What Happened Between 9:38 PM & 2:38 AM You Ask?

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

9:38pm

"At 7 o clock the midwife came in to check Ashleys' cervix and it only grew to 3 cm 60% effaced. Which is only one more cm then when she got checked in the morning. Her and the doctor came back in to talk about our options at this point. Take a break from the Pitocin, Break the water, or go back to Cervadil for the night. We decided to stay on the Pitocin even though she had her dinner sitting there waiting to be eaten. {You can't eat while on Pitocin} At about 8:15 the doctor checked her and she was almost 4 cm and her contractions were starting to get harder, this confirmed our Pitocin decision. The doctor is going to check her again at 10 to see if she dialated anymore. If she did then they aren't going to break the water, if she didn't then they are. They said they think we should have a baby by 1am but, how do they know that?"

The midwife came back and checked her at 10:30 or so and she was another centimeter dialated. Her contractions were getting pretty bad then so the nurse asked her if she wanted to try to the birthing ball. After about a minute of sitting on it she said she felt like the baby punched her; when she stood up we realized her water broke on her own. All this time we are watching, "Meet the Duggars" where their daughter in-law has the home birth. Ashleys' contractions got very intense at this point. After an hour we talked to the nurse about getting an epidural and we decided she should get it.  After the Anesthesiologist finished Ashley started to feel alot better, for about 15 minutes...
 "I just feel alot of pressure." The doctor came in again to check her dialation and he said, "You're fully dilated and I can feel the head. This is good news this is beautiful. I'll get the midwife." Everyones' beepers started going off and people started running in and out of our room. Ashley pushed for about  30 minutes. I had her foot in one hand my camera in the other.  Owens heart rate started to drop and he wasn't making anymore progress to our world, so they had to do an episiotomy and on top of that Ashley ripped inside too. That's when the blood just start gushing out like a waterfall. They quickly yanked him out, cut his cord and threw him {figure of speech} to another doctor to stablize him. It went so quickly the midwife forgot to check to see if he was a he.
  We both think everything is done and they're just going stitch Ashley back up. I went out to talk to the parents not knowing that the doctor has shoved both his hands up Ashley to try to stop the bleeding and yelled at the nurse to get a shot of something to clot the blood.  Ashley never looked so white.  There was blood everywhere! Like I said it was just gushing out. They were able to get it to stop and stitched  her back up. It would of been a million times worse if she hadn't gotten the Epidural. The nurse came in and gave us Owen to hold for a few minutes before the whisked him off to the NICU...

 We will be going back to CHOP on 11/03 to meet with our cardiologist for a checkup. The plan now is to do a catherezation in a few months in preparation for the surgery that he will have in the first year of his life.
The surgery will be to bring all the pulmonary arteries together and fill the hole between the two chambers of his hearts. They will also take care of his MAPCAs.
Owen did pass his hearing test and he doesn't have DiGeorge Syndrome!
The only thing now is he needs to start eating more and needs to put on some weight.  Babies with TOF have a hard time with that and Owen is no exception.

Owen is Coming Home Tomorrow!

We talked to the nurse today and she said he's been eating like a champ. He went from drinking 20mls last night to 50mls today! He also passed his carseat test. He is alot more awake too. They even took his IV out of his hand. We do have to take CPR classes tomorrow before he is released and set up some follow up visits for his heart. Ashley is changing his diaper for the 2nd time as a Mommy as I type.
 Ashley has been having alot pain in the morning if you could continue to pray that she will heal quickly and that she won't over do it. {ha that'll be the day}

Q&A

If anyone has any questions for us about the delivery, the baby, CHOP, or whatever please post on a comment under this post and we will try to answer it.
       We are going to try to get some sleep now.

Great News!!

We got wonderful news this evening!!!!  When we were visiting with Owen his surgeon came over and told us the results from the CT Scan!  After 4 cardiologists and his surgeon reviewed his ECHO and CT Scan they all agree that they think that the duct that they are keeping open on the Prostaglanden isn't infact what  they thought it was in utero!  They are going to stop the Prostaglanden and do another ECHO while the duct is closing or once it is closed (I am not sure which one.) If everything looks good as it is closing and once it is closed he will be coming home!!!  We will hopefully know the results within the next 2 days!  Pray that everything continues to look good and that he will eat well so we can get him home!  They are saying that he will need a full repair surgery sometime within the first year once he grows a bit!  We are praying that the Lord will completely heal his sweet little body and that he will never need surgery!! 

Our Sweet Little Guy!!

Heart Update

Right before we left to go to the CICU the cardiologist called and said she reviewed the ECHO and everything looks like it did before. They want to do a CTSCAN tomorrow to further evaluate the heart problems and do surgery on Friday.

Baby update

Owen is doing great. He's in the CICU right now breathing on his own.
Ashley lost alot of blood and has had two bad fainting spells. Thankfully someone has been there each time to catch her.  If you could pray for her as she trys to rest and regain strength and blood.
I'll try to put last night into words a little bit later.

-Ian

INTRODUCING OWEN FRANCIS SIRIANNI

Born 10/21/2009






Owen is doing just fine. We got to hold him for a few minutes before they took him to the CICU. Where they'll give him an echocardiogram. Our Cardiologist should be in in a few hours to look at the results.
More details to follow when it's not 4 in the morning.

-Ian

9:38pm

At 7 o clock the midwife came in to check Ashleys' cervix and it only grew to 3 cm 60% effaced. Which is only one more cm then when she got checked in the morning. Her and the doctor came back in to talk about our options at this point. Take a break from the Pitocin, Break the water, or go back to Cervadil for the night. We decided to stay on the Pitocin even though she had her dinner sitting there waiting to be eaten. {You can't eat while on Pitocin} At about 8:15 the doctor checked her and she was almost 4 cm and her contractions were started to get harder, this confirmed our Pitocin decision. The doctor is going to check her again at 10 to see if she dialated anymore. If she did then they aren't going to break the water, if she didn't then they are. They said they think we should have a baby by 1am but, how do they know that?
  All the nurses are really nice but, the one we have tonight seems to be pretty intune to Ashleys' feelings and everything.
 The midwife came in and said the NICU called asking where the baby was.

-Ian

4:15pm update

I just woke up from a short nap.  I am starting to feel more and more contractions!  I am having contractions like I should be, every 3-4 minutes but I guess they don't think there is much going on because I am not in pain yet!  The pitocin can only be upped once more!  The nurse just came in and filled me in!  At 7pm they are going to check my cervix to see what is going on and at that point they will make a decision as to what route they want to go!  We will update when we know more!! 

~Ashley

1:43 update...

Ashley is starting to contract more and is starting to feel them.
 They up her Pitocin every half hour. We are getting great views of the SDU hallway walking back and forth.
My parents stopped by because my dad had an appointment at UPENN so, I was able to go out and grab lunch at the caferteria with him. Who would of thought hospital food would be so good?

Labor Day Two

The Cervadil they gave Ashley last night didn't do anything. The midwife check Ashleys' cervix and it's about the same size as last night.We both slept pretty good after watching some Phillies and Ultimate Cake Off.
Ashley just finished eating breakfast and showering. They are about to start Pitocin and her antibiotics for Group B Strep. They will have her on that most of the day and if that doesn't do anything then they'll let her rest and eat and put her back on Cervadil for the night.
 The midwife Karen, just started her shift of 24 hours and is determined for the baby to come out on her shift. We've had her at a bunch of our prior appointments.
The layout is pretty neat in the SDU. Each two rooms are separated by an exam room where they take the baby after it's born. There is a window in our room to look into the exam room so we can watch the baby. After all that's done and the baby is stabilized they'll bring the baby into our room and let us spend some time with the baby before it goes to the CICU. Pray that the Pitocin will kick in soon and won't be to terrible as we here it can be.
Thanks,
                 Ian

At CHOP

We got to CHOP around 4:30 so we could get dinner before we checked in.
Went to a Panera Bread type place called "Au Bon Pain." Why they'd put a restaraunt in a hospital with the word "Pain" in it, is beyond me. We got up to the SDU at 5:15 and were shown our room. They're about to start Ashley on a mild inducer. They said it's basically a test run and aren't expecting much from it. They want her to get a good nights sleep because, tomorrow they'll start Potocin. The doctor said it's not uncommon for it to take a few days to work... Please pray that is not the case!
 Everytime Ashley get's needle work done they always have to do it atleast twice. The IV was no exception. The nurse went right into the vein and right out the other side the first time.
 All the nurses said if they went by the charts our babys' heart is perfectly healthy. We are praying it's not just the charts!!
We will be updating the blog often. Thanks for the prayers.




Ashley finishing up some last minute things before we leave.


Ready to leave!


Ashley all IV'd up!


Our Birth Certificate application, waiting for a babys' name


Our wrist bands.

Time change

CHOP called today and they want me there at 5:30pm instead of 8pm!! 

Please, continue to pray for a safe delivery and that the baby will be stable when it is born so, we can spend a few minutes with it before they whisk the peanut away!!

~Ashley

Induction Scheduled

Well, on Monday October, 19th at 8pm they will be inducing me!  Unless, I go into labor on my own before then.  I was 2 cm dialated and 50% effaced at our appointment yesterday!  I am really hoping when I go in on Monday night I am dialated a couple more cm so my labor isn't that long!! 

Thanks for all of your prayers we will keep you updated via the blog and facebook! 

~Ashley

Our Little Blessing!

Today as we were driving home from our CHOP appointment, we were driving on a road that we haven't driven on since we were on our way home from when we went away for our anniversay in February. I remember being on the phone with my OB while traveling on that road. They had done bloodwork to find out the possible cause of why I wasn't getting pregnant. They were calling me with the results from the bloodwork. She had told me that I had MTHFR (a blood clotting disorder), but she didn't know much about it. I remember hanging up with her and being very discouraged and thinking to myself that we (Ian & I) will possibly never have the blessing of children. Little did I know that 2 weeks later I would find out that I was pregnant with our little peanut! Today as we drove down that road I thanked GOD for the sweet little baby that is growing inside of me! Our little Blessing!!

The baby put on a whopping 1lb 4oz since our last growth ultrasound 2 weeks ago! Bringing the baby up to 5lb 4oz! Grow baby grow!! The doctors were thrilled with the growth as were we!! They told me today they won't let me go past 39 weeks. So, we will be meeting our little peanut in 2 1/2 weeks or less!! I have been having ALOT of cramping lately. Everyone I talk to acts like it is nothing. Well, apparently it isn't just anything! My OB told me that if it continues for an hour straight to call them!

Everyone tells me how at the end of their pregnancy they are just ready to be done! I can not relate with that!!! I absolutely love being pregnant! I will certainly be sad when this little one isn't squirming inside of me anymore!

All in all our appointment at CHOP today went very well! Every Friday when I go I pretty much have to be ready to have this baby because at any point they might want to induce me. They acted like if anytime I go and I am at all dialated they are just going to go ahead and induce me! Our next appointment is next Friday if we make it that far!

Tonight we went to my parents for dinner. On our way home I was thinking to myself that the next time we go to my parents we will most likely have our little one with us!!!

Thanks everyone for your prayers! It means alot to Ian & I knowing that so many are praying for us and our little one! Continue to pray that if it is the Lord's will that our sweet baby will be healed!

~Ashley

Update & A Bridal Shower

Everything looked great with baby today!! Praise God! They just checked the umbilical cord to make sure the baby is getting the proper nutrients and they checked the amniotic fluid. They will check the growth next week. Hopefully this little one packs on a pound or more come next Friday!! I am hoping for atleast another week and a half then anytime after that the baby can come!!

I am so thankful this week is over! Tonight was Brianna's Bridal Shower (my sister.) I spent this past week preparing for the shower and for baby just incase they wanted to induce me today! The shower was very nice and Bri was surprised!!! YAY! Now, I can relax until the peanut comes! I will update with pictures of the shower later!

~Ashley