Mia's Story...it's long!

This is the story of Mia's arrival week...

(it's long and detailed so prepare yourself!)

The weekend before Mia was born Zanna had a sleepover at her friend Samantha's and James and I had a great date. We went to Subway and shared a BLT and his favorite Harvest Cheddar Sun Chips and then came home and played American Idol Karaoke--he is really good at it and we even unlocked a new character our points were so high :)

A few days later James asked if we could go to "Train" to get those chips again. I didn't know what he meant at first, but then I got it... train, subway-- it's all the same to him!

On Monday, May 3rd Dave called me on his way home from work to see what we needed at the grocery store (since he knew I was too tired to go) and walked in the door with these beautiful flowers to celebrate our 9-year anniversary!

I had a doctor's appointment that morning (the 3rd) and was so anxious to know my stats and make a plan of when to have this baby! I was at 4cm, at least 80% and still not having contractions (at least that I could feel) but since I was so "ripe and ready" as my Doc likes to say, we decided to schedule the induction. He knew I wanted to be at North Shore Hospital and said he would try to schedule it there on Friday and if that didn't work out he said I could come to LIJ on Wednesday where I would have a guaranteed private room and the VIP treatment (whatever that means). He obviously wanted me to go to LIJ because that is his main hospital and the main reason I wanted North Shore was because it is conveniently located down the hill from our apt. and where Dave knows everyone, but knowing I would have a private room and the fact that LIJ is only about 2 miles from our house I decided I would be fine going there. So, the next day-Tuesday, the nurse called and said Friday at North Shore wasn't available and to come to LIJ tomorrow at 3pm to have the baby!

That was an exciting phone call!! I had been on edge for 2 weeks about when and where I was going to have this baby and to finally know it was going to be the next day got me really excited. I cleaned my house, repacked my bag, made arrangements for the kids. That night I took them to a movie (How to Train Your Dragon) and then we got pizza & ice cream and played in the park since I knew this would be our last night before a lot of big changes for all of us. We had a great time and that night Dave gave me a blessing and I just felt so grateful for our family and excited to welcome in this new little one.

I woke up Wednesday morning feeling very ready to have this baby. There was only one more thing on my "to do" list and that was to go to Zanna's Songfest concert at school (picture above). She was SO excited about this performance and I was afraid I was going to miss it, so when I found out the induction wasn't until 3pm I was very happy and so was she. The concert was in the little auditorium at school and they had a party afterwards for the parents and kids. It was fun to tell people that I was going to have the baby in a couple of hours and see their reactions. So many people asked why I was there, but I couldn't miss Kindergarten Songfest!

When I got home Dave was already home from conference and had cleaned the car seat and done some baby arranging at home. I think it finally hit him that the baby was coming home soon and he had his hour of nesting :) We ate some lunch and then our friend Hillary came to watch the kiddos for the afternoon before passing them off to our neighbor Stephanie who put them to bed and hung out until Dave came home that night.

Hillary snapped these pictures of us right before we left for the hospital and of the kids keeping busy while we were gone. Don't mind the big water spots on my shirt as I had just done the dishes for the last time with that huge belly :) I was so nice to know that Z and J were in good hands and I was a little emotional about leaving them and knowing how different things would be when I got home. Not a bad different...just different.

James showed Owen how to dress to become a ultimate fighting champ

Zanna and Lily making me a cute card

We arrived at the hospital at 3pm and when we were filling out the paperwork everyone kept asking me why I was being induced since I was only 39 weeks and not having any problems. I just said "because I'm tired of thinking this baby may fall out at any minute and because the date worked well with Dave's schedule and I just didn't want to be pregnant anymore!"

The whole labor experience went so quickly. It took a little while to get hooked up to the Pitocin, but once the drip started the contractions came and I remembered how much I didn't like and feared that pain. I debated the epidural for about 5 minutes and then decided I wanted it. The anesthesiologist was an older man and when he came in he told me not to be nervous because he had done thousands of these. He was so fast and almost painless and when I found out he was the head of the department I wasn't surprised. After the epidural was placed Dr. Goldstein came in and broke my water-- there was so much fluid I soaked part of his scrubs, gross! I could faintly feel the contractions at this point and was feeling really excited to meet this baby. Dave was sitting by me and we had just been chatting, watching a little of the Ellen D. show and Dave even ordered his mom a mother's day plant while I was sitting there in labor :) The doctor came in about 45 min. later to check my progress and when I heard "your at a 10, are you ready to push?" I almost freaked out! I just couldn't believe it was that time already and I just kept saying, "really...now? right now?" I was a little worried that I had forgotten how to push, but with the encouragement of the doc, nurses and Dave she was out in about 5 pushes! When Dr. Goldstein held up her little bum and I saw that she was a girl, I could not believe my eyes! I really thought she was going to be a boy and that maybe he was missing his parts :) I was definitely crying at this point and just felt so emotional to have this little baby here and then to have the surprise of having a girl was just so exciting. I held her right away and was instantly in love. Dave and I were just shocked that we had another little, beautiful daughter and it was so fun to see him holding her too. She was so sweet and just gave a little cry and then calmed right down. She had this cute little cleft chin and was sucking on her hand while I was holding her and we were thrilled to have her and excited to try to find a name to fit this little cutie.

About 10-15 minutes after she was born I started feeling really tired and like I just wanted to close my eyes and sleep. I also felt really emotional and just started crying. I knew I was acting weird, but I couldn't really control it. Dave was asking me what was wrong and I couldn't answer him 'cause I didn't know. He started getting worried and so did the nurses. They were calling for a doctor because they started thinking something was really wrong with me from the labor. I was trying to say I was fine...but it was just a weird experience! I think I was just overwhelmed, happy, emotional, tired and all the anticipation from the last couple of weeks and how fast the labor went just hit all at the same time and I kinda wigged out. I've never had anything happen like that before and I hope it doesn't again. It only last a minute or two, but they had me stay and rest in the labor room a little longer just to make sure I was okay. I felt silly, but I'm just glad it was short lived and we had a great rest of the stay in the hospital.

6 lbs. 11 oz. 19 inches

Our awesome neighbor Stephanie who watched Z and J and then was my first visitor at the hospital because she is a pediatric resident at LIJ and was working in the nursery for Mia's first morning

The Francis girls!

Zanna was beside herself excited that the baby was a girl and couldn't get enough of holding her and talking about her new sister.

James was very sweet with Mia and has been so cute about blessing her in his prayers. He hasn't held her too much at home, but loves to talk about her to other people.

the whole fam

love this one :)

just checkin' her out

Dave asked the nurse for a pitcher and then happily filled it with Diet Coke...look at the contentment on his face :)

Our hospital visitors

Cindy and Rob

Will and Afton

getting dressed with dad for the big ride home

having a little mom moment right before we went home

...and we're off!