The First Week

Our first week at home with Adriana was an adventure. As I mentioned my mom and sister were in town and there was a lot going on...lots of change. Adriana slept upstairs with us in her bassinet while mom slept on the couch and Holly slept in "her bed". Some nights were rough with the crying and with our house being as small as it is if she wasn't sleeping neither was anyone else.

Having my mom stay with us for the first few weeks was amazing! Of course I had night feedings every three hours and feedings took FOREVER, not to mention feeding, then waiting for the burp, then finally waiting for the poop...it was never far behind. So I would come downstairs and my mom would stay up with me while I fed. As the first and second week went on I would feed her then pass her off to my mom and she would wait for the burp and poop. I got to go back to sleep!! Thanks heaven for moms like mine :)


Adriana was a very happy baby right from the get-go. She started smiling quite early. We started noticing it within the first week, we're assuming gas smiles! The first week was glorious and included her first bath too. Well...the first bath wasn't too glorious. We actually decided to document her 2nd bath as her first. It was much more successful. You know the phrase too many cooks in the kitchen? Well, we literally had too many cooks in the kitchen but we weren't cooking...we were all trying to bath Adriana while of course snapping photos! Not good! It was a little bit of chaos but we figured out the best methods later.

The Day You Were Born

I started writing this story a long time ago and had it saved on the computer so I thought I would edit it and add it to the Blog...all about Adriana's birth, I wrote it to her so she could read it later in life so that's who the originally audience was.


Your story begins in the summer of 2007. Daddy and I wanted to have a baby more than anything so we began our family. One day in July I took a pregnancy test and found out I was pregnant...with you! I called all of our friends and family, I couldn't wait to tell everyone the news. At about 8 weeks I went to the doctor's office and learned that everything looked good and you were expected to arrive into the world April 18th, 2008. 9 months sounded like an eternity but went by so fast.

I began the school year knowing I was pregnant but didn't share the news with my co-workers until after my doctor appointment. When they found out they were thrilled. I was teaching 4th grade at the time and knew I had to tell them at some-point but waited until I was about 4 months pregnant. The kids were thrilled and had so many questions. I remember they told me that I didn't even look like I was pregnant...you were still very tiny at 4 months. I had to also break the news to my students that I would not be there to finish the school year but I would leave in April to give birth and stay home with you for the remainder of the school year. The kids were sad but I don't think they realized it until I was actually gone.

My pregnancy with you was spectacular! I didn't have morning sickness and really felt full of energy the whole time. My belly grew slowly but each day was more amazing than the next. Daddy and I didn't want to find out if you were a boy or girl, we waited until you were born which made the pregnancy even more exciting. Some of the things I loved to eat when I was pregnant were Cinnamon Toast Crunch, tangerines, ice cream, garlic bread and pasta! 9 months went by so quickly and before I knew it I was ready to go into labor.

The day before you were born was CRAZY! Tuesday, April 8th I got ready for work, went to my car, turned the key and nothing happened! My car didn't start!! I stressed out called your Dad out of bed and we quickly realized that it may be the starter that went out! So I called one of my friends that works in the school with me and luckily she picked me up. Dad was just starting a new job and had a meeting that day so he needed to drive the truck. After school I called the garage to see what was wrong with the car. Well, the car not starting was the starter and the funny noise I kept hearing was the bearings on my wheels going...not good and not safe!! Maybe it was a sign from you for us to get a new car! After some thought we told the garage not to fix anything...we thought it would be best to look for a new car, after-all we had a week and a half before you were due.

That same day I had a doctor appointment with Dr. Haymond, Dad had to drive to my school pick me up and drive to the doctor office for my appointment. When the doctor checked me she said I was 1 centimeter dilated and 50-70% effaced. I got a little worried and said that sounds like a lot, will I make it until Friday? I had big plans to work until Friday to make sure everything was in place for the sub taking over my classroom. The doctor said she thinks so! Dad and I left the doctor office and had some dinner, I ate well that night, I had a Kobe beef burger, fries, we shared some appetizers, and I topped it off with creme brule. It was the meal of all meals!

The evening was going as normal, nothing out of the ordinary. I was still a bit stressed about the car since it was broke but I knew I could carpool with Diana and Katie to work for the next 3 days and not have to worry about driving. Around 9:30pm I went to the bathroom, after I got up I realized that I had a trickle. I thought I still needed to pee so I went back to the bathroom but the trickling kept coming. I yelled out to Dad who was working late, I think my water broke. He got very excited and was in disbelief, I was a bit worried and started to fret. I got back up again and the trickle continued. I didn't know if it was my water or not so I called Rachel across the street. She said if it keeps trickling it probably is my water so I waited a bit more and realized that it indeed kept trickling slowly so I called Labor & Delivery at the hospital. They said it sounds like it's my water and to make it to the hospital within a few hours. So everything that I thought about going into labor was wrong. It wasn't chaotic or stressful or dramatic like it is on the movies. The nurse said to take our time, take a shower, eat something, gather our things. So I did all of those things along with typing up 2 days worth of substitute plans!!

We made it to St. Vincent hospital around midnight and they took us to the “prove it” room to examine me and make sure it was indeed my water broke. Once it was confirmed they took me up to labor and delivery. I was still only 1 centimeter dilated and 50% effaced. The asked if I wanted petossin to speed up the delivery but I denied, they did give me something to soften my cervix which they said would take 12 hours...I thought I was in for a long labor!

The nurses up to this point were fabulous! The nurse that we had once we got into Labor & Delivery was not my favorite, she didn't see with it. Luckily she ended up leaving to another patient and we got a great nurse! Well...we didn't make it 12 hours. Not too long after I started to have contractions they started light and got much worse very quickly! The nurse checked me and I was 4 centimeters dilated. Only about 15 minutes later my pain got even worse, they checked me again and was 8 centimeters dilated. The room flood with a doctor and nurses, all I wanted to do was push and was in so much pain. I was given an epidural, the pain subsided and I went to sleep for a while.

When I woke up the nurse said I was ready to push this was about 10:15am on Wednesday, April 9th, 2008. This was not like I expected either. The nurse sat at the end of the bed and guided me though, it was just her, Dad and me! We called Teta and Gido, they were on the phone with us as you were being born. Once your head was almost out the doctor came in to deliver you. I thought you were going to be a boy, but at 11:25am they announced we had a baby girl! It was the most wonderful, exhilarating moment of both of our lives.

We called/texted everyone we knew to let them know the wonderful news. Adriana Marie Posko was born on Wednesday, April 9th at 11:25am, she was born 7 pounds 6 ounces and had a full head of hair! The next couple of days Dad and I stayed at the hospital with you!! You got to sleep in a bassinet in my room so we were with you all the time. We practiced feeding right away and you did pretty well. You spent a lot of time sleeping those first few days but also cried a lot. We learned how to change your diaper, swaddle you, soothe you the best we could among learning to be parents!

You had a few visitors in those first few days. Rachel and Beau were our first visitors and they brought us lots of yummy food to eat so we didn't have to eat the hospital food! What great neighbors!! Claire, John and Pheobe also visited us. We got ready to leave the hospital on Friday and our good friend Rachel picked us up because the Saturn was not working and we needed to get you home somehow!

Once we got you safe and sound at home we had things to do, we weren't totally ready for you since you came a week and a half early. Your Aunt Holly was coming into town that night and she was thrilled. She would be there through Monday then come back the following weekend. Your Teta came into town on Saturday and also couldn't wait to meet you, Teta stayed with us for 2 weeks helping with everything!!

From there the adventure began and everyday was filled with such wonderful things. You grew quickly and started to have your own personality (much like mine I suspect). The journey is still going...