Here she is, our precious Sydney, just hours old.  I will take you through chronologically how Saturday March 23rd  and Sunday March 24th went.  Let me tell you, it was the happiest, most proud experience of my life!

Saturday March 23, 2002

- 5:30am.  Carole's parents leave their Michigan home en route for the hospital in Ajax.
- 7:25am.  Cliff, Carole and Amanda leave to pick up Cliff's mom.  We picked up some coffee for a long day ahead!
- 7:55am.  We arrive at the hospital and get sent to delivery room number six.
- 9:50am.  The doctor applies the gel that's supposed to help the cervix dilate.  Mom can not get out of bed for one full hour.  After that she can walk around the hospital to try and help the dilation process.
- 10:45am.  Carole's parents arrive at the hospital.
- 11:00am.  Carole's parents and Cliff walk with Carole for an hour.  We pick up lunch at the cafeteria.
- 12 noon.   Back to the room for a check on baby's heart rate and mom's blood pressure.  Both are normal.  Continued to walk for the next 2 hours.
- 2:00pm.  Back to the room for a check on baby's heart rate and mom's blood pressure.  Both are normal again.
- 3:10pm.  Doctor checks progess on dilation and finds that there has been no progress.  He applies another dose of gel. Carole must lie in bed for one full hour again.  Contractions begin to register on the monitor.
- 4:45pm.  Family leaves hospital for dinner.  Cliff has a slice of pizza and stays with Carole.
- 5:10pm.  Baby's heart rate is normal as is Carole's blood pressure.  Contractions get even stronger!  Carole walks yet again and must now stop when contractions begin.
- 6:30pm.  Doctor does another internal and says she's now only 4cm dilated and 70% effaced.
- 7:10pm.  Carole's good friend arrives at the hospital for short visit and brings magazines and food.
- 7:25pm.  Carole sits in a hot tub until 7:50pm.  Doesn't do much for relief from contracations, but it helps her relax between them.
- 7:50pm.  Nurse inserts IV to keep Carole hydrated.
- 8:00pm.  Carole and Cliff venture off on our last walk of the night.  Contractions are much stronger!
- 8:15pm.  The epidural is administered and the grimaces of contractions are replaced with a wide smile of relief.
- 8:40pm.  Good friend calls Carole to get update.
- 9:45pm.  Carole's parents, Cliff's mom, and Amanda leave for the night.
- 10:10pm.  Cliff finally eats some dinner and watches the Toronto Maples Leafs defeat Buffalo 2-0.

Sunday March 24, 2002
- 12:00 Midnight - Doctor comes back for internal and sees NO improvement in dilation.  Carole is still at 4cm.  Doctor breaks the water.  Pitocin is inserted into the IV line to help induce contractions even more in hopes of further cervix dilation. Baby's heart, mom's blood pressure, and strength of contractions are monitored.  Contractions begin to peak, but of course Carole cant feel them.  Doctor attaches an internal heart monitor to Sydney's head  and Carole's blood pressure is taken every 30 minutes.  Doctor tells Carole to get some sleep. (yeh right....with the blood pressure readings every half hour??)  He'll be back in the morning.
- 4:00am.  Nurse checks Carole and she is FULLY dilated!  Cervix has a small lip that still must clear.
- 6:00am.  Cliff calls for his mom, Amanda and Carole's parents to return to the hospital...and FAST!
- 6:15am.  Nurse checks Carole agagin and the lip in the cervix is gone.
- 6:25am.  Family arrives back at the hospital.
- 6:35am.  Carole begins pushing!!
- 7:35am.  Doctor arrives and he assesses the situation.
- 7:57am.  With the help of a vacuum, Sydney is born!!!

There have been people from all over the world who have been following Sydney's progress over the past 40 weeks on this website.  Thank you for stopping by and filling our guestbook with kind words, blessings, and encouragement.