March 5

I didn't take too many pictures yesterday and was thinking that I would stop posting to this blog, but since several people have asked for more pictures, I will post a little longer. I'm sure everyone's interest in the minutia of Collin's activities will wan a lot sooner than ours. But for now, you can see more pictures at http://picasaweb.google.com/joes1267/CollinSFirstDay?authkey=Gv1sRgCJ-JxtXl8pu5ngE&feat=directlink

I'll take some more today.

March 4 - 10:34 am

For more pictures of the baby, see http://picasaweb.google.com/joes1267/CollinSBirth?authkey=Gv1sRgCMjLgZ-ni9CWfw&feat=directlink

March 4 - 4:53 am

After 12 hours of labor and tremendous pain and effort by Ginny (not to mention the fact that I had to skip dinner), Collin still did not want to come home. So at 11:54, we took our first stand as parents and decided that we would forcibly bring him home. Ginny would have a c-section. Collin was born at 12:55 am on March 4, 2009.

Siobhan was with us the entire time, took Collin out of the doctor's hands and took great care of him.

Mom and baby are doing great.

5 lbs., 13 oz.

Corey, Chantelle and LeeAnna are thrilled.

As are grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins.

Thanks to everyone who wished us well.

March 3 - 11.27

Still in labor.
Joseph F. Sullivan
Sullivan & Brill, LLP
Trinity Center
115 Broadway, 17 Fl
New York, NY 10006
(212) 566-1000

March 3 - 8.12 pm

Still in labor. 3-4 cm.
Joseph F. Sullivan
Sullivan & Brill, LLP
Trinity Center
115 Broadway, 17 Fl
New York, NY 10006
(212) 566-1000

March 3 - 4.30

Still in labor. 3 centermeters dialated.
Joseph F. Sullivan
Sullivan & Brill, LLP
Trinity Center
115 Broadway, 17 Fl
New York, NY 10006
(212) 566-1000

March 3 - 11:05 am

Thanks for the well wishes. We are up in L&D and have seen the doctor. She has done some things to advance labor. Still not sure when it will come, but now it appears that it will be later than 2:00 pm, maybe more toward dinner time.

March 3 - 8:03 am

They are forecasting strong tailwinds, and we may make up some time. It looks like we will be going up to labor and delivery shortly. ETA: 2:00 pm (my very rough estimate).

March 3 - 7:05 am

Inbound flight has been delayed due to storm conditions. The runway has been cleared and contractions through the night, but still only 1 cm dilated. Doctors are considering more aggressive measures to accelerate labor. ETA may be pushed back as much as 12 hours. More information will be provided as it becomes available.

March 2 - 1:42 pm

While Ginny's doctors plan on moving forward, they have decided to hold off on beginning measures until dinner time because they expect her to be moved to labor and delivery about 12 hours later and don't want that to be in the middle of the night. Now, they plan on beginning inducement at dinner time and expect that we will be transferred to labor and delivery in the morning.

March 2 - 11:22 am

Since some of you are getting jealous about all the attention that Maya is getting, I would like to acknowledge the contributions of some others:

Maureen. You have graciously taken LeeAnna on two out of state-of-state cheer tournaments and have made the ultimate sacrifice of not getting inebriated. LeeAnna would not tolerate it. Your selflessness will be repaid with a cheap bottle of wine (gallon jug).

Uncle Warren . . . Oh, you haven't made a contribution. Well, let us know if there is anything else we can do for you.

We have not officially meet with Ginny's doctors, but they have decided to move things along because they are concerned about her blood pressure readings. They will start that process in a couple of hours, but it will probably still be 12 to 24 hours before the delivery.

March 2 - 7:11 am

Maya slept better last night. She is still a little sniffily and her whole family is pulling together to get her through this difficult time. In fact, Steve's mother-in-law may be coming to stay with them. With the support of family, friends and community, they will get through this.


Oh yeah, Ginny's doing OK too. In spite of the barametric pressure, Collin has not arrived yet. Ginny has contracted fairly consistantly through the night, but there has not been a significant increase in frequency, duration or intensity. We still expect to meet with Ginny's doctors today, and I suppose they will still consider inducing. Her BP has been consistantly higher, but not extreme. However, given that things are begining naturally, they may just let them run their course. LeeAnna will be arguing against intervention because she wants to make sure she gets an extra day off from school and today she has a snow day.

March 1 - 7:32 pm

No significant changes. Contractions continue and doctors do not plan on doing anything to stop them. Aunt ME is Pat's sister so there is an obvious bias in what she says. I'm still not convinced there is a scientific rational for Pat's claims. Nevertheless, I have brought up my birthing outfit and am prepared to stay the night.

Grandma Lu arrived last night and made a sauce today. Last night she asked me to come over to Michael's to eat. I told her thanks, but I was going to stay at the hospital. A half-hour later she asked me again. Sorry Mom, no changes in the last half-hour. So now she is on her way with two bowls of macaroni. Collin's last inutero meal may be the famous DeLorenzo sauce.

Since Steve is obviously feeling uncomfortable about the amount of attention my family is getting, over his, I will update everyone on Maya's condition. Maya has come down with a cold, but her fluid intake has been good over the last two hours, she ate some oatmeal, and she appears to be on the mend. We all wish her well.

March 1 - Day 23 2:07 pm - Commencement of Labor

Ginny has been having contractions since 9:00 am, fairly regular and slightly stronger than on previous days. She was seen by one of her doctors earlier and it appears that she is in the early stages of labor. We don't expect it to be before midnight, but it could be late into the night or tomorrow.

Pat says that it is a "fact" that more babies are born during snow storms, but when she was pressed for the foundation of her claim, it appears to be based solely on her own experience - two children. Perhaps a third will strengthen her position.

Febuary 28 - Day 22

Lots of "excitement" on Friday. I wheeled Ginny outside and around the hospital in a wheelchair. It was the first time she was out of the room in three weeks, other then our trip to labor and delivery last Friday (see February 21 post). We also got a tour of the neonatal intensive care unit, although we are hopeful that we will not need it. It was amazing to see some of the smallest babies. They were as small as a coffee can and looked like little dolls.

Ginny is about 35 weeks now. Her blood pressures have been a little higher - even at rest - and we will be meeting with her doctors on Monday to discuss delivering the baby, possibly Tuesday or Wednesday. He appears to be well developed and was over five pounds as of Tuesday. Given his size, I think he will still be a lightweight, but having already received a dose of steroids, I think he will be unusually strong, giving him an edge over "other kids" (Cody) his size. (This is wrestling talk for those that are not following.)

Collin still has not decided if he wants to wrestle, but he seems to be leaning in that direction, in spite of pressure from his sister to cheer. It doesn't appear that he will be big enough to base and I have yet to see a male flyer, so I think wrestling will probably win out. Plus, Corey has firmly lined up on the side of wrestling and refuses to allow his little brother to be a "cheerleader". There is an ongoing debate between Corey and LeeAnna as to which sport is more demanding.

PS: Congratulations to LeeAnna and her teams on three first place finishes in her competition in Rhode Island yesterday.

Febuary 26 - Day 20

Nothing too significant to report over the last two days. The slightest activity leads to a spike in blood pressure., so practically confined to a lying down position. Very uncomfortable. The protein level had a significant jump and the doctors seem to think that given the increase it is likely to continue to increase at an even more rapid pace. They will be checking the protein level again within the next couple of days. I know this was a boring post. I'm tired. Maybe I'll have better material tomorrow.

February 24 - Day 18

Had the Internet been working here at the hospital today, I might have had this post up earlier. I'm not pointing any fingers. Steve, can we count on having a signal when Ginny delivers or should I make sure I have my wireless card?


Mostly status quo today. Protein level has increased to 417, but doctors still are not concerned. Its seems that even at 500 they will not induce labor, unless there are other worrisome symptoms. Siobhan (Ginny's BF and a neonatal nurse practitioner here a Stony Brook) says she delivered a baby whose mom had a protein level of 1200. BP and other preeclampsia symptoms have been stable. Some contractions, but nothing too strong or regular. The MRI of the brain came back "normal". The radiologist says brain density is consistent with observed stubbornness and not indicative of "abnormal" pathology. There is nothing he can do. I'm seeking a second opinion.


Ginny has been made a little more comfortable thanks to two big pillows and a steak dinner compliments of Aunt Marion. Still, she is eager to get out of here. Apparently, Collin is eager to get out as well:









"Let me out of here"

February 23 - Day 17

Nothing exciting since Friday night. Today Ginny's BP readings remained in the 150s over high 80s, except when she was active. Active now means sitting up in bed, so she tries to remain lying down as much as possible. Tomorrow, we should get another protein level, which measures how well the kidneys are functioning. Prior to admission her levels were about 150, upon admission there were about 320 and have remained at that level. So long as they are under 500, her doctors are not alarmed, but would prefer to see the level stay where it is now.

Least anyone thinks that Ginny has staged an elaborate ruse to secure a sorely needed vacation, below are some pictures of Collin. This is his head.

It seemed large, and I suggested that he might take after me. Then we got a clear picture of his foot, and the doctors were amazed at its size. Ginny became resolute that he is going to take after her.

Although LeeAnna continues to hold out hope that he is actually a she, the picture below seems to answer that question once and for all.

A measure of either her persistance or capacity for denial, even after seeing the picture LeeAnna remains optimistic that Collin will somehow come out Lillian.

Apology/Explanation

It has come to my attention that my attempt at humor in my original post may not have come through on the written page. I did not mean to discourage anyone from calling me or Ginny and am sorry if I caused anyone to feel that way or hurt any one's feelings. We do appreciate every one's concern and I thought the blog might be a fun way to keep people even more informed. Please continue to call and visit and I will be more careful about how I write. Sorry.

2-21-09: Welcome to the Sullivan Family Blog

Welcome to our new blog. I got the idea to start this blog because so many family and friends are concerned about how Ginny is doing. I thought I would put a post up each night on how she is doing. Here is the first (which would have gone up last night, but for the controversy (see today's post)):


Two weeks ago, Ginny was hospitalized because her doctors diagnosed her with mild preeclampsia, which is a condition characterized by high blood pressure. It could remain "mild" or become "severe", either gradually or suddenly and quickly. The doctors can not predict if or when it will accelerate. If it does accelerate, her blood pressure could go dangerously high and lead to stroke or seizure. The only "cure" is to deliver the baby, Collin.


Because her blood pressure rises upon any activity and because the condition is unpredictable, the doctors have been reluctant to send her home. Right after she was admitted, she was given steroid injections to develop the baby's lungs in case he had to be delivered early. There are no negative side effects to baby or mom.


Since then, her preeclampsia symptoms have been stable, suggesting that she might remain mildly preeclamptic. Thus, yesterday, her doctors were going to release her. However, she developed a severe head ache in the morning, which got progressively worse to the point that by 4:00 pm, it was bordering on the most severe headache she had ever had. As headache and visual disturbances are also a symptoms of preeclampsia, the doctors changed their minds about releasing her. Then, at about 8:00 her blood pressure spiked to 185/107, and a nurse suddenly came in and told us we were going up to labor and delivery. Ostensibly, it was so she could get IV medication to reduce her blood pressure, but it also appeared that if they couldn't bring it down, they were going to deliver the baby.


Once up in L&D, her blood pressure came down, without medication, and after a couple of hours of monitoring, we were returned to her room. They did, however, decide to do an MRI of her head to rule out potential other causes for her headache. She had that today. The results are not "officially" in, but our "source" tells us they are negative. Her headache was back to baseline today (2 on scale of 1 to 10) and her BP was down to what it has been, generally 150-160s over 80-90s.


So for now, it looks like Ginny will remain confined to her hospital bed until Collin makes his appearance. She is bored, but can not read or use the computer much because of the headache and visual impairment. Strangely, however, this does not seem to have impaired her ability to shop online.


Until tomorrow.