MIA BORN!!!! 2/10/07

I'll cut to the quick. We were scheduled to deliver Mia via Caesarian section on Valentine's Day of all days, but Francesca started showing signs of preeclampsia, a toxemia of pregnancy that causes high blood pressure and swelling. It's more of a danger to the mom than the baby, so when Francesca started feeling some discomfort we called the doctors and said to come in to Stony Brook Hospital right away for monitoring.

After all was said and done, they felt it was best to deliver Mia now, rather than wait until Wednesday. And so it was done. Mia came into our world on February 10th at 9:58 p.m. 4 lbs 10 oz, and 17.5 inches long! She's a little bean! Francesca was so strong throughout the delivery and is now recovering. They have her on a magnesium drip, which is supposed to help lower her blood pressure and stave off any the other affects from the preeclampsia, but it has completely wiped her out.

We are waiting for the doctors to do some more tests on Mia with regard to her hydrocephalus, and are of course hoping for the best. She is being well taken care of in the NICU right now. She is without a doubt the most beautiful thing I have ever seen.

After she was born and taken to the NICU, she started having trouble breathing on her own and they had to put her on a respirator. I am happy to report that she is now completely off the respirator and breathing on her own. I just came from seeing her in the NICU and she is fast asleep and breathing hard. So without further ado....Mia Bella!


First Cry


Less than a minute old


I saw red (check the strawberry blonde hair)


Clearing out the throat


Clearing out the sniffer (look at those cute little eye lashes!)


Our little gnome.


First kiss....


One more....

Give thanks, we pray.