Labor and delivery went surprisingly quickly ... mom started having contractions around 11:30 Saturday night. We arrived at the hospital at 3:30 am and she was born 2 hours and 43 minutes later. Mom only had to push for 15 minutes and then Francesca was here! It was amazing to finally hold her in my arms.
She is our little angel! Her name means "open-hearted" or "smiling" and we are certain these will be perfect descriptors of our precious little girl. Unintentionally, we ended up naming both of our babies with names significant to Jaimie's mom's side of the family. Mateo is Mateo Fernando, his middle name after his Daddy. Fern was Jaimie's maternal grandmother's name. Francesca Sue has her mama's middle name and Frances was Jaimie's maternal great-grandmother's name. Again, unintentional, but certainly significant.
Grandma Sue and Grandpa Jim were at the hospital - they actually made it there before we did. Los abuelos Edelmira and Jose came a little later with big brother Mateo. Everyone was overjoyed to meet Francesca.
Soon after she was born, Dr. Jones (certainly the best OB/GYN in all of Omaha!) came to our bedside and said, "I would like to tell you some things about your baby. Francesca has Down syndrome." We were totally taken by surprise. Our first reaction was an overwhelming response of emotion that can only be expressed through tears. I to cried out of surprise, joy, grief, loss of the dream of a "perfect" baby... and yet I had an underlying sense of peace. You see, Francesca is our miracle baby. She's the little girl we have hoped and prayed for for so many years. Francesca is the little soul that God has been preparing for our family since the beginning of time and we know she is PERFECT for us. So even though the news of her Downs was a surprise, and certainly we have been processing everything through a whole range of emotions, we are greatly overjoyed to have been chosen as the parents of such a special little girl. She is our ANGEL.
And we can't wait for you to meet her!
El nacimiento fue sorprendentemente rapido … mami empezo a tener contracciones a eso de las 11:30 el sabado en la noche. Llegamos al hospital a las 3:30 de la mañana y ella nació 2 horas y 43 minutos después. Mami solo tuvo que pujar por 15 minutos antes que Francesca naciera. Es increíble que la pueda tener finalmente en mis brazos.
Ella es nuestro pequeno angel! Su nombre significa “generosa” o “risuena” y estamos seguros que estos son descripciones perfectas de nuestra pequeña nena. Sin intención, terminamos poniéndole nombres a nuestros hijos que tienen mucho significado para la familia de Jaimie, especialmente en el lado de la familia de la mama. Mateo, es Mateo Fernando , su segundo nombre es el de su papa. Fern era el nombre de la abuelita de Jaimie (la mama de su mama). Francesca Sue, tiene el segundo nombre igual que el de su mama y Frances era el nombre de la bisabuela de Jaimie (también del lado de la mama de Jaimie). Una vez mas, esto no fue intensional, pero en realidad muy importante.
La Abuelita Sue y el Abuelito Jim estaban en el hospital, en realidad ellos llegaron ahi antes que nosotros. Los abuelitos Edelmira y Jose llegaron un rato después con el hermano mayor Mateo. Todo el mundo estama superfeliz de conocer a Francesca.
Al rato de que ella naciera, la Dr. Jones (en realidad la mejor Ginecobstetra en todo Omaha) vino al lado de la cama y nos dijo “Quiero contarles unas cosas sobre su bebe. Francesca tiene síndrome de Down. Nos tomo completamente por sorpresa. Nuestra primera reacción fue una respuesta abrumadora llena de emoción que solo podía ser expresada a travez de las lagrimas. Yo llore de sorpresa, alegría, duelo, de la perdida de el sueno de un bebe “normal”… y aun asi en el fondo sentí mucha paz. Ustedes saben que Francesca es nuestra bebe milagro. Ella es la pequeña bebe que nosotros esperamos y por la que oramos todos estos años. Francesca is la pequeña almita que Dios estaba preparando para nuestra familia desde el principio de los tiempos y nosotros sabemos que ella es PERFECTA para nosotros. Aunque la noticia del síndrome de Down fue una sorpresa y que sin lugar a duda hemos estado procesando todo a travez de una cantidad de emociones, estamos muy emocionados de haber sido escogidos como los padres de una nena tan especial. Ella es nuestro ANGEL.
Y no casi no aguantamos para que ustedes la conozcan!
Francesca's nurse, Melissa, telling us the final important information
Signing the discharge papers for our baby girl
Daddy was excited, even insistent on dressing me in my going home outfit - a special outfit my abuela Edelmira had gotten me!
I'm ready!
Getting her arms through the coat sleeves was tricky!
Making sure the carseat fits me just right
Let's go!
Leaving the NICU
Down through the lobby
Hop in!
Brrrr! It's cold
Outside my home
Look who was waiting for me!
Love
Francesca's nurse, Melissa, telling us the final important information
Signing the discharge papers for our baby girl
Daddy was excited, even insistent on dressing me in my going home outfit - a special outfit my abuela Edelmira had gotten me!
I'm ready!
Getting her arms through the coat sleeves was tricky!
Making sure the carseat fits me just right
Let's go!
Brrrr! It's cold
Outside my home
Look who was waiting for me!
Love
Bebe! Cesca! Mateo adora a su hermanita
We ask Mateo "Donde esta la hermanita?" (Where is your little sister?) and he heads right to Momma's growing tummy.
Even Chester wanted to help out!
