Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Emily June - 1 Month Old


Today marks the day that Emily has been with us for one month. I have to say it has been an incredible month, filled with some of the greatest moments of our lives. I have learned a ton as a new dad, and can only say that fatherhood is highly recommended...


Maureen is doing great. She is recovering very nicely from her surgery, and is enjoying her days at home with Emily.

One thing about Emily, is she has her nights and days mixed up. She sleeps plenty during the day, but when it comes time for bed, she decides to try to stay awake and be cranky. Maureen is great at calming her down, but for the last few nights, the only way she would fall asleep was sleeping on mommy's chest. Waking up to the two of them asleep is one of the cutest things I have ever seen.

Anyways, here are some pictures for you!!!






















On another note, my cousin Lisa and her husband, my good friend Matt, welcomed their new daughter to the world on March 12th, Emma Lily Hershberger, a happy healthy little girl who looks just like her daddy!!!

Monday, March 3, 2008

Emily June Franchi



We are excited to announce the birth of our beautiful daughter Emily June Franchi. Emily June joined our family at 2:52 AM on February 25.

Weight: 8 lbs, 10 ozs
Length: 20 1/2 inches

Maureen woke me up at 2 AM, early Sunday morning to let me know that Emily was getting ready to join the family. (Mind you, we did not know her name or that she was a little girl at the time) Our Doctor instructed us to head to the hospital at around 5 AM. Its hard to put into words how excited and nervous we were.

We shot out some quick phone calls and text messages once we had officially been admitted. Maureen was cool as a cucumber through the entire process. She never complained, she never expressed worry, and contrary to what I was told would happen, she never snapped on me and blamed all of her pain on me while swearing at the top of her breath. She was calm and collected. After about 14 or 15 hours, she finally accepted some pain medication. And it wasn't until closer to 18 or 19 hours that she finally accepted the Epidural. Maureen was a trooper through and through.

Several family members waiting anxiously in the waiting room. People spilled out into the hallway and were sitting on the floor. We had several nurses tell us that when they got to the hospital to start their shift, they thought that they were as busy as they had ever seen the place, but later found out that all the people in the waiting room were there for one little baby...

Maureen and Emily waited out 4 nurse shift changes during the 25 hour labor. As midnight approached, we joked that Emily was waiting to make it to the 25th of the month, so she could share that day with Mom and dad (Mom = August 25th, Dad = March 25th, Emily = Feb 25th) During the last hour, at around 2 AM, several factors started to put Mommy and baby in danger, and our Doctor called for a Cesarean section. I was soooooo nervous, but Maureen accepted the news with the mentality that....'I am going to get to meet my child within the hour, and I can't wait'.



Maureen was prepped and moved to the OR, and we waited behind a sheet chatting and anxiously waiting for the baby to be there. a doctor tapped me and said to stand up and look, and just as I did, there came little Emily.

We spent a few nights in the hospital, where I was fortunate enough to have a bed. We arrived at the hospital very early Sunday morning, and made it home late Wednesday night.

We have had so much support, help, and love from all of our friends and family, and we cannot say enough how loved we and our little daughter feel. Its a beautiful thing to know Emily June will have so much love and support in her life. We thank you all from the bottom of our hearts.

That is the begining of the story of our family. Emily is doing great, her doctor visit the other day was perfect, she is eating and sleeping like a champ. Mommy and baby are doing great...and we can't wait to see you all soon.