Our First Week Home

This new family of three could not wait to be discharged from the hospital. When we finally received the go ahead, it was a SLOW drive home...the new Dad was very nervous driving his baby girl to her new home. In the end we finally made it, brought in all of our belongings (including the baby), and just stared at each other...wondering what to do next.



What do we do with this new creature, our daughter?




The first week home was joyous, fun, and nerve wracking! A few times Milan gaged on mucous that she was still bringing up from the delivery. The first evening home she started to choke on it and turned a deep shade of purple. After I managed to suction it out, I totally broke down in tears...it scared me to death!

We spent a lot of time taking her picture (of course)!



Probably the biggest obstacle of the first week, was trying to breast feed. Between the extremely sore nipples, and my fear of starving my child (my milk was late coming in), it was all I could do to walk by the little formula bottles from the hospital without breaking down and giving her one. I think I thought about quitting breastfeeding 50 times a day, EVERY day!



Thanksgiving Day was spent with Uncle Kenny, Aunt Sherie, and Cousin Vincent. Milan slept through the entire day, missing her very first Thanksgiving. Gotta love her First Thanksgiving outfit, though!

Introducing...Milan Shiloh DiLella

Saturday, November 17th, 2007 beginning around noon, I began to experience fairly regular braxton hicks contractions. I chose to ignore them as 3 days prior I thought I was in labor, only to be disappointed when it did not actually happen. A day earlier, I had gone for my weekly doctor's appointment and discovered I had not yet started to dilate, was not effaced, and my cervix was still high. Not something a girl wants to hear on her due date!



Around 4:30 pm, James and I decided to go to the Olive Garden for what might be our last meal together. After ordering dinner, I noticed the contractions were becoming slightly uncomfortable, so James decided to time them. We discovered they were coming 1 minute apart and lasting about a minute in length. They were still not what I would consider painful but were becoming increasingly uncomfortable. James tracked down our waitress and asked for our meals to go. On the way home, I called the Doctor and was told to come to the hospital to be checked to see if there was any progress. We stopped home first and that was when I experienced a contraction that stopped me in my tracks. We reached the hospital around 6:30 and I must say, there was no longer any question (in my mind) as to whether or not I was in labor. A nurse checked me and I was only 1 centimeter dilated. She spoke to the doctor via phone and was told to have me walk for two hours and then check me again. At that point a decision would be made whether to send me home or admit me into the hospital.

All I can say is those were the longest two hours of my life! I was in so much pain...I asked for drugs but was not given any because I had not officially been admitted. At 8:30 I was checked again - the nurse who checked me called another nurse in to check...they couldn't believe in two hours I had dilated to 8 centimeters. The doctor was called and all the while I was begging for my epidural. I was told I could not receive one until my doctor signed off on it. He arrived approximately 30 minutes later...I was checked again and was told I was 10 centimeters dilated. I pleaded for the doctor to give me an epidural, but discovered one would not be coming...I was ready to push! I pushed for two hours, when finally I gave birth to my baby girl!









Milah Shiloh DiLella was born November 17, 2007 at 10:39 pm. She weighed in at 7lbs 9 ounces and measured 19 inches long.








It truly was the most amazing experience of my life. I'll never forget looking into the eyes of my daughter for the first time.









And of course we can't forget the proud father, who is thrilled to have witnessed the birth of his daughter!


It truly was the most magical day of our lives. We fell instantly in love with her...just couldn't believe she was ours!

In The Beginning.....

12 days and counting until the arrival of Baby M (as some of you have come to know her by)!

James has been busy spending the past week putting together a baby swing, bouncy seat and her bassinet!












I have spent the week putting the finishing touches on her nursery, washing baby clothes, and trying to put the house in order. It's a little daunting to know that at any moment labor could begin. I have almost everything ready to go, including the hospital bags, so now the waiting game begins...







This week we finished our 5-part labor and delivery class. Everything we learned may fly out the window the moment the first contraction hits, but we had a lot of fun. James was the one and only Dad willing to get up in front of the class and try on a "sympathy belt".






I feel as though I'm the size of an elephant. I'm finally to the point where I'm ready to face labor and delivery. Never thought I'd hear myself say that!