It's a boy

Dave held onto my left leg and Theresa, the L&D nurse, held onto my right leg. Theresa was soooo good at counting to 10 and coaching me through breathing and making sure I pushed. My friend Leah recommended when I push not to push with my face but to push down if that makes sense. So that was good advice! I was never one to practice my kegels so I was so elated that pushing came so easy for me :) Dave said I was made to push and that I have child-bearing hips! LOL. I probably did 6 cycles of pushes as my contractions were about 3 minutes apart. They had to re-do the Pitocin drip at 5:00 a.m. as my contractions that were 2-3 minutes slowed down to 3-4 minutes. 


So when you push you hold your breath. Theresa counts to 10 and I'm not allowed to exhale until she gets to 10. I repeat that 2 more times. So 3 sets. Then the contraction is over.. then we relax and I catch my breath. It went well. Dr. Frangella said I was doing a great job and that the baby had little hair. When Dr. Frangella said that I was so shocked that just after a few pushes she could ALREADY see Georgie's head! Holy moly! It was setting in.. in a matter of minutes or maybe an hour, I'd be a mom and I'd see my Georgie. I was so curious as to what he'd look like. Again, praise must be given to Dave for being so calm and helping me.. and praise must be given to my amazing nurse Theresa for being so awesome at everything that night!


So a few more pushes and then out HE came!

so at 5:35 a.m.

weighing 6 lbs 14 oz

and coming in at 20 inches long

we had our son!

I saw him on my chest and it was so surreal. I did not cry. Dave did not cry. We were just in shock. Here are the pictures of our son as he was just born...

Owen's first picture!

getting all cleaned up 

the clock... soon after he was delivered

Mom is all thumbs up!

Owen :)

6 lbs 14 oz!

keeping warm

when I first saw Owen... I thought he looked just like Brandon, Dave's 26 yr old brother

Owen with the doc... Dr. Bridget Frangella

My first pic with Owen

adoring my lil guy

skin 2 skin... boy was I puffy and tired! it's 5:35 a.m. for ya though 

Daddy and Owen

Our first family photo!! :) (sans Bert and Ernie)

So what's in a name? Michael vs. Owen

We spent the next few minutes just taking it all in. We were parents. Our son was not crying. He was healthy. He was beautiful and he got his eye goop medicine and his vitamin K shot. Our son was really quite content with his mom during skin to skin. :) We enjoyed our skin to skin and I tried my best to nurse and get the ball rolling with teaching Owen to root and breast feed. Dave and I talked a bit to come up with a name. The sun was up by now and it was morning.

We looked at our son and had these names picked out: Michael James, Brayden Alan,  Brady Alan, & Jackson "Jack" Alan . So we discussed it a little bit. Then we wrote down the 4 names on pieces of paper.. and decided whatever name was picked would be his name as we couldn't come to an agreement even after meeting our son. Then, I picked the piece of paper with the words:Michael James. Dave did a victory dance and hoot'n'hollared. Dave's FAVORITE and top name! My top name was Jackson.  Then we were there.. with Michael. I made my phone call to my parents.. Dave made his phone call to his parents to announce it. Then we were sitting there recuperating/ skin to skin. Then Dave continued to call Michael, Otie.. or Owen. Not once but twice. He said it. I asked Dave, why do you keep calling him Owen?  Dave's like I don't know!? I personally liked Owen much better than Michael. I thought he looked like a Jackson, Brady, or Owen more than a Michael. When I think of Mikey/Mike/Michael I think of darker features like brown hair, brown eyes, etc. Owen's always been on my top 10 list and Dave's list seriously was like 1 name long. He was dead set on Michael. lol. I also liked names like Ethan, Evan, Andrew, Owen, Michael, Brady, Jackson, Brayden, Aiden, and James were my top 10.

So we ended up swapping it out! Michael became Owen. Dave is determined our next son will be Michael though, just in case you are wondering. Haha. 

So we named him Owen Theodore Nash. We both decided that Alan (OAN) and James (OJN) were not good middle names. OJ.. yea I don't think so. A leather glove!? NOT! So we decided to use Theodore as it's Dave's middle name, Dave's dad's middle name, and Dave's grandpa's middle name. So we thought it fit. OTN. Dave still calls Owen, OT or Otie like Garfield's lil pal. Haha. I nicknamed Owen, O's, or CheeriO's. LOL. Those are my nicknames for him today. That's about it though.

Our birth story

OK. I apologize for the delay! I totally would have blogged from the hospital however, Edward Hospital blocks blogger.com and by the time I came home.. life with baby took over. 


So here's our baby story..


On Tuesday, May 3rd I went to work. I felt completely fine and it was Sean's birthday at work so of course there was brownies and Dunkin Donuts at work. I obliged. ;) :D :P I worked on my PowerPoint for my boss and hit send then went to my 11:10 a.m. Dr. appointment. Dr. Phillippi was an hour behind so I played tetris on my droid phone and went in and the doc saw me around 12:30 p.m. Dr. Phillippi asked me the routine questions about cramping, bleeding, spotting, braxton hicks contractions, how is the baby moving, etc. So when I told her that I felt the baby wasn't moving as often she was semi-concerned. So she ordered an ultrasound. I was excited since the last time I saw my baby was week 26 and it was 39 weeks! :) So I saw my lil Georgie.. Dr. Phillippi determined at that point that my amniotic fluid was too low and that I should get induced. I was a 5 and the lowest they like to see moms, at 39 weeks, is a level 6. I did not believe those words and seriously I started to have an out of body experience and was tuning her out completely. So Dr. Phillippi ordered a stress test for me and baby to determine if a.) I'd go to the hospital right away or b.) if I could drive home and get my hospital bag and return to Edward Hospital within an hour to get admitted. So I was hooked up to the monitors at my doc office.. one for measuring baby's heart beat and one for measuring contractions, I believe. They gave me this handheld device and told me to click it whenever I felt the baby kick. So flash forward 20 minutes later.. and it was determined BABY AND I WERE JUST FINE. So Dr. Phillippi told me to come back to the hospital in an hour and eat a very light lunch. Dr. Phillippi mentioned that some women get sick during labor so not to eat anything you would mind throwing up. I WAS IN NO MOOD TO eat to be quite honest. However, I immediately regretted eating chips'n'queso and chicken fajitas from Chili's with Joann the night before. :/ Yikes! What was I in store for? lol


So, as soon as I left the hospital and doctors office I called Dave to inform him what was going on. He asked if he should come home. I told him no. I told him nothing would happen anytime soon so please finish up the school day and go to his chiropractor appointment. Oh! I should mention this! Dave came into the nursery, as I was sleeping on the recliner, on Tuesday 5/3 morning at about 5:00 a.m. and said he pulled a muscle in his neck and heard his neck pop and it felt tingly. So I researched a couple chiropractors that would see Dave- same day and new patient. So I digress. Dave went to his 3:30 chiropractor appointment.


I was emotional and excited. I decided to call Donna, at work, to see if she could bring down my laptop and bag. I didn't want to go into the building as I was emotional and I didn't want to talk to a lot of people about what was going on and why I was getting induced. So Donna, Deb, and Susan saw me at the front of the building and wished me luck. Everyone was excited!


I went home and picked up my bag, Dave's bag, and instructed Dave to bring Georgie's bag once he was born!  I drank a glass of apple juice and had a granola bar as my light lunch. My father in law, Ted happened to be at my townhouse when I got home. He was walking Bert and Ernie for me, since I had a doctor's appointment and couldn't make it home at my lunch break like usual.  So Ted was really excited and called Linda to tell her the good news. I called my mom 3x but unfortunately she wasn't home yet. So finally I got a hold of my mom later on. I told her I was going to the hospital and asked her to come over to feed Bert and Ernie dinner, walk them, and then bring them home. Mom asked if she should visit me at the hospital but I told her don't bother as nothing was going on and the baby was definitely  not coming until Wednesday May 4th, at soonest. 


So now it's 2:15 p.m. and Ted drove me to the hospital with my bags :) I made sure to pack my camcorder, phone, chargers, and camera. Everything was ready. I pre-registered at Edward Hospital a long time ago. So I walked in and immediately was told to strip down to nothing and to put on this very unflattering robe. LOL. Ted left and said he'd return later with Linda.

my new bracelets.. you like?

Room 110 is mine... all mine

It's 2:30 p.m. and now I'm getting all hooked up to the monitors again to monitor me and baby. My nurse, Suzette, told me that I'd be getting a cervital. I don't know how to spell it.. basically it's a 12-hour drug that is administered in my vagina that softens it to get the ball rolling before Pitocin is administered. Due to this diagnosis, I called Dave and told him. "You know what ? It looks like Pitocin isn't going to be administered until like 3:00 a.m. so go to grad school" (at Benedictine, Dave has grad school from 4:00-8:00). I told him I'd just relax and watch tv and his parents would keep me company until 8:00 p.m. 

Picture of the headlines.. the Royal Wedding and the death of Osama Bin Laden

Linda and I

My lovely ice chips and IV fluid

So now it's about 3:30 p.m. and Dr. Frangella comes in and checks on me. She determines I'm a 2! So that means I DO NO NEED A cervital as it's for patients who are not at a 2 (on a scale of 1-10).  So now she wanted to administer Pitocin. I told Dr. Frangella my husband wasn't going to be able to make it to the hospital until at soonest like 8:30 or 9:00. She said ok. We'll wait until Dave can make it. She said to order a light dinner. So I ordered chicken noodle soup and a grilled cheese sandwich! :)  I relaxed and watched biggest loser and then at 8:40 p.m. Dave came. Guest hours are from 10 a.m.- 8 p.m. at the hospital. Let's discuss my nurse, Suzette. She was very caring and had so many compliments to say about my in laws and how loving and nice they were. LOL. :)  I will say Suzette was very thorough and down-to-business-serious-type-of-a-nurse. I will say this.. she was very aggressive and getting my IV in and putting on that arm turnakit rubber thing. It was so painful and it was like she was going to take off my arm with that rubber thing. 

Soon-to-be-mom! The day just flew by I didn't get any LAST BUMP pictures. Oh well.

Me and my food. I was excited! Yum!

Let's discuss my IV.. My IV took 2 different nurses then a doctor was called in to put in. It took over an hour to place as they said let's try again in 30 minutes.  It's 5/15/11 as I write this blog and I still have bruising on my right arm from where they attempted to put an IV.  :( I have to say the IV was the most painful part of my birthing story. 


So now it's about 8:40 p.m. and Dave walks in. He was really concerned for me. It was really cute. He kissed me hello and hugged me and started to rub my feet. I told him the big show would start at 9:30 p.m. as that is when the Pitocin would get administered through my IV..


So, my new nurse Theresa comes in. Suzette left at 7pm. and the night-shift nurse, Theresa came in. She was the best! She was 17 weeks pregnant. :) It was her second. AbSOLUTEly the best! Theresa received the word order from Dr. Frangella and then, my Pitocin was administered and within 30 minutes I started to have contractions every 2 to 3 minutes. Theresa said to wear the oxygen mask. She said the levels of the baby were better when I had the mask on.

Me looking oh-so-lovely

puffy Kathy and the baby bump

Contractions totally feel like you have to poop. LOL. Do you like that analogy? It's true. I must have gotten up about 5-8 times and brought my IV stand with me from 10:00-11:40 p.m.  to the bathroom. Sometimes I had a bowel movement, otherwise I just breathed through the contraction.  Theresa, my nurse, said it's very common to feel like you have to go to the bathroom when you have contractions. Mine came on really quick! I was glad the Pitocin worked and that things were progressing. The contractions were like no other pain I've ever felt. It was bearable. The anesthesiologist asked from 1-10 what the pain was like.. I said 5. But, I still wanted the drugs. Ha!

So I bore through the contractions and at about 11:40 p.m. I asked Theresa to check my status and to order the epidural. I was a 3 or 4, if memory serves me correct. At 12:13 a.m. the epidural was ordered and then administered and Dave went for a 20 minute stroll around the hospital as he was uncomfortable watching me and that needle. 

Epidural explained...

so basically you hunch over like a yoga/cat pose and stay that way, very still. You feel a little bee sting and that's a numbing agent, I think? It takes about 20 minutes to administer. Since Dave was not there, Theresa was there in front of me and assisted me through my contractions. It's not like your contractions stop during the 20 minutes you have to remain very still. So Theresa encouraged me and coached me through my breathing until the anesthesiologist was finished. Then, the needle happens and seriously I DID NOT FEEL IT. Epidurals are not painful. I repeat not painful. So much hype! Over NOTHING! The anesthesiologist ask you if you taste or smell anything and warn you that you may feel like the drugs affect you more on one side. Very true. It was nearly impossible for me to move my left left vs my right one I could still wiggle my toes and adjust.  After the epidural has kicked in, the nurse then administers a catheter as you cannot go to the bathroom when you have an epidural.

So basically from the moment the Epidural kicked in, I kept my oxygen mask on, and Theresa came in sporadically to have me switch from my left side, to my right, and so forth. Sometimes Theresa had to help me... or Dave as I was really numb on my left side. Regardless, me and the baby did very well on Pitocin. I easily progressed from a 3 and 4 to a full on 10 in a matter of a few hours. Dave got some sleep and so did I.  can you believe it?! Except when Theresa asked me to get up to switch my positions.. From the time the epidural was administered, they turned off the Pitocin drip as my body took over and maintained healthy contractions. It took less than 4 hours for me to reach 100% and a 10 and then it was time for me to start pushing.

AT 3:37 p.m. I was nearly ready to go so they started to get the table prepped

Mom waving and is good to go. It's NICE TO SLEEP through your contractions! I highly recommend it!

The table is ready!

Waving hi!

4:35... in just 1 hour.. the baby would be here! I was ready to push but I had to wait for Dr. Frangella to come into the room

Here's the monitors showing my heart rate an baby's heart rate.. and my paper that shows my contractions

me with my hair down!

my last bump picture before the baby came out..

my hear rate is 136... baby's is a strong 141

last family picture before our baby came.. Thanks Theresa

Dr. Frangella showed up at 5:00 a.m. +/- and looked really tired. LOL. I knew Dr. Frangella was working from 7 am- 7 pm and then Dr. Kagan was on. I was surprised to see Dr. Frangella look tired. I thought they were on staff and on hand. Maybe doctors go home and  then come in when their patients are ready to push. Or maybe they go to a sleeping quarters, at the hospital. I don't know. ? Regardless, Dr. Frangella showed up.. and then the pushing would begin...

I'll start my next blog update to showcase the announcing of a boy.. or a girl.. The mystery of Georgie is revealed.

39 wks

Happy May! I'm so excited that May finally came.. now if only the baby would!? ha ha! No, I'm just joking. I'm really excited I'm nearly full term and everything has gone so smoothly. No nausea, no vomiting, no pre-labor scares, etc. I'm really fortunate!


I'm 39 weeks!! So what's going on at 39 weeks? Here it is...

• Georgie continues to build a layer of fat to help control his/her body temperature after birth
• Georgie measures about 17-23 inches
• Georgie weighs a bit over 7 pounds but is likely in the 6-10 pounds range
• Georgie is a mini watermelon
• Boys tend to weight slightly heavier than girls according to the above stats
• Georgie's outer layer of his/her skin are sloughing off as new skin forms underneath
• Georgie is able to flex his/her limbs
• Georgie's nails might extend past his/her fingertips

me at 39 weeks

Ernie looking up at me

me at 39 weeks

So I already blogged about Friday's dinner out with Sondie at OTB! On Saturday, Dave and I tidy'd up the house and got more organized. My parents came over to visit, see the dogs, and help out with gardening. We ate dinner together then Dave and I rented "little fockers" on pay-per-view! It was a nice Saturday! Sunday, I slept in.. I went to bed around 11:45 p.m. on Saturday and woke up at 6:23 a.m.... I'd say that's a very nice stretch of sleep for being 39 weeks pregnant! :) I feel like a gold medalist in sleeping and bladder control.


Today, Becca came over to hang out and visit me before the baby came. It was nice of her to visit me! It's a hike from her Chicago apartment so I really appreciated it. We relaxed, watched Happy Gilmore, caught up, and took the dogs out for a nice long walk.  


Here are some pix of the flowers and of my bump at 39 weeks + 1 day.

I went to Menards for the hanging flower bag.. $9.99

My profile at 39 weeks and Ernie and Bert.. they hate when I leave the house and keep them in

New impatiens planted in the front.. looks like the hosta from last year is peeking through

side yard of our town house. only 1 of my mini daffodils came back :( but we planted 5 impatiens on the side so hopefully they bloom well

4 mini daffodils are here and Mom planted impatiens on the side for me :) Thanks, Mom!

Mom and I planted the 4 planters in the back but Mom took care of all the ground flowers for me :)

the backyard is so shady.. hopefully the impatiens brighten it up!

soon-to-be-Dad working on his dreaded grad school homework today

mom and Ernie!  39 weeks

Me and Ernie.. my first child

Me and Bert... my second child!

Bert is sniffing me

Bert's excited to be a big brother!

me at 39 weeks. Becca calls my bump a bullet. LOL

front pic of me.. check out my fab cankles

another shot of the bump

Bert snoozing away on a lazy Sunday

Ernie enjoying the view.. thank god for the sunny 63 degree weather today!