The First 48 Hours

So it is almost 48 hours since we have been home. The first night was good. I got sleep after every feeding and Rocco was on schedule. He for the most part has been going right back to sleep after feeding and sleeps until the next one. It sometimes takes me a whole hour to wake him up for the next feeding.

Last night was a different story. I think he was making up for lost feedings since he was sleeping so much. We were up from 11 till about 4:30 in the morning. He did three feedings within an hour of each other. He was a bit restless and wasn't in to sleeping but catching up on feedings. We finally went to bed around 5 and woke up around 7. He was up for a bit and is now catching up on some sleep.

When I was looking at him this morning, I really saw a lot of Jared in him. For the first few days, I saw a lot of me in him. He is smiling and frowning; has this thinking forehead look and likes to hold his lips shut really tight. He is making cute little sounds and the animals are trying to figure out what is making these noises.

Last night while he was up, I put him under his mobile in his crib. He was really following the animals and loves the music. The blanket he is on was made by Nancy Ahn. Here is a little video of this moment.

Rocco Jay Milazzo – February 3, 2009

I went in Monday night to get induced. We arrived at the hospital around 7:30 at night. They started a process called cervidil that would ripen the cervix. That needs to be in me for 12 hours so I was there Monday night just to sleep.

On Tuesday around 8 in the morning they started the pitocin. At that time I was a full 1 cm dilated. Can you believe it a full 1. They broke my water around 2 in the afternoon and I was a 3 or 4 cm dilated. After they broke my water I was able to feel what a real contraction was. It was painful and consistent. The contractions were coming about every 2 minutes. Just as I got my body to relax the next one came. I had the room dark with music playing. (Rush, the Sundays and Sade)

About hour and half into that I thought to myself, they have medicine to take this pain away, it is there for a reason and it is just fine to take it. I got the epidural shortly after that. It wasn’t a painful process at all. From there on out, I only saw the contractions on the monitor and didn’t feel a thing.

They continued to check me and I was dilating at a slow process. By 10:45 at night I was holding at 6 cm dilated. They recommended having a C-section. I was ok with this decision and decided it would be best to just get little Rocco out. I did have a bit of a break down after making this decision. It wasn't that I was nervous, but I think it was a change I wasn’t expecting. Jared talked me through the shakes and tears and then I was ready to go.

We came home Friday around 3:00. I was able to get out a day early. It is great to be at home. We have given him his first sponge bath and I love seeing him in his clothes.

Rocco was born at 11:29 PM, Tuesday, February 3, 2009. He was 8 pounds and 22 inches long. The average length is 20 inches, so he has some skinny long legs on him. I am looking forward to getting some meat on those legs.

He has had lots of visitors already and I enjoy watching everyone meet him and give him love.

Due Today...But Did Rocco Get the Memo?

Today is my official due date, January 30, 2009. I had a doctor’s appointment on Tuesday and at that time there was no real change, meaning I hadn’t started to dilate. Well, maybe a little. The doctor said she wanted to be nice and tell me I started dilating. She was able to feel the baby’s head, but she was really pushing to get in there. So for fun, let's just say I am 1cm dilated.

We had an ultra sound yesterday to check the fluid and weight of the baby. The fluid is good and we can continue to wait a few days. I was guessing the weight at 7.8 and Jared’s guess was 8.1. We were both very close. He is measuring at 7.9. It was very cool to see how he is positioned. I finally know what I am rubbing or should I say what is poking out.

So here is the plan. If he doesn’t come naturally by Monday, I check into the hospital on Monday night to start the induction process. So Rocco will be here Tuesday, Wednesday at the latest.

"Fancy" Parmesan Breaded Chicken

This is one of my favorite recipes. The first time I made it was when Jared and I lived in our tiny first apartment in downtown San Jose. The recipe comes from Jared’s mom. I always thought of this recipe as “fancy”. I told Jared the other day I thought this was fancy and he said, “It is not that fancy.” But I guess since I made this about 15 years ago and at that time the main meal was rice, mushrooms and corn, adding a great tasting chicken with capers was fancy. Plus I had never used capers in a recipe before.

The vegetable side is corn, red bell peppers, squash and broccoli.

Recipe - Parmesan Breaded Chicken

4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts
2 C bread crumbs
2 T Parmesan Cheese
1 tsp dried oregano
½ tsp dried basil
¼ tsp salt
Pepper to taste
3 T flour
1 egg, lighten beaten
2 T Olive Oil
1 T Lemon Juice
1 T Capers

Place chicken b/w sheets of plastic wrap and pound to ¼” thickness. Mix breadcrumbs, cheese, spices and spread out on plate. Dredge chicken in flour, then in egg, and finally in seasoned bread crumbs. In a large non-stick skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Saute chicken 2-3 minutes on each side or until cooked through.

Caper Lemon Sauce” Remove chicken from pan and add 1T of lemon juice and 2T of butter or margarine. Swirl to mix and stir in 1T capers. (risnsed and drained). Spoon the sauce over chicken.

Enchiladas

Inside includes: Chicken, corn, mushrooms, onions and cheese. I did half red and half green. Easy and yummy.

What do you put in your enchiladas?

Rocco means rest but he was anything but restful last night

Last night was probably the strongest movements yet. Jared and I were on the couch and we both had our hands on my belly. He was moving all over the place. Then the strongest movement I have felt yet happened. Both Jared and I looked at each other and started to laugh. We couldn’t believe how hard it was. Thank goodness he finally did rest so I could get some sleep.

My last Dr. appointment was last Monday. The week before that she said he was around 6 pounds. At this appointment, she looked at my belly and said “you are all baby.” I said last time you said around 6 pounds. She said, “Yes but now you have all this over here.” Jared was 9 pounds and I was 8 pounds. I am thinking a Rocco will be just like his parents.

We are so excited to meet our little baby.

Holy Hiccups and Ribs Batman!

Last night just as I lay in bed, I felt this little movement that had a consistent rhythm to it. I have felt this once before but didn’t realize what it was. Rocco had the hiccups! I told Jared to feel and he said “just like his dad.”

I have also been getting some nice kicks right to the ribs. One of them last night made my whole body move. I really am going to miss rubbing the belly and feeling these movements. It is such an awesome feeling to experience; I can’t believe I have a little one inside of me. This pregnancy has been a wonderful experience.