Now, I know I gave a short version of how Charlie Mack was born. However, here is a little more detail on how we were blessed with such a sweet baby boy!
As most of you know, our baby boy Suchecki#2 was due March 17th. From the beginning I was dead set on him coming early. Jack was 9 days early, so why not the second one come early too. I had high hopes. At the last few dr. appointments, I had made little progress. Dilated to a 2. Cervix was not thinning out much. My dr. did not want to induce before the due date because at that time my cervix was not inducible. The week of the due date, my doctor finally told me that she would induce during the 41st week if he did not come on his own. So March 17th came and went. I never knew I wanted a St. Patrick's Day baby so bad!! :) I was just READY to not be pregnant anymore. So at my last dr. appointment, she said March 21st sounded like a GREAT day to have a baby (unless he came on his own before). We were to call the hospital at 6:00 in the am to find out 1. what time to be at the hospital or 2. what time to call back. So there was a chance that there wouldn't be room for us at the hospital. Talk about heartbreak!! At this point, I had no expectations and my hopes were not high at all.
So Sunday night, we double check to make sure all our bags are packed. Jack has his things ready for Grandpa and GG's house. I set my alarm for 5:45 so I can wake up to call the hospital. I was pretty sure they were going to tell me to call back at a certain time. However, that morning, I get up and make the call. The nurse on the other line says, "Can you be here at 7:15?" Then it hit me... we were going to have a baby today! I woke up John and we loaded everything and everybody in the car and headed to the hospital.
Once we got there, we met up with GG and Grandpa so they could take Jack Attack back to their house. Then we went to the labor and delivery floor where our room was waiting for us. I really thought there might not be room for us. I was getting excited!! We were going to get to meet our sweet baby boy today! I really couldn't wait to see what he looked like.
Around 8:30, they started the pitocin. By the way, I LOVED my nurse. Her name was Maria and she was just so stinking sweet! My doctor came around to check on me around 10:00 and I had dilated a little more and was about 50% effaced. They decided to go ahead and break my water. Maria told me that I should start feeling more intense contractions now. And boy was she right... immediately I could tell a difference in my contractions. By 11:00 I was ready for my epidural. No need to feel those extremely painful and intense contractions if I didn't have to. :)
Around 1:30 Maria asked me what type of pressure I was feeling. When I described it, she decided to check me again. She was like, alright, you're dilated to a 10. It's time to start pushing. Maria called for my doctor. While waiting for her, we decided to go for round 1 of pushing. During round 1, immediately Maria had different look on her face. She gave me the oxygen masked and made me turn on my side. My doctor walked in the door. She said, "Alright, Kari, let's push again. You are having a baby today!"
During the second round of pushes, my doctor had the same look on her face as Maria. She said the baby's heart rate had dropped and we needed to get him out right now. She immediately said we are going to an OR. My first thought was, I do not want a C-section. My doctor looked at me and said, "Once we get to the OR, we are going to get his heart rate regulated and we are going to push again." Inside I was freaking out. However, I had to tell myself that I cannot get worked up. If I get worked up then there goes my blood pressure, my heart rate, etc. How will that affect the baby? So I remained calm as they rolled me to the OR. In the mean time, John got to dress up in some scrubs!
As we got into the OR, they hook up the monitors to check mine and baby's heart rate, etc. His heart rate was back to normal. However they had me in the most awkward position. At that point, I did not care. I just wanted to meet my sweet boy. Once we got set up in the OR, we started pushing again. I continued to remain calm and focused on pushing this baby out. I was determined to deliver him if I had any control of the situation. After about 5 rounds of pushes, at 2:11 p.m. Charles Barney Mack Suchecki "Charlie Mack" was born! Come to find out, the umbilical cord was wrapped around his neck and when I pushed that was causing his heart rate to go down as the cord was being pulled tighter. Poor guy!!!
Charlie Mack weighed in at 7 lb. 10 oz. and measured 19 3/4 inches long. He was born with blonde hair and green eyes. (His eyes now look green, blue and grey at times. Just like his Daddy's). He is a great eater! He loves to cuddle and be close to his parents. He is tolerating Jack at this point. Jack loves to give him kisses, point to his eyes, grab his hands, etc. I swear we've said gentle, soft, etc. a million times already. :) But Jack overall is doing great with his baby brother.
Since we were moved into the OR, we don't have any pictures of him right after he was born. John always mentions that the second born doesn't get their pictures taken as often as the first child did. He swears there's about a 5 year span (the first 5 of his life) where there are no pictures of him. :) But as soon as we got back to our room, the camera came out. Thanks to Maria, she was able to take Charlie's first picture with his parents.
Now that we are home, we are just soaking up this time off that we have together. John has taken Jack to the zoo, stores, etc. to keep him from getting too bored. We did have to relocate to John's parents over the weekend, as we had an infestation of fleas all of a sudden. Thankfully that problem has been fixed and we are back home.
More to come!!
Bait boy
Reaching in for another one.
Daddy and the birthday boy.
We eventually got tired and needed a nap.
Jack was so cute. After they got back, he was still talking about fishing with Daddy. I know he will have so much fun each time he goes with his Daddy!
You can tell he is tired here.
Everyone singing happy birthday.
After opening presents and eating cake, Jack and his cousins went for an Easter egg hunt in the backyard. Jack lasted just a few minutes and then he wanted to be held again.
Joshua helping Jack out.
Elliot on the hunt
Luke on the go for some eggs.
Even John found some eggs.
Daddy and Charlie Mack
Attempting to get a picture of the two youngest Sucheckis.
Cousin Michael. I LOVE this kiddo. 
Grandaddy and Charlie Mack. (Obviously the wrong setting, but still a cute picture)
