The Velez Family Quiz!

The Velez Family Quiz

Now that Giana's here, many people are saying the baby looks more like Dad, or more like Mom, or a little bit of both.

Can you guess who's who?
Be sure to post your comments.

(Grandparents excluded from this quiz - sorry!)

Results will be posted during the week.

The Giana Renee Story!

The Giana Renee Story!

Finally - A moment to breathe!!! Aaaaahhhhhhh!!!
(but it won't last very long!)

I know many of you have been waiting to get the skinny on Giana's birth - considering the Strike and all, so here it goes...

It was around midnight, December 20, 2005 when Melissa and I were up watching New York 1 to see if the MTA Strike was going to go into effect. Since no announcement had been made, Melissa and I dozed off. Then at 2:30am Melissa started getting minor contractions around 5 -7 minutes apart. I turned on the TV and at around 3am the TWA announced the Strike was official and that all subway and buses were going to be docked until further notice. No cars would be allowed into the city unless the vehicle had a minimum of 4 passengers. By this time Melissa was contracting steadily for an hour, and we had a decision to make. We called our doctor and sure enough, he ordered us to get to the hospital (NYU Medical Center - Manhattan). With our bags packed and clothes laid-out for this moment, Melissa and I were ready to roll. We left the house at 4:15am.

We arrived at NYU at 5am. They put Melissa in the Triage Center to monitor her and the baby's heart rate. With Melissa only 2 centimeters dilated and contracting very sporadically, the nurses said that we might not be ready to give birth; and that we might have to go back home - with the Strike in effect and all. The nurses had Melissa walk around the nurse's station for an hour just to be monitored again. With no progress being made, Melissa walked around the nurses station for another hour. After 2 hours, the nurse tells us that our doctor is on the way and wants to monitor Melissa personally. When he shows up he finds that Melissa is about 3 - 4 centimeters dilated, but still contracting mildly. He suggested that he jump start the labor process by giving Melissa Pitocin to help her contract better. Within a few hours Melissa was contracting more intensely and longer by the second. It didn't take too long for her to scream for the Epidural. Once the Epidural was placed, Melissa got the relief she so longed for. The doctor checked her again and saw that she was dilating even more. She went from 4 centimeters to 6, to 8, 9 and by 4:30pm Melissa was 10 centimeters. She was ready to push.

Melissa had both legs cocked back - bearing down with every strong push. Giana's hair was poking through, but Melissa's pushes were not strong enough to pass Giana through the birth canal. With Giana's heart rate dropping a bit, the doctor grabbed hold of forceps and assisted Melissa with delivery. At 5: 19pm, Giana came into our world kicking and screaming for a half-an-hour straight. During the birthing process, Melissa tore a bit which required stitches. While she was being stitched, Giana laid crying in a warming table. Melissa and I were sobbing with joy. The nurses asked me to come over to cut the umbilical cord - which I did. After being stiched, Giana was placed in Melissa's arms. With tears of joy, Melissa cradled her daughter as Dad stood beside her in total amazement thanking God for the wonderful thing He had done for us.

Melissa stayed with the baby at NYU for 2 nights. By the time we were sent home, the Strike had been over. The doctor suggested we tell Giana that her birth stopped New York City for three days - and when Mommy and Daddy brought her home the city returned back to normal - which it did. Though we didn't get many visitors as a result of the strike, we were not affected by the Strike in any way - THANK GOD!!!

Big thanks to Grandmas Alex and Ivette for trooping it out with us at the hospital. I know 12 hours is a long time, but wasn't it all worth it? ;)

Here are some pictures of Giana and Family!

====================================================================



Melissa

Waiting to give birth.














Still waiting..........














Waiting............














And here she is.... Giana screaming at the top of her lungs.

Can you hear her?











Daddy cutting the umbilical chord.














Giana

Calming down after giving her lungs an intense workout.











Daddy holding Giana for the first time.
But of course she's still screaming.

Ohh what sweet sound! (Yeah right!!!)











Whaaaaaaaahhhhhh!!!














Two proud parents after delivery.

Perhaps I should have been laying next to Melissa too. I was pooped!










Giana

The morning after.












Giana and Grandma Alex

Fussing are we???












Giana

Somebody get me a comb.












Giana

Taking a nap.














Giana and Mommy

Mom's still lookin' HOT!











Giana and Daddy

Daddy's lookin' not so HOT!












Grandma Alex, Giana, and Dad














Grandma Sylvia and Giana














Giana and Tio Ronnie














Giana
At home - sleeping in her Papasan swing.
She loves that thing! and so do we!!!












Giana

Peeking out a bit.












Grandpa George, Giana, and Daddy














Grandmas Alex and Ivette and Giana

At home - Christmas Eve.












Giana

Being nosey - just like her mom.












Mommy and Giana

Having a bonding moment.












Daddy and Giana

Daddy's gotta bond too.












Mommy and Giana

On Christmas Day












Giana

Counting sheep.












Giana and Mommy














Giana

and her favorite bib.

rather... my favorite bib.
====================================================================

I will continue to post more photos so be sure to check back frequently.

Velez Family!

Introducing..... Giana Renee Velez!!!

Our baby Giana Renee was born on 12/20/2005, at 5:19pm - weighing-in at 7lb 13.2oz. She came into this world screaming at the top of her lungs - and to Melissa and I - that sound was the sweetest sound we have ever heard (ask us again in about a week!).

She is sooo alert, strong, and beautiful - we couldn't be more pleased with how things turned out.

I will post more details about the delivery and our experience with the STRIKE! Though we are all doing fine... Mommy and Daddy's gotta get some rest!

Stay tuned!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We're Almost There !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Due date: 12/24/05!

It’s the beginning of December and you can only imagine how excited, emotional, and crazed we feel! After going through 8 months of pregnancy, we have finally come into our 9^th month. At this point Giana is moving around like a ship tossed at sea; and Melissa’s belly makes waves like the Atlantic. It’s really weird… but we’re loving every minute of it.

This whole pregnancy thing has been quite the trip. From finding out we were pregnant, to seeing the baby’s heartbeat, to facing the fibroids, to finding out the sex, to feeling the baby kick, to seeing my wife grow, to the baby-shower, to painting the room, to organizing the house, to the Lamaze classes, and now to the final minutes of waiting… we’ve have gone through quite a bit this year, but we’re ready! We’ve got the suitcase packed, the car seat installed, the camera batteries charged, and everything else needed for our trip to the hospital.

As you can imagine… it all has been one emotional rollercoaster. But even so, we feel so blessed to be in a position to feel this way because “unfortunately” so many people do not (and I cannot fathom the idea how one could not). This experience has revealed to me the true miracle of life and the graciousness of God for expressing his love to us through childbirth. I have learned so much about myself, my wife, and the baby in the span of 9 months. We have learned to experience love in a whole new way… and it feels great! I wish I could feel this high all the time! Even knowing that there will be sleepless nights and dirty pampers to change - Melissa and I look forward to it all.

I will post more news and pictures as soon as Giana slides home.

Please keep us in prayer for a smooth delivery… I know my wife has been through a lot! Thx!

Stay tuned……….