Do I have a surprise for you!

Meet the Lil Italian! Born five weeks three days early in a highly dramatic fashion! Just like Momma!

He's doing absolutely wonderful, he's just itty bitty and needs to put on some weight.  We're so so so so so lucky! 

Wednesday morning I was scheduled for another screen so I went with my mother in law.  My mom wanted to come but I wasn't concerned so I told her to go to work with no worries.  I had my appointment and was thrilled to hear that my dopplers were okay so we would just check them in a week.  Then as my doctor walked out the door, he reminded the tech that he wanted another growth check just to make sure our baby was growing as he should.   The tech started and I could see that he had barely grown at all.  So, she called the doctor back in and he redid all the measurements.  He informed me that our baby had barely grown since the last check.  His vitals were great and since I got my steriod shot the week before I would be delivering our baby that day.  Boy, was I glad I thought to bring my hospital bag at the last minute.  I asked to make sure that Vince could get there in time and the doctor said we'd be monitoring the baby so he would wait unless something showed up which he wasn't concerned about because the baby was doing great to this point.  And I called my mom. 

I really wanted to try to a vaginal birth.  So, he checked me and the baby was head down so he ordered a contraction stress test to see how he would handle the stress of labor.  About 1 1/2 hours into it and he was doing great until they upped the dosage and the very first big contraction, the babe was NOT a fan and his heart rate dropped down pretty far so the stress test was stopped and we were just going to wait until there was an opening in the OR and since it wasn't an emergency it could be hours.

My mom got there and Vince got there in record time(I still don't want to know how fast he drove)

Seriously and literally five minutes later, the anesthesiologist came in and said that there was an opening now so I'd be having the baby in the next 20 minutes.   So, about 20 minutes later, our little son was born into the world SCREAMING!  And the problem was discovered.  There was a kink in the cord just like a garden hose and eventually it would have kinked permanently and had a much uglier outcome.  But the doctor said he has no idea and we'll never know why it kinked and wasn't able to come undone like it normally does and how early in the pregnancy it happened.  But he did say it was very rare and didn't expect it to affect any other pregnancies. 

So, the Lil Italian was taken down to NICU(well they call it RICN (Regional Intensive Care Nursery) because of his size and gestation.  He never needed oxygen, his lung were mature.  His vitals are perfect.  His weight was 3lb 8oz. His nurse said the only rare thing about him is that he didn't cry hardly at all (this has changed and when he's not happy, HE IS NOT HAPPY!).  Within 12 hours, he was upgraded to the next unit which is a great thing!  YAY! 

He does need phototherapy for his bilirubin but this is expected and he chills out in his tanning spa which we both hate but understand that he does need it.  When we get to do kangaroo care, he's at his happiest.  But we can only do it for a limited time right now because he needs to stay under the phototherapy. 

But I'm doing great( not that anyone cares about the mom anymore now that there's an adorable baby to go gaga over..I know I'm one of those people who just go nuts over him, hehe!)  I really did want a vaginal birth but honestly the csection wasn't bad at all..but that's all for another post)!