also thankful for Dr. Swanson, I couldn't have dreamt of a better doctor, he is amazing, my recovery has been seamless. I will be forever grateful to him for taking such great care of me and my baby girl, he truly put what was best for us first. The prize was worth it all, Giada was healthy and beautiful and we were instantly in love.
Giada Rose: You have changed my life in the best way imaginable. You have brought new meaning to my world. When you cry, my heart breaks. When you smile (even if it's gas) I feel unexplainable joy.I love dressing you up in bows. I could sit on the couch all day with you cuddled up on my chest. My love for you grows stronger every day, I don't even know how it's possible to love you more. You have made me a better person, a more patient person, a more selfless person. You come before me every day and it will remain this way for the rest of my life, this is my promise to you. I love the way your daddy loves you. He loves to sit and stare at you and give you kisses on your head. You are going to do big things in this world and me and your daddy will be by your side every step of the way. Be patient with me, I am learning how to be a mommy and I hope you know I am doing the best I can to make sure you are well taken care of. I can promise you I will need your grace every day though. I thank God for blessing your daddy and I with the opporunity to raise you. It is my promise to raise you to be a beautiful woman of Christ. We love you so much...to the moon and back. You are my sunshine...
Checking into labor and delivery!
Miss Giada Rose!
Jason cutting the umbilical cord!
Our 1st family photo!
My baby girl and my McDreamy!
Finally...she is in my arms!
In recovery
My princess
Daddy burping Giada!
Our first day as mom and dad!
Auntie Jenn came to visit!
My dad's first grandchild!
Auntie Michelle
Sarah came to see Giada!
And Jessie...
Melissa too!
Stacy
and Sophie too!
All dressed up to go home!
My peanut!
Home we go!
More visitors at home...Josh
Christina
Rema
Nonni!
Our sweet family...Day 1 in the hospital
My little peanut, princess and muffin! I love this girl so much!
Thank you so much to all our friends and family who have come to visit Giada (there was so many more I didn't get pictures of). Thank you for the gifts, the meals, the words of encouragment and all the support. You mean the world to us!
Love, Annie & Jason
.jpg)
