Mario Jr Has Arrived!

My beautiful baby boy was born Thursday, August 16th, 2007 at 8:45 pm

He weighed 8 lbs 7 1/4 oz and 20 inches long

So far things are going good, breast feeding is such a challenge, but I keep trying and haven't given in to the bottle yet! Mario is such a good baby, and already, he is a big Momma's Boy, I love it! I look at my little boy and love him more than my life! It's so hard to explain how I feel about him, definately more than words can say...

I will post more on my little man later, hope you are all doing well!

My Labor Story...

Ok, so on August 13th, I fell (see my last entry in the pregnancy)...when I went to see the dr, the Mario's heartbeat was just fine, but movement was a little slow..so the dr told me that I needed to be on strict bed rest and to try and hold Mario in for just three more days until Thursday the 16th (I would be exactly 37 weeks! He told me I could go back to work that day and go walking, sexual intercourse, etc.

So the next night, Wednesday, I could not sleep...I kept telling Mario that I felt like I would soon be having him...he got kind of upset because he was tired and needed to go to work the next day...I told him I would go to the living room and watch tv so he could sleep. Anahi, my 4 year old daughter had fallen asleep in the living room and woke up when I turned on the tv, so I started talking to her and it was really weird because I told her that she needed to get ready because her baby brother would be here soon!!! At about 1:30 am, Thursday, 37 weeks, I got up to finally go to bed and just as I passed the bathroom, I felt a gush and soaked my undies! It trickled for a while more, but then stopped, so I thought it wasn't my water. With my daughter, my water trickled non stop for a whole day. I went to bed and told Mario that maybe my water broke and to be ready incase I had to go to the hospital, so he kept waking up all night to check on me, I had small contractions, but thought they were braxton hicks because they stopped at about 4 am.

Mario got up at 6:30 am to go to work, I was about to go into the shower when I looked at my undies and there was discharge with lots of blood. I called Mario, who by the way was still outside and told him I was going to go to the hospital and see what's going on, he asked if he should stay, but I told him no because they would probably send me home due to no contractions or trickling water. I hopped in the shower, called the dr, and told me to go to the hospital. I took my daughter to my sister's house and took my youngest sister with me so I wouldn't have to go by myself.

So on my way there, I start getting contractions again...I get to the birth center, and guess what? There were no rooms!!! They had me in the nursery with the babies!!!! They checked to see it was my water that broke, but they told me no, it was either bladder leakage or lots of water discharge due to thinning and dilating, but they would check on that when I get into a room, they wanted to keep me there because of my regular contractions...but they didn't hurt at all! So finally they get me into another room and they check me...I asked if I was going home, the nurse told me nope, you're six centimeters dilated already. You're going to have this baby today. So of course, I call Mario and tell him to get his butt there and I call everybody else!!!!! They started me on the IV and Penicillin for the GBS, Mario got there and they told me I could walk around if I wanted to. So I walked for 1/2 and hour and went back to the room. They checked me again and told me to not walk anymore, I was 7 cm dilated already! They still needed to give me another dose of Penicillin and I should be having the baby within 3 hours!

They finally moved me into a big room and it all started to get so real for me!!!!! Family and friends started to show up and checked me again, and I was 8-9 centimeters and fully thinned and baby was at a +1 station. My dr broke my water (did not hurt at all by the way!!!!! That's what I was so scared of) after that, my contractions were so strong!!!!!!!!!! I was in so much pain!!!! They asked if I wanted meds...I said YES! They gave me something like the epidural, I forgot the name of it, it wasn't too painful though, but they did poke about 3 times instead of just once like the epidural...but boy did I feel good after that, lol!!!! The only weird side effect of that is that it makes you itch like crazy!!!!! So when I got to the hospital, it was about 9 am, it was now about 7 pm! I was 9 1/2 cm, my right side wasn't wanting to dilate and the baby didn't want to drop more :( So they gave me pitocin, had me lay on my right side...I got the urge to push, I was finally dilated to 10, but baby was still not to low, so they let me push a couple of times. They cranked up the pitocin, and then told me I was ready! So I started pushing...got the head out, but gave up after that, Baby Mario's shoulders were so broad...it seemed impossible to get him out...they told me to give one more push and they would pull him out, I pushed and out he came....OMG ladies, it was the most wonderful felling in the world!!!!! Even better than that was when they opened up my gown and put his warm, soft body on my chest! I went to go touch him, and he grasped my finger right away, that's when I started to cry! It so hard to explain what I felt at that moment!

The total push time was 15 minutes, the labor was long, the pain wasn't bad at first, then awful towards the end, BUT IT WAS ALL WORTH IT!!!!!!!! Some funny things: the first thing I said when he came out was: Holy S**t! Some people poop when pushing, I peed almost everytime I pushed, I had everyone laughing in there! On the last push, I laughed out loud because I finally felt the one of the gushes, then I just kept pushing. My dr told me I was pretty funny while I was in labor! Ladies, I hope you all have a great laor and delivery and hold your precious little babies soon! There's nothing better than that!

Update on us...

Mario Jr is 1 week and 2 days old today...I breastfed for one whole week but finally gave into bottle feeding, too, yesterday! Breastfeeding is so hard, my breasts get so engorged and he eats all day...so I started pumping, I'm getting 3-4 ounces out of each breast right now...so I decided I would bottle feed (breast milk/ formula) during the day, and breast feed in the evening/night. When I go back to work, I have to do that any way. Plus, he's been getting really fussy at the nipple lately, too.

Mario is such a good baby, sleeps alot, and cries when hungry/dirty diaper. I love him more than words can say! I love when he looks into my eyes when I feed him. I love when he grasps my finger, I just love everything about him!!!!!

His skin is starting to peel quite a bit, if any of you have any tips on this, I would really appreciate it. He also had a little jaundice, it's now going away, though, but other than that, he's doing wonderful! We're all doing wonderful! Oh yeah, as of Thursday...one week after birth, I lost exactly 17 lbs, that's what I gained during the whole pregnancy. I did get in trouble by the dr due to my iron is very low, though! I can't wait until my six weeks is up, I can finally go on the diet that I've been planning for the last 4 years!

The Pregnancy...

March 26, 2007 Hi my name is Mary and I have a 4 year old daughter who is the most precious thing in the whole world. We are expecting our second child, I am currently 16 weeks and 4 days, due September 6, 2007.

I had some scares in the early stages of my pregnancy due to spotting, but learned that sometimes it's just part of the pregnancy and everthing is okay. The baby's heart beat is pretty strong and it's very active! I can feel the movement, have been since I was about 14 weeks!!! Didn't feel my daughter move until I was about 21 weeks.

I had my last appointment on the 23rd and the baby was doing great! I will have my BIG appointment on April 23rd, I will be 20 weeks and hopefully find out the sex of the baby! My husband and I are really excited, we're even going to get a video of the ultrasound!!!! Wish us luck!!! We are hoping for a little boy, since we already have our precious daughter, but she would like a baby sister...it doesn't matter what we have, we will love it just the same, just as long as it is happy and healthy!

April 3, 2007 Well, I had a little incident on Friday...I fainted! Good thing I was sitting down, so it wasn't a bad fall! I waited till Mario got home and my heart got really racey, I felt like I was going to pass out again! I had not felt the baby move in a while so it made me really worried! I took a warm shower, but I think it made it worse, because then I was really light headed. To top it off, I was having some lower left back pain that would climb up when I would breathe since Thursday night. Finally, we went to the ER, and tried to hear the baby's heart...couldn't find it, then they tried again, but it was really faint, it was only at about 114, usually it's at least 155. When the dr came in, he did and ultrasound because he was worried about the weak heartbeat, there was the baby, kicking away with both feet and very active, just must have been positioned differently and that's why I didn't feel the kicking! I was so amazing to see my little baby!!! He couldn't tell the sex, though, he doesn't specialize in that. He said as for the heart beat, he thinks it could have been mine. My heart was really racey though, they ran all these heart tests where they would put stickers all over my body and hook me up to some wires, but all was good! They did diagnose me with Pancreatitus, I had to fast and drink nothing but liquids and have a better diet. They had me on bed rest until yesterday and told me to go to my doctor and check to see if everything was ok. I went in, baby's heartrate was definatley great! He also found it right away. Now I'm back at work and just feeling nauseas, but I guess that's from the Pancreatitus. Only 20 more days till my 'big ultrasound!'

This prediction was right!

April 13, 2006 Well today I am 19 weeks and 1 day!!! My ultrasound is on the 23rd!!! Yeiii! The baby has been a little slow on the movement, but I still feel my little peanut alot!!!!

April 16, 2007 Exactly one more week until my big ultrasound!!!! My appointment is on 4/23/07 at 11:15 am

April 24, 2007 So...we went in for our ultrasound yesterday and.....

Me, Mario, and Anahi couldn't have been more excited!!! I was so nervous all morning that my stomach was actually upset, but deep down inside I knew we would be told that we are having a little boy! As soon as we went in, my dr measured me and my belly is measuring at 25 weeks, I was only 20 weeks 4 days. As soon as he started doing the ultrasound, he got some really good shots of our baby's face so he did the 3d Mode on that part, cutest little thing on earth! He kept a big smile on his face the whole time! So, then the dr said, "let's see if we can see what's in between the legs." About a few seconds later, in a sarcastic way he said "it's a boy" I thought he was just joking! But then got a good shot of his private, and said, "Oh, it's definatley a boy!" I don't think Mario could have been much prouder when the dr said that!

Everything looks really good according to the ultrasound! He measures exactly to my LMP, so he's still due on September 6, 2007!!! We are so happy that we are having our little boy!

His name will be:

May 2, 2007 Well, we were going to name our baby: Mario Gabriel, but my best friend Reyna, who will be Baby Mario's Godmother doesn't like the middle name, so she's going to think of a cute one and we'll name him that. I'll keep you ladies posted on the name! I value Reyna's opinion very much!!!

As for how I've been...been doing ok. I've been getting pretty nauseas lately, but the medication that I was prescribed for that makes me very drowsy, and with me working full time, I can't take it, otherwise, I'll be getting paid to sleep, LOL! But Baby Mario has been super active the last few days, his movements are getting stronger and stronger. The only problem I've been having is trouble sleeping!!! I was very lucky to not have to go pee in the middle of the night a million times in my first trimester, but now, I'm not playing...I wake up EVERY MORNING at 3:27-3:30 to go pee!!! I hate it, becuase I lay there for like 5 minutes deciding whether I should go or not!!! Anybody else having this problem?

Here is an outfit I got at Old Navy today, isn't it cute?!?!?!? The shirt says: "Mommy is my 1st Love"

May 9, 2007 Hey Everybody! My little man has been so active this week and his kicks are starting to get stronger! This morning, we were lying in bed and he just kept kicking! Mario got up to brush his teeth and I had my hand on my belly when all of a sudden he kicked really hard! I yelled at Mario to come feel, when he came in, he kept feeling the baby, but it wasn't too strong, when he lay his head on my belly and started talking to him, the baby kicked him in the neck! LOL! I loved the expression he had on his face, he looked so happy! Made me feel a little emotional knowing that he can finally feel him, too, now!

May 14, 2007 Hi ladies, hope you all had a wonderful Mother's Day! Well, I got some Fabulous news yesterday...My sister is 14 weeks pregnant!!! She is due November 7, 2007! This is very exciting because she's had a couple of losses last year, and all I wanted for her was to get pregnant again, she is such a good mom and loves kids!!! It was funny, because just last week I was asking her if she was still trying, or when she would try again. She kinda just said, well, no, I told her, just wait, you'll get pregnant when you least expect it! So we had a bbq at her house yesterday for Mother's Day, and she said, oh yeah, I forgot to give you something, then she gave me a Pregnancy Test upside down, I looked at her, in deep confusion (the first thought: I don't need this, I know I'm pregnant alread: I tell ya, it takes me a while to get things when I'm pregnant!) So I flipped it over, and sure enough, there were the two pink lines! (all I could think of was our conversation last week, man that was fast!) So I gave her a big hug, and she confessed that she's known for 3 1/2 months, but wanted to get through the first weeks to make sure she in the safe zone. I am so happy for her! She deserves it! She's had her first ultrasound already and baby looks good! I'm so glad that I'll have her to share this with, now I won't be the only Grouchy Preggo over the hot summer! LOL!

May 24, 2007 Hi Ladies! 25 Weeks today!!! I mentioned a couple of weeks ago that I wasn't satisfied with my current ob and was hesitant about changing because I was far into the pregnancy, I ended up changing...I had my first appointment today with her...she was amazing!!! Very nice, and answered all the questions my previous ob hadn't before!! She made me feel very comfortable :) She scheduled me for another ultrasound on Tuesday due to previous ob only took 8 mins and didn't get any detailed info on it, just gender, heart, and growth. A LITTLE ADVICE: IT'S NEVER TOO LATE TO CHANGE OB'S! YOU PAY FOR THEIR SERVICES, YOU NEED SOMEONE WHO WILL ADDRESS ALL YOUR CONCERNS AND LOOK OUT FOR YOU AND YOUR BABY! :) Just thought I would share my experience with you ladies!!!

May 26, 2007 Here is the Crib Bedding we got for Baby Mario. It's the Moon and Stars by JoJo Designs. We got everything but the Mobile and Lamp, but I'm going to get those next time I get paid. It's supposed to be @ work by Fedex on Wednesday the 30th!!! I think we're going to put up the Crib today or tomorrow!!! Baby Mario will sleep in our room with us, we can't wait to just gaze at him when he sleeps!!! We're getting closer, only 103 days till my due date!!!!!

May 31, 2007 Well, we went to get an ultrasound on Tuesday the 29th because my previous ob didn't do a full fetal anatomical survey. It was so nice to see my lil' man again! He's getting so big!!! He was very active during the whole time and being very shy. He had his hands in his face and legs crossed the whole time! Even though his legs were crossed, you could still see his little boy parts sticking out! :) He is in breech position facing my back right now, the u/s technincian said he should still have enough room to turn. I've kept telling Mario that Jr is wearing me out, and I think he believes I'm a little sarcastic sometimes, but he was surprised when the u/s tech told us that Baby Mario weighs 2 lbs 1 oz now!!! And he's measuring 1 day ahead! He's pretty down low into my pelvis and kicks my bladder all the time (FYI: worst feeling in the world). Mario is being a little more sympathetic now. He's really been great lately, he's putting up a lot with my tiredness, yesterday we were in the 90's, but to me it felt like we were in the 100's...lol! We're in for a hot summer!!!

June 19, 2007 Today I'm 28 weeks & 5 days! I'm so excited, I get to go with my little sister (she's 21) to her big ultrasound, today!!!! Hopefully her peanut will cooperate and open it's legs for us to see :) As for me, I'm definately at that uncomfortable stage! I even have a hard time putting on my shoes! Good thing summer is here, I'll be wearing nothing but flip flops. I've been doing some excersises that my dr reccomended to try and get the baby into head down position (he's still breeched) but haven't felt him turn yet :( She said I still have time, though...crossing my fingers that he does. Hope everyone is enjoying their pregnancies!!!

July 12, 2007 Today I am 32 weeks! Only 8 more left, but if my lil man is going to be anything like my daughter, he'll be here in 4 weeks! Heck, I would settle for him being at least 1 week earlier...IN MY DREAMS! WITH MY LUCK, I'LL BE 2 WEEKS OVERDUE!!!

Well, not too much has been going on in my life...just money being tight, but hey, I guess we all go through that at one point in our lives right?

I'm in the uncomfortable stage of pregnancy and the heat is killing me, I have ac at work and when I get home, we have the window ac in our room, so that's what keeps me sane!! The worst part of my pregnancy right now is the pelvic pain and my feet swelling up at night! I swear, I feel like my feet are going to burst! They look so nasty!!!!! Mario is even afraid of touching them when they're that swollen! On the 4th of July, we went to the river with my Dad and Fam and we all had a blast, I swam alot, that really helped my pelvic pain and I wasn't swollen at all that night. I should be getting a little excercise in my daily routine, but it's almost impossible! My main craving right now is SUSHI! Although I can only have like California Rolls, but hey, it's still sushi! And don't forget the Coke! I'm a huge Pepsi/ Diet Pepsi fan, but lately, all I want is Coke, so I haven't been doing to good on water, but I will again!

Anahi is super excited about meeting her little brother soon, but Mario and I are sure she will have a hard time adjusting when he's actually here! She's been our baby for 4 years, and now, she'll have to share our attention with him, too. So we're working on a plan to make her feel as important as possible and still do things with her only, but we know she'll love her baby brother with all her heart!

Well, Mario Jr. was going to be sleeping in our room because Mario's brother was still living with us, but he has moved out with his girlfriend now, so our baby boy is going to have his own room!!!! All we have set up right now is the bassinet in our room and have everything piled in it or around it and his clothes are hanging in our closet, but this weekend, we'll fix up the nursery!!!! We're going to paint the room White, with Navy Blue trim, and I will hand paint Navy Blue Stars across the middle of the room like a border. I'll take pictures when it's all done :) We don't have much for Mario Jr, but I think we have enough, but the love that we'll give him, will be so much more!!!!! We just need a few more things for him like: Boppy Bouncer, Boppy Swing, and more Diapers, and after he's born, we'll get the Play yard (we have a bassinet already, but we'll want the play yard once he out grows the bassinet, and the high chair, once he out grows the Bouncer. Other than that we just need more Diapers, Wipes travel case, a little more: clothes, bibs, scratch mittens, and maybe a pair of shoes. I even have the breast pump already!!!!

Well just thought I'd give you all an update on my life these days, I promise, I'll put more pics on the slides of us and some of my belly (which is HUGE) tonight :) Wishing you all a happy pregnancy xoxoxoxo Mary and baby Mario xoxoxoxo

July 30, 2007 Well, a few things...I have been very uncomfortable lateley, and knew that something was not right. I feel like I did in the last couple of weeks of pregnancy with my daughter. So I called the OB and of course, they said, that I should be fine, everything sounds normal, and that it's part of pregnancy, but if I wanted, I could go in and get a pelvic exam to give me that peace of mind. So I went in on Friday, July 27th, told the ob that I've had a lot of pressure down there, baby's movement has slowed alot, and increased amount of discharge, she said it sounds normal but would check me anyway. I measure at 36 weeks (i'm 34) felt outside my tummy and Baby Mario is head down. So she proceeded to do the pelvic exam, as soon as she checked me, she was in shock, the baby's head is really low, she told me! His head is right on my cervix, I'm almost 2 centimeters dilated, and 50% effaced! She says the baby weighs about 7-71/2 lbs already!!!! She said she really thinks that I won't go past 2-3 more weeks in this pregnancy. So for the next week and a half, she want's me to take it easy and stay off my feet and drink lots of water, if I go into labor before 35 1/2 weeks, she'll stop the labor, but after that, she'll let me have the baby! So I went home, freaked out of course cuz my house is a disaster!!! I did a little cleaning, with my 12 year old sister, Violetta. The next day, my sister Becky (who is prego, and may I add nesting) came over and helped me clean alot, I told her that I really want to have everything clean and ready for the baby to be here. So as for Baby Mario's nursery, we have the room painted (different from what I said in my last entry, but looks beautiful) crib and bedding and wall hangings all done, clothes, blankets, bibs, towels, etc washed and almost all put away...everything just needs a little more organizing and we'll be done with the room. But I still have Our room and Anahi's room to clean up! Anyway, on Saturday night, as I was mopping, I got a weird feeling, I told my sister that I was going to hop in the shower, and while I was in there...I LOST MY MUCOS PLUG!!!!!!!!!!!! Now I've been having a little bleeding, but that's normal, but it's all becoming so real now!!!!!!! Well, hopefully tomorrow, I can post some pics of baby Mario's room if we get it done tonight...but wish me luck ladies, I may not have very long to be prego :) Good luck to all of you as well!

And the room is done...almost.....