On Tuesday the 13th we dropped the kids off at my parents house for a sleepover since we had to be at the hospital at 5:30am. If you know me you know I hate waking up early (think before 9am) but this day I was up and showering by 4:30am. We showed up to the hospital, registered, and headed up to labor and delivery. We weren't in there more than 36 seconds before we heard another woman screaming through her delivery and at that point I was so happy to be having a repeat c-section. We actually heard 2 woman that morning having their babies and Jim and I were terrified having never experienced any of that.
So they got me all hooked up to be monitored and started my IV. We hung out for a while and about 45 minutes before go time I started to panic. Normal panic before "holy crap we are having a third baby but not before they gut me like a fish to take her out." You know?? The normal kind of crazy. Somehow the time came, even though it felt like the seconds were taking years, and they had me walk back to the OR. This was the first time I walked to my c-sections and seeing the whole room was crazy weird. It was like a super bright white scene from a Saw movie. I was SCARED!! They got my spinal started, more panic ensued, and then they laid me down. This is where I started to lose my shit. I was crying and felt so alone and scared. I thought I was going to get sick so I kept asking for more drugs, which at this point I am thinking they weren't even giving to me. I was also freezing so they put some space suit heater bag around me which pinned my arms down. Finally at the very last second Jim came in and I felt much better with him there. After who even knows how long... maybe 10ish minutes and no warning whatsoever... out she came screaming. I don't mean normal baby cries, I mean ear peircing screams the nurses said they hadn't heard so loud in a long time. Unfortunately the baby warmer station was down by my feet so I couldn't see them checking her out but Jim went to see her. At that point I stopped crying and cursing at my OB and just enjoyed the weight that literally was just lifted off of me. After a few minutes they brought her over to me to hold but since my arms were held down I couldn't. And laying flat on an operating table isn't the easiest way to view your new baby. After a minute or two they took her to the nursery and Jim went along with her. I just laid there listening to the OB chatter on about nothing special and learned there was actually a student sewing me back up. And then the nurse came in to tell me how big she was. Now when they first held her up and showed her to me I commented on how small she was. They insisted she was a big baby and sure enough she was 7lbs. 12oz. Apparently when Jim heard this weight he and I had the same exact response "no way, that's so small!!" I guess when your other two kids were nearly 9lbs you are used to beefcakes. And her head was tiny too, not like when they pulled Harper out and the doctor yelled "wow, that's a big head!!"
They finished putting me back together (such a bizarro experience that is each time) and wheeled me back to my recovery room. I think Jim was there waiting for me when I got there but I don't remember. He had gone with the baby but once they did the initial assesments sent him out and said they would bring her to me once I was out of surgery. Expect they didn't. She was born at 8:01am and I didn't see her until after 10:30am. I was a bit annoyed by this fact but took the time to enjoy my ice chips and apple juice. If she were my first baby I probably would have been distraught.
At this point though we were still unsure of her name and feeling the pressure to announce her arrival. When we were pregnant with Harper we ended up with 3 names on our final list... Harper, Reese, and Emerson. We ended up using Harper Reese (obviously) so naturally we should have just picked Emerson. But I just could NOT commit. I hate being the one to pick the name because if I end up not liking it I want to be able to blame Jim, and I can't do that if I am the one picking the name. We finally decided it would be Emerson but couldn't decide on a middle name. Luckily my brother came and helped us make a list and cross names off otherwise she might still have no middle name (I have no middle name and hated it so I could never do that).
My brother showed up to visit first and then soon after the kids came with Nan and Mimi. They stormed right in to meet baby Squishy and were so happy to see her. "Have you seen our new baby??" That's what Harper would say to anyone who came into the room. They each took a turn to hold her and then bounced around the miniature room. Speaking of rooms, I had a roommate. No, its not 1952 this hospital is just old and private rooms are only something you get if you know someone. My roommate had just had her 5th kid so when they came to visit it was CROWDED. Oh and they visited around 9/10pm. For real?!?! I did not like this fact since I like to go to bed earlier than that and its tough to sleep in a room full of people.
Hhhmmmmm, what other random thoughts do I have about being in the hospital. The food sucked but the nurses were amazing. The room was tiny but being served everything in bed was pretty awesome. Come Friday night I was getting a little stir crazy and kinda wishing I had taken the doctor up on his offer to go home a day early. Luckily I didn't because my roommate went home on Friday afternoon so I was alone for the night and slept great the whole night.
Emerson was an absolute dream while in the hospital. She ate and slept and that was pretty much it. And even now that we are home its not much different. We had plenty of visitors (which was such a change from when we lived in NH so far from home) and I loved having the company. I also loved the snacks/gifts/flowers they brought too ;)
Saturday morning I was up and showered by 8am ready to break free. It wasn't until after 12 that I got out but at least I was ready. Jim came to get me and we arrived home to balloons and really excited older siblings.
I am sure there is more I want to say but my brain is a bit fuzzy still. Here is a random assortment of pictures from our stay in the hospital. Its a lot of pictures. But I am too tired to try to weed some out. Enjoy. Oh and all of these pictures were taken with my small pocket camera which I now hate even more after having to delete so many pictures because my not so steady handed husband ended up with tons of blurry pictures. I didn't edit them at all because if I did you wouldn't get to see them for weeks.
Us right before going into the OR. Not sure how I managed a smile, I was scared shitless at this point.
The doctor pulled her out and tried to hold her up but apparently she was "too slippery" and he nearly dropped her. This picture was snapped after he "caught" her.
I don't know why I agree to take this kind of picture, its an awfully unflattering angle.
This is right after I met her for the first time.
At this hospital they do the first bath at 4 hours after birthday and its done in the nursery which is a total bummer because I couldn't see it and Jim could only watch from the window. This was her getting her first "bath" which I guess wasn't much of a bath since she is just laying in her bed.
Harper is obsessed with her feet, always showing people how small they are.
These pictures are all out of order but this was when they brought her back from her first bath. I thought those mint green gown things were so cute and way better than those stupid half shirts that never fit right.
This is them seeing her for the first time. Uncle Tommy was holding her when they came in.
The rest are from the last morning before we left the hospital.
Oh and here is a picture of the whole room. I was the farther bed closer to the window. When my roommate was there the curtains were pulled right down the middle to keep us private.
Such a tiny freaking space. Of course this hospital is redoing the maternity wing and come next spring all rooms will be private. If I had known this hospital had shared rooms I would have chosen a different OB practice who delivered at another local hospital. Because sharing a room is not my idea of a good time.
OK tomorrow I hope to have pictures from since we have been home. I need to get caught up.
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