1 week and 2 days!

Friday, April 9th
Went for my weekly doctor appointment and nothing too new to report.  I had made a little bit of progress but nothing to extensive.  My doctor said she will see me next week.  :( Guess this baby is going to his due date. 

Saturday, April 10th.
 John and I spent the day running errands and getting things done around he house.  We picked up my mom from Midway airport around 3PM. She had made the decision to just come up and wait for her first grand baby to arrive.  We were hoping she wouldn't have to wait too long -- so that she could help as much as possible once the baby got here.   Once we got home my mom and I went on a long walk and then John my his famous tacos for dinner. I had been feeling contractions for about a week now -- but nothing to report home about and nothing I couldn't tolerate on my own.  We went to bed not feeling any different.  But little did we know this was going to be the last night we went to bed just the two of us.

Sunday, April 11th, 2AM

"Umm John I think my water broke!"

This is what my sleeping husband heard on Sunday, April 11th at 2 AM.  I had just gotten up to use the restroom and was climbing into bed when all of a sudden it felt like a bubble bursted inside of me and whoosh out it came!

John jumped out of bed looked over and said ummm yeah looks like it did!  He went into our spare bedroom and woke up my mom to let her know.  Called the doctor and gathered our stuff and went off to the hospital.  We called the families to let them know what was up -- but knowing that probably nothing was going to happen for a while we encouraged everyone to rest and come at a more resonable hour.  We checked in and we were up in labor in delivery around 3:30AM.  For the next 20 hours it was a waiting game.  Since my water had broken they had to start potosin to get labor moving I got the epidural right away so that maybe I could relax.  It really didn't work like that...if I knew it was going to take 20 hours I probably would have waited to get the epidural so I could still walk around.  We had lots of visitors that game and waited with us.  Becky, John's sister came right away and was there for through the early morning into the afternoon until she had to go to work.  John's Mom Alma came in the morning and was there for the whole day/night.  Brett, my brother came to check in as well.  Most of the day was a blur for me at least.  I tried to rest but it was hard with all the anticipation.  Plus being on potosin that long and with my water breaking there was a chance of infection so they really wanted the baby to deliver within 16 hours. 

So after 19 hours of waiting it was finally time to get this show on the road.  It took about an hour for him to come out and when he came out he was purple and they wouldn't let him cry because when my water broke they realized that he had meconium aspiration, which is a fancy word for he pooped in his home!  So they need to make sure that he did not inhale anything so they took him and 5 pediatricians had to look and him and clear out his airways before we got to hold him.

John was amazing through everything.  He rubbed my back, got me ice chips, and kept me calm through the most amazing experience of our lives.  He got to be very involved even got to cut the umbilical cord and he got to hold our bundle of joy after he was cleared from the peds. My mom stood by my side through all of it.  She helped me keep things going. I was so lucky because my doctor was actually on call so she was there to help me deliver our little guy.    It was nice and comforting.  The nurses and residents were so amazing.  Each of them were better then the last and our last one was an amazing women who kept everyone going. 

Once we saw our little boy we knew what his name would be:

Stavros Bruce Polihronis -- Stavros means crowned and we named his Bruce after my father.


I finally got to hold my little Stavros, it was the most beautiful moment of my life - he was perfect. Everyone came in and got to hold him and see him.  It was very emotional.  
After we had gotten through labor/delivery we were moved up into the postpartum floor around midnight.  Everyone went home except John he came up to the room with me and made sure everything was good.  We got to see Stavros and gave him food and then I went to bed for a little rest.  John went home and came back the next morning.

April 12th - April 13th
The next 2 days with Stavros was so amazing he was so adorable and just little peanut.  It was so great in the hospital with the nurses and the Northwestern staff.  I tried to get a lot of rest but it was pretty hard.  On the 13th we were ready to check out.  Although the doctor told us we could wait until the 14th to go home.  But John and I had already decided we were ready to have our little boy at home.  BIG MISTAKE.  Note to any future parents out there.  Stay in the hospital as long as they will let you, have them force you to check out.  He was perfect until we put him in his car seat and then he cried all the way down the elevator and into the car -- and not just soft cries just pure raging tears.  And that continued all night until the next morning.  Poor John had to go back to work with basically no sleep. 

April 14th - 17th
The next 3 days were a blur trying to figure out life with a newborn.  Thank goodness for my mom and John they were so amazing and really helped out with trying to comfort Stavros.   And waiting for the all important "Milk" to come in.  Friday he went to his first doctors appointment.  The doctor felt he hadn't quite reached a good weight so they wanted us to focus on feeding him more and to come back on Monday and meet with the consultant.  Finally on Friday we got a little relief when it started to come in.  Not only that we got a surprise visitor.  G-PA Bruce surprise Stavros Friday night and showed up.  He couldn't stay away from his first grandchild.  He was a savor taking on the all important 6AM - 9AM shift for 3 days.  He would comfort Stavros and help him rest while John and I got some much needed zzzz.....

April 18th - Happy 1 Week Birthday Stavros....
In the Greek tradition it is customary not to name your child till 7 days after his birthday.  Because of keeping with tradition on this day.  We decided to honor John's father by naming him  John "Stavros" Bruce Polihronis -- we will continue to call him Stavros.

April 19th - Trip to the Doctor
Stavros had his 2nd doctors appointment and met with the lactation consultant.  He is happy to say he now weighs 8lbs.  And everything looks really good for our ever growing boy.  Now if only we could get him to sleep a little longer at night and less during the day.

April 20th - Resting at home
Trying to take it easy and get some much needed things done at the house and trying to get the little guy accustom to our new life.