Welcome Quinn Cogan Gallagher!

So maybe you've figured it out since I haven't posted in a week that maybe we had the baby...yay! Quinn Cogan Gallagher arrived on Friday July 31 and joined our loving family--we are overjoyed with is arrival. He weighed 8 pounds even and is 21 inches long.

So here's my story for those of you interested--mature audiences only please--Dad maybe you should go watch Oprah now. Last Thursday I had my 39 week appointment and everything was status quo from the week prior--actually the week prior to that as well. I was so sure that I would not make it to 40 weeks that I was shcoked that "nothing was going on", so I came home Thursday after the appointment all upset and anxious worried about when this little boy would arrive and where Dan would be and who would stay with Jack and Luke and would the delivery go smoothly etc....and complained and cried to everyone who would listen. If it was you, thanks for listening. I went to bed Thursday night feeling fine--went out shopping for about an hour and saw my pregnant friend Deana on Route 1 (we had a little conversation with each other at every red light) and just thought I would have to wait until next week and hope for some more encouraging news. I woke up at 7 AM on Friday morning to a little more fluid than usual and felt a little different but chalked it up to nerves. By 7:30, I thought otherwise. Dan was still getting ready for work and I asked him to just hang out for an hour b/c I was having some contractions. By 8Am I had 6-7 contractions so I decided I should keep walking around the house, took a shower, blew dry my hair (have to look good for pictures just in case today would be "the day"). We had tickets that morning for a 10:30 Blues Clues stage show for the boys which they were so excited about and I didn't want them to miss it so I asked Dan to take them there and I would call if something changed--figuring I would have a few hours of contractions before I would even call the Dr, well by 9 am --plans changed again, I called the Dr and explained the last 90 minutes and they said to head to Labor and Delivery, so we called Dan's parents who were now in charge of Blues Clues and we headed to Bryn Mawr a little before 10AM. I called my Mom and Dad at 9:15 to tell them we were heading to the hospital but not sure if they would admit me or not and right at that moment my water broke confirming that yes I would be admitted! When we got there at 10Am, I was 2 cm dilated and they hooked me up to the baby monitor. At 11AM they started fluids and a slow drip of Pitocin (which they also did with the boys and I respond very well to) and by 12:30, I was 5 cm dilated and had gotten an epidural. Praise God. I was not tolerating the pain a well as I had remembered with Jack and Luke despite their labor being a lot more intense with 2 kids trying to get out at the same time! Dan and I had a very peaceful afternoon and by 3:00, I was ready to go. The Dr and 2 nurses came in at 3:25, I pushed 3 times and at exactly 3:33, Quinn entered the world. I have to tell you about the most amazing Dr whom I have had the good fortune of having witness both of my deliveries. Dr. El-Mallah is an unbelievabley thorough, caring, compassionate Dr. who actually takes the time to listen to what you say, cry with you, reassure you and genuinely share in your birth experience. We were so amazed at the birth of Jack and Luke and what he did to make it the most amazing day of our lives that we believed it would never be any better--that the stars aligned that one day on June 25, 2005 at 3:13 for us to have a very unique (especially for twins) natural delivery. When we walked in on Friday mornning and saw his name on the Doctor board we almost fell over and I felt an enormous weight lifted off my shoulders. Let me digress and explain why....in Pennsylvania there is a shortage of Obstetricians who are leaving for other states where malpractice isn't as high and as a result many practices in our area pool together and share hospital hours. So you basically have about a 1 in 20 chance that you will even know the Dr. who delivers your baby. So for me to get someone in my practice is pretty amazing--let alone this one particular Doctor who probably has 1 24 hour shift a month. He told us he was on until 6PM, so I knew I had 8 hours to get things moving. The poor man was exhausted and had spent almost his entire shift in the OR. This time around when it was time for Quinn to enter the world, he took my hands and placed them under Quinn's underarms and let me deliver him and all he kept saying is "you're delivering your son". There were 2 nurses in the room--1 with 30+ years experience who cried at the birth. After the Dr walked out she said she was so moved by such a beautiful birth given the number of highly medicalized births that they see today. How lucky we are! I'm not sure what I've done to deserve such a beautiful experience and beautiful family but I can tell you that I am in constant thanks and amazed with joy and gratitude everyday of my life.

We were released from the hospital early Sunday morning and really didn't have any need to stay past 11AM so we headed home in a MONSOON--I have included pictures b/c it was one of the worst storms we have seen and little Quinn just slept the whole ride home and poor Daddy was soaked getting the car and getting all of us in the house.

Quinn is just amazing and the reaction from the boys is one we NEVER expected. They are so thrilled and proud to be big brothers--showing genuine emotion that we never thought possible from 4 year olds. They LOVE Quinn and are doing everything they can to "help". Luke yelled in from the kitchen today, "what can I do to help Mom?". And when I ask Jack to bring me something he responds, "Sure thing Mom or coming wight up". We couldn't be more proud of them and are amazed how much our hearts have grown in the last 72 hours. Quinn is 8 pounds of pure joy. He is an adorable, peaceful child and we are so thankful for another healthy beautiful son. More to follow.....but thank you from the bottom of hearts to all of you for your prayers, calls, emails, and support while we waited patiently (sort of) for our son to arrive.