My Life Has Changed!!!

***Warning: This Is A Long Post***

To all my fans...SORRY for the absolute lack of posts. I suck. I triple dog suck. I have been wanting to post but like RevRock I haven't really wanted to post lately. But due to some life situations I feel it a must to inform and educate you all as to why my life has changed...I AM A FREAKN RICAN DAD!!!

Many of you have seen my initial post that Audrey Lane Rodriguez (Audrigo...thanks for the nickname Mr. TheEpic) was born on Monday, February 25, 2008 at 12:06pm and I haven't been the same since.

Holly was in labor for 32 hours straight with some nice strong contractions. She started her contractions 4:00am on Sunday and they just got stronger as time went on. We went in to Kaiser at around 9:oopm and the contractions just got stronger. Mind you Holly hasn't really slept because even at 4am, her contractions were waking her up every 15mins. She finally got an Epidural and that helped her so much.

Now Audrey was 6.1 lbs and 19 inches long. Even without that information I think the staff knew, and I kind of new that Audrey was probably coming into this world via C-Section. However, that did not stop the staff from being the best staff ever, allowing Holly to give it her all. They exhausted every avenue in trying to have a vaginal delivery. They were so accommodating and understanding. Holly was determined and focused and I am so proud of her for it. After 3 hours of pushing, the staff, Holly, and I came to the decision of a C-Section; 20 mins later Audrey was born. It was completly surreal to hear the cry of God's creation for the first time.

Because Audrey was stuck for 3 hours, she came out with some good looking Caput (Cone Head). So weird...so very weird, that is all I could think. As a student nurse I was pulled in so many directions because I knew the procedure inside and out so I was paying attention to that as well as the Nurse Anesthetist (that is what I want to be) and looking at my baby girl. My senses were on complete overload. It was great!

Even now as I remember everything that went on, I don't have words to describe it all.

We stayed in the hospital for 2 days (standard for a C-Section). That sucked because I had to sleep on a convertible arm chair meant for people who are 5-5. Not only that but we didn't get a room by ourselves. For some reason, everybody in Riverside decided to get a Sinus Infection (this turned into Pneumonia for most people) so they took over the overflow section that was meant for Postpartum patients. But it didn't matter because most of our time was spent learning about Breast Feeding from the Lactation Nurse, or just waiting for Holly to pass gas (passing gas is the official get out of jail card in a hospital).

Holly, of course, recovered at a ridiculous pace. The doctor and nurses were amazed. When they asked if she wanted pain meds she said she didn't need it, she wasn't in pain; mouths dropped. When she started walking around the unit just 6 hours after her surgery, mouths dropped. Pretty much she did a two day recovery in 3/4 of a day.

Going home was another weird feeling. I was going home with a child...my child...forever...?!?

The last two weeks have been such a learning process without sleep. But I wouldn't change it for the world. Audrey has already grown so much, it's ridiculous. She has started to smile and we talk every morning as to what we are going to do today. I usually tell her I'm going to school. She just looks at me.

So what do I get out of this besides a beautiful daughter...more lessons on life and love and a bit more of God's personality. I have prayed every day that God would reveal more of his idea of love, his church, and any other lesson He can teach me. So far he hasn't disappointed.

Well this concludes a seriously long post. I need to blog more I know. It keeps my posts down to a manageable size I know.

More about what is going on at ThePuertoRicanSlant to come...stay tuned!!! Here are some more pictures of the miracle...

3 Generations First Bath She hates being changed...then loves it!













Seriously though...I did not teach her to do this. We were taking pictures last night and this happened...the funniest thing ever!!!