Jayci getting settled at home

Here are a few pics of Jayci's last day at the hospital and a couple from home. She is so beautiful and we cherish every second we get to spend with her. We would like to thank everyone who came by the hospital to see us and hope to see more family and friends soon. I want to personally thank Jenny for bringing Molly down and letting her share in this experience with us as well.

From A Mom's Perspective

It has been a while since I have posted an entry into the blog and that is because as many of you already know I gave birth to a beautiful little girl Thursday night and since then Scott and my sister Cheryl have been keeping up the blogs so all of our friends and family could share in this time with us. This post is a little long but I wanted to write something from myself about this amazing experience.

I was very nervous going into the hospital Wednesday night and getting the induction started. When we got to the labor and delivery floor I was escorted back to a room by myself and had to leave Scott, Mom, Dad and Cheryl in the waiting room. Once the nurses got me settled into my room Scott was brought back and then shortly after Mom was able to come back as well. Because of the restriction on the number of people in the room (we had one more then they would allow) then there was a little swapping around but it turned out where everyone got to spend a good bit of time with me. I was given medication to get the induction process started and then they gave me something else to help me sleep and it worked like a charm! Cheryl and Dad went back to my house for the night and Scott and Mom stayed the night at the hospital. Thursday morning my Dr came in and started the medicine that got my contractions going and as the hours progressed so did the pain until I finally decided it was time for the epidural. I was also very nervous about the epidural but I have to say that it really wasn't that bad and it was worth any pain involved. When the medication started to work they could have done whatever they wanted to do and I wouldn't have cared as I couldn't feel a thing after that point from my belly button down and as a matter of fact I fell asleep! Once I woke up the Dr came in a couple of times to check to see if I had dialated enough to start pushing and when that time came I had execellent coaches as again I couldn't feel anything so they had to tell me when to push and helped count as I breathed through each one. After about two hours of pushing the Dr explained that because Jayci's head was not turned right that we needed to do a c-section and that was hard for me to take as I didn't want to go that route but as she said we could have kept trying but if it went much longer then we ran the chance that it would have turned into an emergency situation and I didn't want that to happen so I was wheeled back to the operating room and shortly after we brought this little precious gift we had been waiting on into this world and that moment changed our lives forever. It was a weird experience to be behind a curtain where I could not see anything that was going on but I could hear Jayci cry when she came out and that was music to my ears. Scott was then told that he could go over to where she was and see her but it seemed like forever before they wrapped her up and brought her over to me and all I could do was touch her little face and then they took her off to the nursery to be examined. I was sent to recovery for a couple of hours and didn't get to hold my daughter for the first time until after 1:00 on Friday morning. I am glad that Scott and Cheryl were able to share these details while they were happening.

The first 3 days of Jayci's life we had to spend in the hospital and we got plenty of time to spend with her and get used to nursing and for me to start recovering from surgery and I am so glad that we were sent home Sunday afternoon. Now that we are home I have been able to be more comfortable and Mom is staying with us for a few weeks. I can't tell you how much help that is as she is doing a lot of work around the house and helping with Jayci since I am still unable to do some things and this helps us all rotate and let the other two get some sleep.

I have spent the last 41 weeks thinking about what it would be like when Jayci actually arrived and nothing compares to what it is like now that she is here. We have had some rough spots with her feedings and her sleep (or lack of) but I wouldn't trade this experience for anything in the world. Being a mother is something that I could have never prepared for but is something that I treasure so dearly. I catch myself watching Jayci sleep and make faces and it makes me smile. I sit and hold Jayci as she is nursing and it makes my heart skip a beat as I watch her. Even the changing of a diaper or trying to comfort her as she cries are feelings like I have never had before. Jayci is truly a gift and each moment is something new for me right now and I look forward to each day with her. I have truly enjoyed watching Scott with his new little girl (she has him wrapped around her finger already) and he is a natural father as he had showed me for the past 7 years whith Brittany and Molly. Seeing Mom and Dad with Jayci has also been great to watch as they have looked forward to being grandparents and going through this whole preganancy with us. Mom and Dad have always considered Brittany and Molly as their grandchildren and now they get the opportunity to experience a grandchild from the moment she was born...Mom was in the delivery room until the c-section! Cheryl is already an excellent Aunt and Jayci to have her and I know that Cheryl will always be there for her as she has been for Molly and Brittany. I can't wait to share her with the rest of our family and friends and I know that I won't be able to post very often for now but Scott is helping me out with this as he is posting my entries for me and getting our pictures online and Cheryl is doing the same on her blog. Well I am going to get a little rest for now as Jayci is sleeping and I will hopefully have another post soon.

Getting ready for trip home

Mandy and I have heard the best news this morning as we were told we are going to be dismissed. The past few months have been very anxious for us waiting Jayci's arrival and she is more than we could ever have imagined. She is such a good baby (fingers crossed) with very little crying even at feeding time, just works her tongue in and out of her mouth when she is hungry. I am posting a couple of new pics and Mandy wants to post a little later so I will leave more of the good stuff for her to post.

What a Blessing

Today was our first full day with Jayci and it was so wonderful. Jayci is doing so well and on top of being so beautiful, such a good baby. When they first brought her to us last night at 1:15 a.m. Mandy thought she would try and breast feed her for the first time. We have heard all the horror stories about breast feeding and Mandy was a little apprehensive at first. With a little help and a lot of love Jayci latched on and has been breast feeding ever since with very little discomfort to Mandy. Speaking of Mandy, she has been such a champ today. She has been very patient and has handled breast feeding like a champ. She has been a little worried that she would do well with all this stuff and you could asked for anyone any better. She has given me a list of food items that she wanted after jayci was born and they said she could start having small amounts of solid foods when she walked around a little. She has been a speed demon in the halls since about 8:30 and they have ordered her a solid breakfast. I guess I am going to Jersey Mikes for lunch tomorrow (one of her request).

Thank You!

to Papa and Grandmother Quinn for the beautiful flowers, Auburn blanket, and teddy bear...



to Scott, Suzy, Anna, and Patrick for the beautiful flowers (these are my favorite)and frame...

Mommy And I

Jayci was finally cleaned up and ready to meet Mommy and Daddy at 12:15 this morning October 17th. After spending a little time getting to see Grandma, Momma and Daddy - Jayci was a little hungry. She filled her little tummy a couple of times and off to sleep she went abd back to the nursery to let mommy get a little rest. Mandy is doing fine, a little sore as to be expected but what a smile when they brought that beautiful girl in the room. Jayci has such long legs and big feet, just like her mom. I can't wait for everyone to see her as she is our most precious little angel.

I Have Arrived...

JayciMarie Hayden Quinn

8lbs 11ozs
21.5inches

Jayci's Not Cooperative

They just took Mandy back for c-section. Her head is crooked (Jayci's not Mandy's)...

We will keep you updated...

9.5

We are now at 9.5. The doctor is coming back in about 30 minutes to see if Mandy had made it to 10 so she can start pushing.

We will keep you updated...

2nd Afternoon Update...

She has now had the epidural and is at 6inches. She is feeling no pain so all is good...

Afternoon Update...

So, contractions are getting worse - increasing "happy drugs"

they did have to induce the labor but so far everything is going great...

We will keep you posted...

Baby Update

OK - So I've finally got Mandy's password and I will now be updating both blogs.

Mandy is currently sleeping (she didn't get a lot of sleep last night - but neither did Mom or Scott.) They are currently gave mandy "happy" drugs to help with the pain. The good news that we got was that she may not have to be induced. Things are progressing on their own (with help of other drugs). We will keep you updated as we get more news...

It's official...she will be here Thursday!

We had our checkup this morning and Jayci has still not decided to come on her own so we will be induced. I am scheduled to go into the hospital tomorrow night at 7:00 and she will be born sometime on Thursday!! We didn't want to do the induction route but at this point she is full term and her mommy is ready for this part of this journey to be over...giggle. Cheryl is going to try to keep the blog updated while we are in the hospital so stay tuned for further details as we will have our new baby girl here in just a couple of days.

There is an end in sight!!

I had my 40 week dr's appointment this morning and this time Scott decided to go with me. Dr. Obeikwe checked to see if I had started to dialate and still nothing and so she gave us the option of inducing. Scott and I have a little difference of opinion on this as I am ready for this part of our journey to be over and move on to her being here and although he is ready to he is very concerned (as am I) of the induction process and the chance it increases us needing to have a c-section. We also asked about the risks with the medications they use for induction and of course there is always a risk but she said the real risk is a c-section and really our chances have already increased for that probability because as you go past your due date the baby's size just gets bigger so we are in that territory anyway. Well the Dr stepped out of the room for me and Scott to discuss it and Scott said that he would go along with whatever I wanted as I am the one that is getting more and more uncomfortable and I also wanted to respect his feelings as well. The Dr came back in and we asked a couple of questions and also let her know how we each felt about it and she said that we would go ahead now and form a plan which is to let things progress through the weekend on their own and if nothing happens then we will be back in her office first thing Tuesday morning for an exam and then if nothing has changed or if it is still going slow then they will admit me either Tuesday afternoon or Wednesday morning to be induced. One way or another we will have a baby here by the middle of next week!!! Scott is still keeping his fingers crossed that she will come on her own on Tuesday as this is his birthday and I think that would be an awesome birthday present for him. I am hoping that we don't have to go the induction route so please keep us in your prayers that we can do this naturally but if we do have to be induced then I know we are in excellent hands. Love to everybody!!!

Still Waiting!

Well we went to the Doctor today and we are still waiting. I saw the new doctor today and she said that she doesn't consider induction until about 41 weeks and I was only 39 weeks and one day today. That is the other thing, they can't seem to make up their minds when my due date is. They are now saying that officially it is the 8th but that it could be anywhere from the 2nd to the 10th! I mentionted how uncomforatable I have gotten and how now my hands are swelling in addition to my feet and ankles and she said that if she is the one that sees me next week then we may talk about inducing. However, I found out that my next appointment (10-9-08) will be with one of the other Doctors (which I love this one) and it is Dr. Obekwe which is the one that I saw last week and she is also the one that said that she considers induction at 40 weeks which is where I will be next week. Let's keep our fingers crossed that Jayci will make this decision for us and she will come on her own in the next 3-4 days. I started my maternity leave this past Monday as it was getting harder and harder to go to work so I am really hoping that she does comes soon so I can get as much time with her while I am out as I can. I did decide to take the full 12 weeks for my leave so I am not scheduled to go back until December 29th. Well that is about it for now....love to everyone!