Saturday, November 15, 2008

More birthday pictures...

Pictures, pictures and more pictures of you in the hospital.






Meeting the family....

The faces of our many visitors on your birthday. You are so loved.

Madison's Birthday! November 15, 2008






It's a Girl !!!

At 4:12 am on Saturday, November 15, 2008, our baby girl was born!! Madison Michelle Melan weighed in a 6 lbs. 9 oz and 19 1/2 inches long. She is the most amazing thing ever and definitely the most beautiful little baby- pictures just don't do her justice!!! We love her to pieces!!

Friday, November 14, 2008

A baby is on his/her way!

This morning at approximately 9:00 am, I talked to Dan on the phone as I usually do. He called to let me know he had gotten to work okay. I was just waking up and headed to the bathroom when I felt a small gush of liquid. I laughed and said to him " I either just peed my pants or my water broke." He wondered if I was serious, but I didn't think it was real and shrugged it off. I really didn't take it seriously because I went back to bed!! An hour or so later I got up and felt the same little gush and let's just say I saw things that made me start to wonder. I called Dr. Sehgal's office and spoke to Joyce. I had just been in the office yesterday for a checkup with zero progress- I had been cleared to go to my cousin Mike's wedding tomorrow. So, needless to say she was surprised to hear me explain what had happened. She suggested I come in and get checked. I called Dan and told him I was starting the trek to Newton, but not to worry because I was sure that I ws overreacting. On the way, I called my mom and Dan's mom and updated them, again stating that it probably was nothing. While driving, I played some Bob Marley and sung to my belly, trying to not think about what could or could not be happening. All the while, I continually had calls from Dan and Mom, checking in on me. When I reached East Stroudsburg, about halfway through the ride, I started to have some mild contractions. I told Dan and my mom, who both decided to leave work even though I said it wasn't necessary. I really thought I was making myself feel them!! Somehow, they never became too strong and I was able to drive myself the hour and a half to the doctor's office in what apparently was the start of my labor-- never really knowing-- and all the while singing and talking to my belly!!

When getting to the doctor's office, she could not determine if my water had broke or not and decided I should head to the hospital for further testing. She did say she expected that I would probably be staying there and she'd see me later to deliver my baby!! My mom was there to take me to the hospital, where I was admitted and it was determined my water had broken! It was a slow leak apparently. I realized how lucky I was that I called the doctor's office when I did.

Dan arrived and we all began to anticipate the baby coming. I experienced mild contractions very far apart, and we spent lots of time just walking the halls of the unit. I was not prepared for how long the process would be, I guess you never really understand it until you are there doing it. While I could go into the details, I won't- rather I will save these for whatever birth story I will write privately. The important details for Maddie to know are that I had Bob Marley playing in my ear (from Aunt Nikki's ipod- since this is what I listened to and sung her my whole pregnancy), looked at a picture of a hammock on a beach to "relax" and that her mommy had driven herself to the doctor/hospital!!!