These are one of those blogs that if you care to read, go right on ahead, but I'm more writing for my own records! This is the story of the birth of Grayson DaSilva Ferrante.
It was Friday, July 31, 2009 around 1:00 p.m. My sister Fawne arrives at my house. She lives in Salisbury, Maryland and was getting anxious for the arrival of Grayson. She was lined up to watch Weston while I labored and delivered. Even though the date was still to be determined, she decided it was time to get into place in case anything happened. I wake up from my nap around 2:00 p.m. and am informed that we will be going to the mall to walk around and see if we can get contractions started. I've been walking everyday for about 2 weeks now and nothing, so I'm thinking this is definitely not going to be any different. We go to the mall around 3:30 p.m. and walk around for about 2 hours. On our way out, I begin to have contractions (a little after 5:30 p.m.) every 5 minutes pretty consistently. Of course I'm thinking, been here-done that, these contractions are going to stop! After an hour, they are still going strong every 5 minutes. Time to call the doctor right? No, I figure they are still going to stop so I continue to just sit around, wanting to eat dinner and put Weston to sleep for the night. Around 8:30 p.m. MIke and I put Weston down for bed and I decide that since I've now been contracting 5 minutes apart for the past 3 hours, it's time to call the doctor. I call and am told to go to labor and delivery. After doing some last minute things around the house, Mike and I head to the hospital around 9:30ish. We get to the hospital around 10:30 p.m., get check in and wait to be assessed. Once in the assessment room, my contractions started getting closer and more intense. The nurse checking me in didn't really seem very sure that I would be staying however. Finally, another nurse came in and checked my cervix. Lo and behold I was almost 8 centimeters dilated! I was told that they were going to have me walk, but that is now out of the question, so is breaking my water in the assessment room for fear that I would have the baby in there! I get put in a room by 11:15 p.m. The doctor comes in soon after and breaks my water. From there the contractions really get going.
Meanwhile, my dad and stepmom are on their way up from their new house in Luray, Virginia. It's clear that they are not going to make it for the birth so my dad calls my sister, who is staying at my house, and asks her to find a way to make it to the hospital. So Fawne calls Meredith, my sister-in-law and has her come stay with Weston while she comes to the hospital. So Fawne arrives at the hospital and calls into the room at 12:29 a.m. At this time they are putting me in stirrups, getting ready to push. My mother-in-law goes and gets my sister from the waiting room. They come back, Fawne grabs and leg and I start pushing. At 12:34 (1-2-3-4!) Grayson DaSilva Ferrante is born! They gave him right to me! It was awesome! This did not happen with Weston so I was totally excited that I got to hold my baby right away this time! He was 8 lbs, 3 oz and 21 inches long. There was a little water in lungs from being born so fast, but they were able to get that out right away! His apgar was 9 and 9. It only took the doctor about 15 minutes to sew me up. I tore just a little on the inside and a little on the outside. The inside tear was because Grayson's hand came out with his head! After being sewn up, I was able to nurse Gray and he did wonderful! I also had elected to do this birth natural just as I did with Weston. I think it went much better this time since I didn't have to have pitocin.
So that's the story of how Grayson was born! It was quick and one of a kind experience! I'm very glad to have here healthy and happy! Weston absolutely loves his little brother. Everytime he sees him he wants to kiss him a million times. It's adorable! I love my boys and am happy to know that my family is now complete! God has blessed me so greatly and I couldn't be more grateful. I know this next year has trials waiting but I am going to be full of prayer and ready to take it on. I know there will be good days and bad days but I am so excited to watch my two boys grow up!
August 22, 2009: Our first full day in Luray and it was raining pretty much all day. Weston's never really been out in the rain, so I took advantage of the wetness and we played on the porch. Weston had a lot of fun dancing and stomping in the little puddles of water on MomMom and Pops porch.
August 23, 2009: We hit the Luray Zoo on Sunday. This zoo is seriously the size of my pinkie but it's perfect for little kids because there's not much walking and there's lots of fun animals. When we were in the reptile house, Weston kept trying to grab the snakes through the glass-so when we went to the snake show, of course I had to let him hold the rat snake. This snake was so well behaved, especially since Weston was trying to pick his scales off!
August 24, 2009: MomMom and Pop have a cool fire pit in their backyard so Monday night, we had s'mores. Weston mostly enjoyed eating the chocolate all by itself but I tried to help him roast a marshmallow.
August 25, 2009: On Tuesday, we made our way back home and met Mike at Arundel Mills. Weston missed his Daddy so much! Look at that big ol' smile! :)
August 26, 2009: I guess the whole Luray trip wiped Weston out because on Wednesday he was ready for an early nap and fell asleep right on the living room floor while I was feeding Grayson. It was too precious not to photograph. :)
August 27, 2009: I figured it was time to break out the double stroller and start family evening walks (since I want to lose 50 lbs and all!). Here is Weston and Grayson and Super Mike all ready to tour the neighborhood! Grayson slept the whole time and Weston enjoyed relaxing and watching all the kids we passed on our walk.
August 28, 2009: We try to take Weston to the library every Friday for Read and Play. He really enjoys the songs and stories and playtime with the other children. Since I've been at home with Grayson for the past 4 weeks, Mike has been taking him alone but I can't wait to take both the boys!
