March 7, 2008

Welcome Home James


Today James came home from the hospital.
We went to his Godparent's, the Murphy's, house to pick up Adriana. We pulled into the drive way and out runs Adriana screaming "JAMES RAPHAEL, JAMES RAPHAEL." No she didn't care that mama and daddy were there. She just wanted to see her new baby brother. The part of the Murphy family that was home came out to greet there Godson and Godbrother.




We went into the Murphy house and each person took turns holding Baby James. Even Joe and Danny (neither pictured), home from college, held James. They took turns Adriana, then MaMurph, Maggie, Peter (as you can tell totally enjoyed holding James), Joe for a minute until James started to cry, then Danny when he came home. I will also add that Adriana ran around the Murphy's house (they have a big house) screaming, as only Adriana can, for Danny to come and see her baby brother. Adriana considers herself a Murphy.

March 6, 2008

Hospital Visitor

The next few days in the hospital were uneventful other then our lively nurse, Kathy. We did have a few vistors although we were only able to have visits in the hospital for one full day and a morning.



Thanks to our good friend Rebecca along with her son Leo, Adriana was able to come visit her little brother in the hopital.






Our good friend Tara also visited us on Thursday night. And as Tara was leaving Michael Keiselbach came up for our traditional visit. He and his wife came to visit Adriana in the hospital, Jean was unable to visit.

March 5, 2008

The Birth of James Raphael

James Raphael Niall!!! 10 lbs 10 oz
This has been really hard to start. I have been thinking about it for a little over a month now. I guess it is time to put it into writing.
The best part is that I went into labor on Tuesday night. At about midnight my contractions where about one minute apart and lasting about a 1 to 1 1/2 minutesaso I agreed, against my better judgement, to meet the midwife at the hospital.
We arrived at the hospital, after dropping Adriana off at the Murphy's house, at about 1:00 am on Wednesday morning. The midwife examined me and I was still only 1 cm dilated and 50% or so effaced. Ofcourse they didn't want to send me home. I started doing everything I was supposed to walking, dancing, squitting, breathing, and all the rest. Our doula got there and helped keep us going. Then they moved us from the triage room to the labor and delivery room.
Shortly after the move about 5am my labor had stopped progressing. I was having contractions by they were father apart and my contraction hadn't done anything because when the next midwife came in at 8:30 and checked me I was only at 1 1/2 - 2 cm. I had labored pretty hard in the begining so i was pretty mad that I hadn't dilated more but I go over it quick on just kept walking. By 10:30 the midwife was asking what I was going to do next. I was so tired because I hadn't slept since 6:00 am the day before. We discussed my options and again against me better judgement we decided to break my water.
About 11:00 am after a short nap the midwife broke my water. I again started to labor hard. Contractions were 1 1/2 minutes apart lasting about 45 second - 1 minute. Then we continueing to walk the floor and squatting. The nurses all over the floor were amazed but I was determined. Then again about 3 hours later my labor started to stall. My contraction were shorter and farther apart. My midwife asked what I was going to do. I said I would continue to walk. She decide she would give me a little more time. Not much long later still nothing was happening, (mind you baby is being monitored every 15 minutes because I'm diabetic. Baby is doing great. I'm fine) but so some reason the are in a rush to get me to have this baby. I kept asking why the rush? What are the worried about? Really they had no good answers. I just left the room and walked with Michael.


I knew all they wanted to to was cut me open. Sorry to be so graphic but that is what they had been trying to get me to do for weeks. I was so upset so of course by this point I was never going to progress in the hospital. I really wanted to leave. Stephaine, our doula, asked the midwife a bunch of question and (as far as I'm considered) they could not give her any good answers either. By 4:00 or 4:30pm we were sitting in the labor and delivery room talking about truly why they could not let me sleep for a while, I have been up for 36 hours at that point, and then let me labor. Can you believe that she actually told me it was because the doctors time has almost up, PLUS the really needed the room. (There were tons of babies being born.) She said I could sleep for 2 hours, what good was that suposed to do me. I WAS SO ANGRY!!!! My hands were tied I let them break my water. What was I supposed to do? All I wanted to do was leave the hospital. I just cried and cried. I had to concent in letting them cut me.
I went into the operating room. They had me sign all these papers of consent. The anestilogist numbed me but all I could fell was them pulling on my stomach. I was cold. I was ANGRY. I didn't want to be there. I'm crying just remembering it. I wanted this baby more than anything but I didn't want the baby this way. I told them to stop. I wasn't going to do. I wanted my husband. I demanded they bring my husband to me. They stopped and although they weren't ready Michael came into the room. I told him I could never do this again. I was TOTALLY FREAKING OUT!!!! He started to pray with me. MARY came to my side and I was able to move on.
Then it happened. I could hear the baby's little cry. Daddy said so only mama could hear "It's a boy!!!!" James Raphael!!! Mama said she wouldn't cry this time but I did. It's a boy. I was so happy. Thank you God.
They were taking bets around me about the size of the baby. All I could think was bring him to me. I want to see him. Stop procrasticing. Daddy did get to go see James and finally he brought James to me. I truly fell in love. I loved just like his sister, Adriana, did when I first saw her. The red endless fat cheeks so adorable you want to suck them up. All I wanted to do was hold him but ofcourse I still could not yet. I justkept kissing him. Finally I did get to hold him.
Next we wheel James and me into the recovery room to start nursing. All you could here coming from James was sucking noise he was hungry. He latched like a pro and just sucked. My nursing baby. I had my baby so you would think that was the end of the trama.


Now when we get to the room they have to do blood sticks to make sure his blood sugar is not to low. It is normally low in big babys, did I mention he was 10 lb 10 oz. He blood sugar was low. They wanted to give him formula. I refused. They brought down the doctor because they thought I was being unreasonable. She tried to scare us into giving him formula. I compromised first be saying on sugar water. They didn't like that idea because is would only bring his blood sugar up and then it would fall low again. Then I said only with a measuring dropper. They said that was impossible. I said well then too bad. Then they decided to try it, they talked to the laction consultant who said they did it all the time. She came in and showed us how to do it. We gave him the silly formula in 5 cc incraments. He was fine but believe it or not, not from the formula that made his blood sugar go really high and then drop again (remember what they said about the sugar water, lol). He was fine because he was a nursing pro. Then the nurse came in and said make the doctor wanted me also to let you know that we don't want the baby to sleep in the bed with you. Be sure you put him the the bassinet when you are finished nursing him. Did she forget I was just cut open and really couldn't move, especially because I was hooked up to all the crazy gadgets. Needless to say I didn't sleep that night. I was up ever time a nurse waked in because I thought they were going to take him out of my bed. Luckily they didn't.
It was such a suffering for me. I never want to go through that again. But thank you God for the beautiful baby boy. Yes, I want more babies but I never WANT to be cut again. Hopefully I never will have to be cut again. It was very tramatic for me even worse than with Adriana.
I know it was really long but I really needed to write about the birth. Thanks for reading.
Fianlly, thank you to our doula Stephanie she was the best.

February 25, 2008

Mother Daughter Days

Adriana and Mama spent a few days together before Baby Niall is excepted to be born.


First we went to the movies to see "The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything" - A Veggie Tales Movie. Adriana had a blast. She hadn't been to the movies since the summer. It was a whole new experience. All she talks about now is the pirates and how they don't do anything.

On Feb 25th days after Baby Niall was born Mama decided to take Adriana out for lunch. There is no better place to take a child for lunch than Friendly's. Yes, we did enjoy an ice cream. Adriana had chocolate all over her face. Mother daughter FUN!!!!!

February 18, 2008

Sick Yucky!!!!!

Adriana making Mama soup because she's sick.
Mama had been in bed since Friday. On Friday morning Mama woke up and thought she was in labor. After having contractions through the night, feeling sick in the stomach, and her hips and back were sore. Well she was so uncomfortable but had a appointment at the midwifes so off she went. The midwives thought maybe you could be in labor but I think you just have the flu, yucky. Mama went home took her temperture and low and behold a fever of 101.8. SHe was sick and sore. The fever didn't finally break until late Saturday night. Sunday was all congestion and some soreness. What a horriable weekend. Some good things did come out of the weekend. Mama didn't go into labor while she was sick. Mama also learned that daddy is very capable of taking care of the household while mama is out of it. Can you believe that the dishes have been done and the kitchen cleaned every night. How amazing!!!! And laundry I think he did every load. Great work Daddy. Thanks for pitching and while mama has been in bed.

February 15, 2008

39 Week Visit to the Midwife

Adriana is helping Midwife Valerie listen for the baby's heart rate with the doppler. Family trip to midwife office, Daddy taking picture.

February 14, 2008

Happy Valentine's Day


We try not to do Valentine's Day up to much in our house. We love it meaning behind it and after all it is Saint Valentine's Day but it just doesn't fall at the best time for our family. Daddy's Birthday is January 13th and Mama's Birthday is Feb 28th and now the soon to arrive Baby Niall's Birthday will we soon after Valaentine's Day. I made cards with Adriana to send to family member's and for Daddy. I made a card for Daddy and Adriana plus got each of them a peice of chocolate. Adriana and Mama went out shopping for some liast minute baby items and when we came home we found these. White Carnations for Adriana and Red Carnations for Mama with a little not on each of the Love, Daddy. The tabe is sent so because daddy went out and got clams and Alaskan King Crab legs. Dinner was wonderful!!! We had a great Valentine's Day evening.

February 7, 2008

Baby Pool

Dear Friends of Michael & Adrianne,
We're very excited about the upcoming arrival of baby Niall, as I'm sure you are too! We started a baby pool online where you can guess if baby Niall will be a boy or a girl, when baby Niall will arrive, how much baby Niall will weigh, etc, etc. We're not playing for money, but the winner will receive a small prize :-)
~The Urbans - Ben, Rebecca & Baby Leo
To participate, go to: http://www.expectnet.com/games/BabyNiall or go to ExpectNet.com and enter BabyNiall as the
game name in the space indicated on the home page.


If you haven't already placed your pool go for it now!!!!! ~Adrianne
Thanks, Rebecca and Family!

February 1, 2008

Family Rosary

We pray the rosary just about every night as a family. A three year old praying the rosary does sometimes make us crazy because she doesn't always respond or she is being silly. But it pleases Our Lord that she is learning how to pray the rosary. Tonight was interesting because she decided that she wanted to lead the Rosary. It is amazing the little joys our children give us. If is pleases us so imagine how much more it pleases Our Lord. I know that she is pleasing to Him even though she ofter makes me crazy. Thank you Lord for the wonderful daughter you have given us.

Phrase of the Week

Tonight at dinner Adriana asked a question that she asks most nights, "Mama are you going to work tonight." Usually she whines when Mama says yes. Tonight mama said yes but I only have two more weeks. To which she replied, "It's okay mama you can go to work when the baby comes. I can take care of the baby AND daddy." Wow, she is eager to be grown. We'll see how long that lasts once the baby comes.