D Day - December 28, 2007

We are all home safe and sound and with our new bundle of joy, Luca Alexander Deegan. It was a crazy week filled with emotion - I'll try to recap it as best as I can for those of you both near and far away. If you don't want all the details of the actual birth - well just scroll down to look at the photos - for those of you interested....here they are

It all started on the morning of Dec 27th - when I woke up it felt as if the waters had broken. Not a huge amount, and no contractions, but definitly something out of the ordinary. It's hard to know exactly what to expect in this childbirth business, never having been through it before, so you question everything. We started the day of as normal...James went to play golf while Shelly went to swim at the local pool - I was getting stircrazy waiting around at home. Had a lovely swim, and long walk home, but still felt as if something down there wasn't quite right. Luckily we had an appointment already scheduled with our Dr for that afternoon.

Our Dr. confirmed that he suspected the waters had started to leak but was being plugged up with baby's head - or that it was the forewaters I was feeling. We left the Dr's expecting to go into labour that evening and if not we were to be induced the next morning at the hospital (you don't want to risk infection once waters break and contractions don't yet start).

Yay!!! We were over the moon with this news, and did what any reasonable couple would do....run off to the grocery store to stock the house with food, and enjoy our last few moments together before the baby comes into the scene.


Dec 28th
I awoke feeling excited and ready to go after another night of baby filled dreams. We threw our hospital bags into the car and arrived at 7:30am to the Labour and Delivery Suite. This is it....it's all going to happen TODAY!

7:45 am
We settle into the room we'd spend a lot of time in - we are happy to find out that our room is also one of the ones with a big spa in it! This is also the time I hear a horrible crying and yelling sound down the hallway. I thought it was a newborn baby that had just been born - how sweet....that will be us by the end of tonight! James, goes on to tell me that's not a baby...it's a women in pain. I feel sick, and can't seem to drown out the screams from the hallway. What am I getting my self into?!

8:50 am
Prostogen Gel applied and drip line inserted - The gel makes the contractions start but sometimes can take up to 6 hours to start working. Sometimes it doesn't work at all. We are told not to leave the hospital during the waiting period

We kill time by visiting the cafeteria, making phone calls and texts, visiting Karlyn and Jaycob in baby intensive care unit, and walking around the hospital. I'm feeling a bit too good, and nothing seems to be happening. I bounce around on the birthing ball but still nothing seems to happen.

1:15pm
Dr. comes back for visit and assesment and deciedes to do second dose of gel - goes out and tells me next dose will be available by 2pm

1:30pm
Begin to get cramps - typical....just AFTER the Dr. leaves! I text James and tell him to come back to hospital as I'm feeling some pains

2:30pm
Holy Hell! Is it suppose to feel like this!? Contracts are hard and very painful...very close to each other, and like nothing I've felt in my life!

3:00pm
Midwife suggests a spa bath. I get in the bath, but feel like I'm going to pass out from the pain. I demand an epideral.....NOW! This is nuts!!!

3:45pm
Epideral arrives - God bless the anestiologist! What a world of difference it makes. I'm happy and content now, and am sucking on the gas happily. Upon further examination it's discoverd my labour was fast, quick, and painful (duh!) I had recieved epideral just in the nick of time. Thank goodness I was persistant to get it...

4:40pm
Fetal heartrate monitor inserted - fully dialated

5:45pm
Begin pushing, but after 2 pushes discovers baby heartrate has dropped to 50bpm - not good at all! He's not liking the pushing. The next bit is a bit fuzzy, and James has to help remind me of what happens....

Drs and specialists rush in, baby's head is looking up, not down, and in complete distress. C section is only option and we have to do it NOW. I'm rushed off to theatre, pumped up with more drugs, and scared out of my mind...mainly b/c while all this is happening, I'm not sure what the baby's heartrate is doing.

James joins me in theatre, and we are both pretty scared. I'm shaking, and chattering my teeth from the drugs, and gripping James hand for dear life.

6:31pm
I won't go into all the other details but to cut to the chase, Luca is born completly healthy, and mom loses a lot of blood in the process! The moment he gets pulled out I don't hear a cry, and it was the longest few seconds of my life. What a relief to hear his cries just a few seconds later. He gets checked over and cleaned up and given to Daddy after being weighing in at 8lbs 9oz. I wasn't able to hold him for about 45 mins until they finished working on me. Lots of happy tears are shed, and this is undeniably the most amazing moment of our lives. In fact I'm tearing up just remembering it now.

There's no way I could have done this without James unconditional love and support. He was a rock, and has helped and encouraged me the past 9 months - but his role during the birth was amazing. We're whisked off to the recovery room where I finally get to hold Luca - I'm still fuzzy from all the drugs, and overjoyed with emotion.

We get to the post natal ward, where we will end up spending the next five days. We are in complete awe at how perfect and beautiful Luca is, and can't stop looking at him, or touching his soft head, fuzzy shoulders, and fat cheeks....it really is the most amazing thing in the world.

Here's a few photos from Dec 28 2007 (a bit out of order though)


In the theatre mins after he is born...

Luca loves looking at Daddy! Luca was immediatly calm after the birth when Dad was holding him. This photo was taken in the post natal ward after all the chaos of the birth.

Seconds after the birth! Look how tiny he is....Luca's first moments of air and light....

My first hold while in the recovery room


Was it a bad birth? No, definity not. It didn't go as expected, but then again, what can you really expect!? Didn't plan to have a c-section, or be in so much pain afterwards, or stay in hospital so long, but that's okay - we had always just planned to go with the flow, and do whatever was in best interest of the baby. Would I do it again? DEFINITLY. I will never look at a baby again the same, it's like my whole perspective on life has changed, and bringing someone into this life (going from one fertilized cell to over a 2 billion complex human being has to be the most incredible miracal of life)

Baby Luca

Hi all. This is our little Luca. Shelly is still in the hospital so there will be more to follow in the next few days when she is out.

Merry Christmas! 40 3/7 weeks

Merry Christmas!



Christmas has definitly sneaked up on us. It's hard to believe that it's here - I guess we have been preoccupied with other things on our minds lately. I actually went into work for a little bit on Christmas Eve - the office was dead, and the people that were there weren't doing much (as to be expected...I mean who works on Christmas Eve anyways?!) I arrived just in time for morning tea, and left after unsuccessfully trying to check my emails - IT had already frozen my account. Everyone was surprised to see me still in one piece. Later that afternoon James and I headed out to his Mom's place at the beach. We ate, and ate, and ate and sat outside in the sunshine.
More parting belly shots.

We were hoping he'd be early...then we figured he'd arrive on Christmas...but now...who knows? Look how big I've gotten just in the past month! People keep calling me every 15 mins to ask if I'm feeling anything, and at least a few times a day I hear 'oh, the baby is still too high' or 'they'll let you go about 2 weeks over'....I have to admit these comments are getting a bit tiring. Everyone thinks they are an expect on babies. I had a friend who just last week was near tears b/c her midwife said 'you've got at least another week to go' (she was already overdue) and then 2 days later she had the baby! So it just goes to show that this whole birthing process will happen when it happens - no matter what anyone says, or how much tea I drink, walking I do, or warm baths I take.
And more food at Jo and Bruce's house! We were also joined by Pete (James older brother), Pete's girlfriend and her three kids. Bruce's son and fiance also joined us. It was very laid back, and after dinner we opened a few presents. We spent the night there and the next morning attended church with James parents and had a lovely brunch together. More gorgeous food!

Then it was back to our house - and what do you know Santa had visited and filled up my stocking with goodies. James also got me some gorgeous jewerlly and a neck massager (to help at the hospital). Perfume and big white fluffy towels were from Grandma...yay!!! James opened a DVD recorder from me and instantly went to work setting it up - we spent the evening watching a few rented DVDs and curled up on the couch.

The baby also had a gift under the tree - a high chair from Jo and Bruce! We had orginally hoped he'd be here to open it himself, but instead I had to pretend he could see it out through my belly button as I explained to him that b/c he was being stubborn, we were opening the gift for him. ha ha!

We briefly visited a few more members of James family and went for a long walk together. That about sums up our Christmas. It's the 3rd Christmas James and I have spent together (4 if you count Antarctica together) and it just keeps getting better and better. Our main gift to each other this year, is of course a new Baby Boy. I think he might just be a little late, that's all. I'm feeling okay - a bit sore, and baby is moving around so all is looking good.

Merry Christmas Everyone! I hope you are having a wonderful day surrounded by friends and family :-) Wish I could see everyone back home in the States. Lots of love, and Christmas hugs!

XOXO Shelly and James

Exactly 40 Weeks!

Today is THE DAY.

The 23rd of December...the day we have been looking forward to since the end of April.

We are so excited that this day has finally come, and now it's half way over and still no sign of baby wanting to come out. I guess he's just too comfortable where he is. It's okay though, I'm still feeling well and I who would of thought I would be swimming laps the day the baby is due?! I've been frequenting the swimming pool in a bid to stay somewhat active, and hope that the movements might encourage baby to come out. We are both starting to get a bit impatient....we just can't wait to meet this wee little man. Everyone keeps saying 'oh...it may be a christmas baby - wouldn't that be HORRIBLE.' (as if this thought hasn't crossed our minds for the past 9 months...duh!). We've already decieded that we'll be celebrating our sons birthday at another time of the year. Even if he was born today...it's still too close to Christmas. So the lucky thing will most likely get a little gift on his real birthday, but the big celebrations will come in early Dec or Jan sometime.

I wish I had a newborn photo to show everyone today, but instead you'll just have to imagine what he may look like today....It's hard to imagine that he'd be very comfortable in there - looks pretty squashed to me!

I better get back to feathering the nest...still a few things I want to get done today around the house. James is outside digging a massive hole in our backyard for our new landscaping project - which I'm leaving pretty much all up to him. He's using his father's 'digger' (think mini bulldozer thing) so it making a big mess - but he does look pretty cute driving it around. Oh, goodness...soon there will be two males living in this house playing with tools and boy things!

Mom, Dad.....don't worry...I PROMISE we'll call as soon as we get to the hospital :-)

Checklist time - only a 2 days to go!

Here's one of the many photos of James and I at 34 weeks pregnant. We loved our photo session, and have a few nice pieces of new art to remind us of this magical time.

I've had 2 days of maternity leave thus far, and I'm lovin' it. I suppose I am to be resting in preperation of 18 weeks of nursing, crying baby, and sleepless nights (bring it on...I'm ready to get this party started!) but it seems like there's just so much to do still.

This week has been a week of 'lasts.' Next time we (fill in the blank) it won't be the same. Next time we want to go out to eat, go grocery shopping, want to sleep in, go to the movies....the anticipation is killing me. Bring on the baby!!!

So in between soaking in the bath, drinking Rasberry leaf tea - it's suppose to help your uterus or something like that - doesn't taste bad either!, and pottering around the house I've made good progress on the never ending checklist of last min. pre baby checklist

• paperwork sorted for American citizenship (our lucky boy will get dual citizenship)
• sheets and new baby clothes laundered
• bathroom and house cleaned
• Baby seat installed into car
• eyelashes tinted
• forms ready to add baby to health insurance policy
• Life insurance purchased (to do today!)
• Found new tenants for rental house
• New driveway - ha...that actually probably won't be finished in time, but James is working on it
• Pre-baby photos organzied (to do today!)
• Swim at outdoor pool (to do today!)
• Visit Daycares and get on waiting lists (doing that one today!)
• Sorting out trip for Dad/Fran
• Minimal Christmas preperation - town is a zoo right now!
• Baby fully developed and ready for the outside world (already done!)

Oh, gosh....I forgot to mention the earthquake! Last night a little after 9pm I was taking a bath and I felt the biggest earthquake of my life. It was a 6.9 and even though it's epicenter was a few hours away, it shoke the house (and the bathtub full of water that splashed around everywhere) for a very long few seconds. It seriously sounded and felt like a car was raming into the house. I was all alone, and very scared...I just tried to remain calm - too hard for me to jump out of the tub at this late stage in pregnancy. No major damage in Palmy, but it was still a bit freaky. I'm surprised it didn't scare the baby out of me right then and there!

Last Days of Work - Baby Countdown begins

The baby is officially due this weekend - can you believe it?! Well you probably can, but we can't! We are completly ready to welcome this little man into the world, and can't wait for him to arrive, but it all seems a bit surreal. It seems like just yesterday we were saying "I can't believe we're having a baby"...ha... I actually STILL say that...or It seems like we were just at week 14 and week 40 seemed like ages away! Where has the time gone? Now we must just sit back and wait....and wait....and apparently it's very common to be about 10 days past the due date - then on day 11 they call you 'overdue'. We'll just see what happens before I start worrying about that.

Good news - ankles don't look like cankles anymore (at least not tonight) and I'm still a bit uncomfortable, but nothing unbearable at all. I've been spending a bit of time at the pool recently. Its such an incredible feeling to be weightless in the water...that combined with the sound of kids playing, the water swirling around me, and the warm sun on my body officially makes it feel like summer. Not only do I get some exercise, but I also get tan! Perfect :-)

I can finally breath a sigh of relief now that work is almost over. Tommorow is my last day and also the day of the unit xmas party, so it will be a breezy last day. I've been wanting this day to come for the past month or so. This past week I've been busy training my replacement and going from meeting to meeting, and getting everything in order for me to be gone for 18 weeks. I'm usually a bit protective and controlling of my work, but for once....well I don't care. The events will happen (and our new family will no doubt attend most of them) and things will happen with or without me. I'm confident in the systems I've put in place, and my replacement as well. Work has been incredibly supportive of the pregnancy, and they will be flexible upon my return. So...I'm feeling very content and happy right now. You know what else makes me happy? James! He had flowers delivered to me at work today! Gorgeous wonderfully smelling Lilys. My favourite!!!

Sorry no photos this week - but hopefully soon there will be something more interesting than my big belly to post! (did I mention my belly button is completly flat now???) Speaking of bellies... This past weekend I was at one of the City Events - Christmas in the Square - and had to get on stage with the Mayor and a local Radio host to announce some prizes. I was on the huge screen - all blown in up for the 5000 audience to see. I bet my belly would've looked massive then. Where's the camera when we need one?! Ha ha!

I'll give an update after we visit the Dr on Wed. Hopefully the baby will be engaged by then.

38 weeks and extremly bloated!

As of today exactly 13 days to go....give or take a few. And to be honest, I really wish this whole thing would start happening. This past weekend I went to visit some friends in Wellington that are about to move from NZ (yes...another two of my friends are leaving the country! 1 to go to Brisbane, Australia - she's also preganant, and another friend off to Dubai) A bit sad to see everyone go. I hated being away from James for the night. I started to feel a pain in my side and was wandering if this was 'it' and trying to figure out what I should do if my waters break in the movie theatre....and how would I get to the Palmerston North hospital?! But....no nothing happened. It was just a boring movie, and I think I had been sitting too long, and started to get uncomfortable. From here on out James and I will only be a short phone call apart from each other- I feel more comfortable knowing that he's around.

I had always thought the swollen ankles of everyone else in my anetnatal group (by the way....4 of us have already had our babies!) was pretty funny....until it happened to me. To my horror my feet have turned into 'cankles', and are all red and puffy. I can barely wear shoes anymore and it's not just my feet - my lower legs are all swollen too.... so disgusting and uncomfortable. We just got back from our weekly Dr. appointment. All is okay - baby hasn't 'dropped' yet, and no he won't induce me this week - I had to ask him. So now I'm thinking the baby is going to be late. I'm uncomfortable, tired of work (another week and a bit to go) and ready for the baby to come....so it's only natural that he won't...right?