Bringing Baby Home

Saturday, April 21, was a big day. It was the day that we brought Parker home for the first time! After a long wait (we passed the hours by taking pictures of course) we were discharged sometime late in the afternoon.

We were so excited to get home and let Darcy meet her baby brother! Darcy was super excited to see us. 

But she wasn't quite sure about Parker. She gives him the occasional sniff, but mainly ignores him. 

Our Family :)

Parker's arrival!

On April 18, Keith and I went to my 39 week ultrasound and appointment. We were excited to get to see our baby boy again and we were ready to find out if I'd made any progress. We soon learned that no, I had not progressed, but the fluid in my placenta had continued to decrease. My doctor recommended an induction and after weighing the pros and cons, we decided to go for it. It took a few seconds for us to realize, though, that she meant for us to go grab our bags and head straight to the hospital! So, we headed home to get our things full of excitement and nerves! Keith was particularly anxious to get back to the hospital, but I managed to convince him to take one last picture.

Then we went to Baptist to have our baby boy!

We got checked into a room quickly and I was given an IV of fluid and Pitocin. Then, all we had to do was wait...

and wait...

and watch the monitors. The monitors showed Parker's heart rate and my contractions. Unfortunately, Parker wasn't a fan of Pitocin and as the nurses gradually increased the amount, his heart rate dropped. Keith had left the room to get our bags from the car and returned to the labor and delivery wing just in time to hear a call at the nurses' station that help was needed and nurses running towards my room. That was very scary for both of us! Thankfully, Parker's heart rate returned to a steady, strong pace when I was put on oxygen and taken off the Pitocin temporarily. That happened several times throughout the night.

At about 5:00 a.m. I was ready for an epidural (we'd checked in at 6:00 p.m. the day before). I knew from Day One that I would have one, but I wanted to wait as long as possible because I'd heard that getting an epidural could slow progress. I didn't want to wait so long though that I wouldn't be able to sit still while it was being administered. Keith and my nurse, Elise, were so great and I made it through the process and felt much better when it was all over! 

My doctor stopped by to check my progress about 9:00 a.m. At that point, she decided to break my water. Once again, Parker was not a fan of the medicine and his heart rate drastically and immediately dropped so it was back on the oxygen and back off the Pitocin for a little while. 

At about 2:00 p.m. my epidural was no longer cutting it, so the anesthesiologist came in to give me a stronger dose. My nurse, Angie (Elise's night shift was long over), decided to check me not long after because my increase in pain was potentially a sign of progress. To everyone's surprise and delight I was fully dilated! My doctor was called and at 3:21 p.m. James Parker Cronin made his debut! Once again, Parker decided to give us a scare by not crying at first. A transition team was called in to check him out, but he quickly adjusted to life outside the womb and was given the okay. After such a long, exhausting and overwhelming night and day, it was love at first sight!

Our First Family Photo- kinda rough and majorly swollen, but so happy!

Not only was I exhausted, overwhelmed and happy, but I was starving! I hadn't had anything to eat in approximately 27 hours. The hospital provided popsicles...

but I also needed a real meal ASAP. Keith's dad kindly brought us hamburgers, sweet potato fries and milkshakes from Elliston Place Soda Shop, which may have been one of the best meals of my life.
 

While Keith and I ate, Parker was being weighed, measured, etc. He was 6 pounds, 11 ounces and 18.5 inches of perfection. 

While we were still in labor and delivery, Keith's family came to meet the newest Cronin.

And Keith was in charge of spreading the word to out of town family and friends.

Sometime around/after 8:00 p.m. we were finally transferred upstairs to postpartum where we spent the next day and a half learning how to change a diaper, entertaining visitors and soaking up the moments with our precious new addition.

We are so thankful for our sweet little miracle! 

Mini Me

It's official... Keith has a mini me!

Love them! 

39 & 40 Weeks!

39 weeks...

immediately before we left for the hospital!

My 39 week appointment was April 18. I had an ultrasound prior to my appointment that showed that the fluid in my placenta had dropped to a 6. After a long conversation with my doctor, we decided to induce. That day! Keith and I went home, grabbed our bags and headed to the hospital.

James "Parker" Cronin was born the next day, April 19, 2012, at 3:21 p.m. He was 6 pounds, 11 ounces and 18.5 inches long.

40 Weeks looks more like this...

Keith and I had cupcakes to celebrate our baby boy's one week birthday yesterday. Parker just got to take his picture with one :)

Welcome to the world Parker! We're so thankful for you and so glad you're here! 

Sidenote: A few weeks ago Keith and I made a friendly bet on Parker's due date. I guessed the 16th. Keith's guess was the 22nd. Turns out, Parker's birthday is right in the middle! 

A Peek at Parker's Nursery

Somehow Ms. Type A Planner (me) has become a last minute kind of person. I guess that's what happens when you add having a baby to an already booked schedule! With just a week till my due date, we've finally "finished" the nursery. (I put finished in quotes because it is as finished as it is going to be although I'm sure there's something else that can be done!) Here's a peek at where Parker will be living in the near future!

38 Weeks!

Here's me, Darc and Parker with (less than) TWO WEEKS to go till my due date!

And since my photographer cut off the chalkboard and Darcy looks like she's terrified, here's just me and Parker.

I had an ultrasound last Friday because I was measuring small. It showed that my amniotic fluid is below normal (barely) and Parker is tiny based on his measurements- in the 24th percentile! Neither of these things seemed to concern my doctor too much, but she wants me to keep having ultrasounds until Parker decides to come. So, I had another today. This ultrasound really seemed to confirm to my doctor that Parker will just be small (which she expected based on my size) and that nothing is wrong. My next ultrasound/appointment is Wednesday the 18th.

As to cravings, I cannot get enough sweets. I ate all of my Easter candy before Easter so we had to get a few more things to put in my basket. Oops! Hopefully this sweet tooth will go away after Parker gets here or its going to be hard to get back in shape!

Happy Birthday and Happy Easter!

This weekend we celebrated two things with Keith's family- his dad's birthday and Easter! The weather was fantastic so on Saturday we had lunch, pie and presents outside.

On Sunday after Keith and I went to church, Darcy had her first Easter egg hunt. She was a pro and found all 3 eggs Keith hid for her. 

We also spent some time with Sugar, Nancy's new dog. She was part of "Operation Sweetheart" where almost 100 dogs were taken from a facility in Kentucky where they were being held with no food, water or shelter. She doesn't quite know it yet, but she's going to have the best life from here on out. Isn't she adorable?