November 8, 2009, 9:42pm

I had my 40 week check up on November 6, 2009 and for the 4th straight visit there was no change. I loved being pregnant but by this point I felt huge and uncomfortable and I was just ready to hold my little boy in arms and kiss his cute little face. I actually cried at the doctors because I was sure we had progressed and we were getting close to his birth. The doctor said that I would need a stress test the following week and at my next appointment they would schedule to induce me the following week! 2 more weeks! I was so upset. I guess my crying must have gotten to the doctor because about 2 hours after my appointment I received a call from the doctors office. They had scheduled my stress test for the 11th at 10am and they were going to induce me on the 12th at 12:15am. I was excited, nervous and a little sad that I was not going to go into labor on my own.

I actually went to work on the 7th to make sure that everything was in good shape since it looked like my last day would the 9th or 10th. After work I went to Renee's and we went for a nice long walk. She made me push Trevor up hill on the way back to her house. She was determined to "help" me go into labor on my own (I guess I whined to much). It worked at 5:15am on the November 8th my water broke and contractions started shortly after that. I called the doctor and he said that I had some time so take a shower, grab a bite to eat and head to the hospital. I was in no rush to get to the hospital I wanted to labor at home as long as possible. Finally at about 11am when Renee said your contraction are about a 3 minutes apart and lasting for at least 1 minute for over an hour we left for the hospital.

When we arrived and I gave my name the nurse said "Wow we have been expecting you for some time now." I said well the doctor said to take my time and so I did. The nurse said that normally means 2 hours maybe 3 not 6. We were able skip the prep and they put us straight into a room and put on the fetal monitor. Then the wait began. We watched football, (Raven's lost) we slept on and off but mostly just waited. Not too many people knew at this point because we wanted to have a few minutes with Chance after he was born before the visitors showed up. We had planned to tell right after Chance arrived. Just by stroke of luck, Jessica sent me a text saying that her and Terri were thinking of me and just wanted to check in. I sent the message back "we are in the hospital". I don't remember her exact reply but they thought I was just messing around and I told them no I was very serious. Terri said it figured I would have the baby when she was out of town.

Before I continue - let me fill you in on the schedule I was given by them for when Chance could not be born. Jess was getting married on October 10th so not before then, then she left for her honeymoon so not until after she got back a week later. Terri was heading to Vegas on the 11th or 12th November for her sons 21st birthday so it had to be before or after but not while she was gone. I don't think I ever got the memo about the overnight shopping trip to PA on the 7th and 8th or else I would have continued to accomodate their schedules. This was an ongoing joke the entire last 10 weeks of my pregnancy. I loved it - it kept me laughing and it was nice to have them so excited about the baby.

The day went on and on. Terri and Jess texted, Renee, my dad, Grammy Cass and Tucker's mom called all day, just waiting for the news. The doctor kept checking but Chance just would not move down. Dad and Grammy Cass showed up about 7 I think, I lost track of time. I was getting really nervous, they were increasing the patocin to try to get Chance moving and everytime they did his heart rate would drop. When they lowered the meds it came back up. I can not explain how very very scared I was that something bad was going to happen. I was actually put on oxygen to try to help calm me down. Finally just after 9 Dr. Michelle said that Chance did not seem to be moving downward at all so they wanted to do a c-section. I was so very releived to hear those words.

My C-section began at 9:12pm. They increased the epidoral (thank goodness I gave in and got it early in the day - instead of suffering all day and then ending up with it anyway). I had a bad reaction to the epidoral, I had the shakes terrible I actually thought I was having a ceasure. Tucker kept telling them I was cold because I was shaking so bad. They told him it was ok just a reaction and as soon as the baby was out they would reduce the meds and then give me something in recovery to take make it stop. The doctor finally came into the operating room about 9:25pm - she was waiting on the 2nd ob to arrive apparently when you have a c-section there has to be 2 in the room. I think they knew how scared we were because they kept joking around with us during the surgery.

FINALLY!!!!!!! Dr. Michelle announced Baby's out - IT's A BOY! Time of birth 9:42pm.

How we picked the name....

Tucker and I were on opposite ends of the world when it came to names. The only name we agreed on was Alexandria for a girl but of course we were not having a girl. Tucker liked Jude, Lennon, Ian or Liam, I don't remember which and I think I have blocked most of the others out. I liked Aiden, Trent, Kyle, Braidon, Dalton, and Dakota just to name a few. I was very concerned that we would not be able to come up with something we both liked or could at least agree on.


One Sunday night we were watching "The Tudors" a great series on the life of King Henry VIII starring Jonathan Rhys Meyers. In the series Henry Cavill plays Charles Brandon - Henry the VIII's best friend. During one scene Henry refers to him as Chance. We both looked at each other and just knew that was the name.


The name Chance has a lot of special meanings to me. 1st off he is my Chance on of a lifetime. 2nd Tucker and I are very different people but we took a Chance on each other and it definitely paid off. 3rd with my medical history and age the Chance of me having a baby was not very good. 4th God took a Chance on me by bringing this precious angel into my life. 5th it took Chance to make me feel like I was a part of a family and we are a family. We have our ups and downs just like everybody but Chance brought two people and two families together for the rest of time. I could go on and on - he is Charlotte's Chance to be a big sister, my sister's Chance to be an Aunt, Tucker's Chance to raise a son.......


Chance has two middle names. Tucker wanted to honor his grandfather and I wanted to honor my dad. Chance Robert Howard Schinner - Robert for my dad and Howard for Tucker's grandfather.


Now you know the story of his name.....

Trevor and the Grocery Store....

I have to share this story because it is one of my favorites. Trevor would go grocery shopping with me almost every weekend. He and I just spent a lot of time together. I was pretty far along in my pregnancy, Trevor was sitting in the shopping cart just talking away happy as any child could be. We were walking in the frozen foods isle and all of the sudden he grabs my shirt and pulls it out and looks down my shirt. Of course my natural reaction was to put my hand to my chest and say "Trevor" probably a little louder than I should have. His face immediately went to the you hurt my feelings ready to bust out in tears look. I said "it's ok baby but why did you pull Aunt Robbi's shirt out like that?" Are you ready for this - because I had tears running down my face from his response. "I WANTED TO SEE YOUR BABY!" There was an older lady coming towards us in the isle and of course she heard the whole thing and she was laughing, I was in hysterics and all I could do was hug him and tell him I loved him. I told him he would have better luck seeing the baby if he looked in my mouth and tried to see down my throat.

Pregnancy and Baby Showers...

I had no idea being pregnant would be as wonderful as it was. I loved being pregnant, of course that is probably because I was never sick and other than being tired at times, I felt great. I was a very happy prego. I remember the first time I knew for sure I was feeling Chance moving around. I was overwhelmed with emotion, that was probably the most incredible feeling I have ever felt. As I got further into the pregnancy I would just sit back in my chair and watch the show he put on in my belly. He had the hiccups a lot and several times I would get them too. I loved going to the doctors for peeks at him through the sonogram or just listening to his heartbeat at my regular appointments. This baby boy for the first time in my life showed me what pure true joy was. On one hand I could not wait to meet him but on the other I loved having him all to myself and with me all the time.



September brought the baby shower. My sister Renee and Ms. Cass had a very nice "family style" baby shower at the Ferndale Club for me. The theme was Mexican food. I love Mexican food so I was pretty excited. There were tons of presents for the baby. Chance was given over 60 outfits! Gifts came from far and near. Some were shipped from Nevada, West Virginia, Tennessee, California and Arizona. It was amazing to have so many people celebrating my little man. There was even a margarita fountain (I really wanted a margarita) but Penny hooked me up with virgin margaritas not the same but good! I am still not completely on board with the family style shower but it was an awesome day. Thank you to all who came or sent their love.

The 1st Sonogram - It's a.......

One week after my first doctors appointment I saw a specialist to have amnio done. Everything went beautifully and I walked out the door with pictures and a sealed envelop for Tucker and I to open telling us if it was boy or girl.....The email I sent and the first pictures of our baby are below.

Thank you all so much for your prayers and support. Yesterday was our sonogram and amnio testing. I am very happy to tell you that they were able to see the baby very clearly. He has his hands open in both pictures below. They were able to see the bone on the back of his head that if it is too thin is a strong predictor of downs and his was the perfect thickness. We should have his test results back priliminary in a few days and final results in 10 days. He is right on track with all of his growth.
I got to hear his heartbeat and of course that brought me to tears.
So if you have not figured it out yet – Below are two of the first pictures of our SON!

Comments from e-mail and facebook....

Oh Robbie, that is such good news!!! God, I’m sooooooooooooooooooooooooo happy for you It brought tears to my eyes to see the first pictures of your perfect son. Oh my God….I can’t wait……has the due date changed??? It’s so cool…..SO DAMNED COOL ROBBIE!!!!!!!! - Aunt Terri Kleinsmith

WOW!! I’m so happy for you Robin! The pictures are INCREDIBLE…it such a miracle don’t you think? - Patty Marek

YAY!!!!!!!!! Oh I'm so happy for you!! - Jessica Kleinsmith Palm

WOW!!!! A baby boy~ Congratulations, “Mom”! - Jean Werfel

Beautiful!! Just like his mama!! - Michelle Pasden Butticci

Amazing...beautiful...can't wait! Miss ya ~ ox - Kristin Brumbaugh

A week after this appointment we got the call that our baby boy was healthy. The 2nd best news I ever received...the 1st of course was finding out I was pregnant.

The starting of a blog for Chance......

A few friends of mine (Michelle and Monica) recommended that I keep a blog about Chance. Monica actually pushed for me to start while I was pregnant and Michelle closer to his birth. I wanted to and actually reserved the blog name during my pregnancy, now Chance is almost 18 months and I still have not started so here goes....



This blog is going to be the story of my son's life or the story of My Chance Of A Lifetime.



I always wanted to be a mom but it just never happened for me and right about the time I had accepted the fact that it just was not meant to be and I would just enjoy my nephews and watch them grow up....SURPRISE. I still remember the moment I took the test and it came up positive I was excited and scared to death. I looked at Tucker and said What are we going to do...he said "I guess we are going to have a baby" and so began our journey.



I called to set up a doctors appointment and they said they would not see me until I was 8 weeks along. I was only 4 by my calculations. So I waited for what seemed to be forever and finally the appointment came. I told the doctor my story and he did a sonogram and told me that I was further along then we thought. He needed to get a measurement of the baby's head to confirm, of course he had a hard time getting the baby to stay still to get the picture to do the measurement but eventually he did. He then said you are closer to 16 weeks. I was speechless and as you all know that does not happen very often to me. I truly had not idea what to say.



We had planned to announce the pregnancy at a Father's Day cookout but since I was much farther along than thought we needed to tell sooner. The reaction from everyone was pretty much the same, shock then excitement. My dad just stared at me with a half grin on his face and Ms. Cass yelled with excitement. I was very unsure of my dad's feelings about the pregnancy until I called Penny to tell her - of course Ms. Cass beat me to it but Penny told me that my dad had already called my Grandmother and was calling additional family members so I knew then that he was happy. My sister knew early on because I wanted to use her doctors and I had to tell Michelle because well just because we are close like that. I announced it to work in our weekly meeting right after Craig told everyone I had received a power of one award. I set up an e-mail to send out to tell several people at the same time. A copy of the e-mail is below along with some of responses. (The original had pictures and a lot of returns to space it out.)

Do you know who is coming to town in just 31 more weeks? Scroll down to find out-----


Yeah you guessed it SANTA CLAUS!


BUT THERE IS SOMEONE ELSE

Scroll down to find out who else is coming to town in 31 more weeks!

Yup you got it Rudolph will be pulling Santa’s Sleigh but this year they will be making an extra stop!! Can you guess where?

THIS YEAR AN EXTRA STOCKING WILL BE HUNG AT OUR HOUSE!

Tucker and I are having a baby!

Our estimated delivery date is November 10th

Of course you know how babies are so who knows when the actual arrival will be!

So did you guess correctly? Are you surprised? We were but we are very excited!

Wanna know if it is a boy or girl – then you guessed it HOLD YOUR BREATH AND SCROLL DOWN AGAIN!

We don’t know yet – sorry had to have a little fun with you – we will let you know when we find out!

Here are a few responses to the e-mail.


OMG!!!! CONGRATS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THATS SO EXCITING!!!!!!!!! :) OH I'M SO HAPPY FOR YOU ROBBIE!!!!!!!!!!!!! - Jessica Kleinsmith Palm

You are having a baby? Oh my oh my!!! Awesomeness for sure!!!!! WOW I am so so excited for you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! - Sonya Conn

OH MY GOD!!!! I’m crying and got chills!!! I couldn’t be happier, happier—YOU WILL BE THE BEST MOTHER THE WORLD HAS SEEN !!!! What a wonderful thing. God bless you both all three!!! You need ANYTHING, let me know. I just can’t stop smiling so big up here at the desk!!!! What wonderful news. - Becky Baugh

Wow, A Baby! How Cool Is That...Tommy and I send our congrats and hugs to the parents of this new blessing. - Aunt Sam Wengery


The reaction from everyone was wonderful and supportive. I have never been hugged, kissed or cried so much. I am tearing up just thinking about it.