We're Home!!!

7/23/09: It's been three days now since little Lucy was born. We are having such a great time loving and getting to know our baby girl. I figured that since I still have one more day in the hospital, I might as well write down the entire birthing experience. On Monday we went to see the doctor for another ultrasound and to plan Lucy's exit strategy. While there, the doctor explained that he felt the baby needed to be delivered via c-section, because he felt she wouldn't tolerate being turned and then delivered vaginally. We scheduled the c-section for 12:00 on Wednesday and then headed home. On the way home we stopped for some Taco Time burritos because I was starving. About an hour later I was on the phone with my friend Jen when I saw that the doctor's office was calling. I was shocked when he told me that he had gone over the ultrasound results again, and that my fluid levels had dropped to a dangerous level. He told me to get in the car and come to the hospital immediately. Luckily we had our bags packed and ready to go, so we were able to get the hospital quickly. Because I had just eaten, we needed to wait six hours for my stomach to empty. They set me up in a room where we could monitor her heart rate, and then we sat and waited until 8:00. It is hard to describe the fear I felt as we sat waiting for the procedure. I wasn't even nervous about the surgery, I just wanted to know that my baby would be all right. Finally 8:00 rolled around and I was off to the the operating room. Jordan is pretty queasy about medical things, so he couldn't be in the operating room with me while I got my spinal block. I was surprised at how little the spinal block hurt. It took me longer than the average patient to go numb, and then I had an isolated area that wouldn't go numb (which is exactly where he needed to make the incision). They had to give me some local anathesia to get me completely numb and then they began the surgery. It was so weird to know that they were cutting seven layers deep and that I couldn't feel it. After five minutes, they were able to get her out and I heard her cry for the first time. They showed her to me for literally two seconds and then whisked her away to evaluate her. It was hard for me to have to lie there alone for 25 minutes as they stitched me up. At this point the anasthesia caught up with me and I felt sleepy and foggy-headed. They wheeled me back to the recovery room and everyone was at the nursery looking at the baby, so I was alone for another 10 minutes. All of a sudden my incision started to become extremely painful and I asked the anasthesiologist for some medicine. He gave me some Demerol, and I felt so sick and dizzy. At this point everyone came back into the room and started talking to me, but I had no idea what was going on. Then Jordan came in holding the baby and handed her to me for the first time. Even though I felt so terrible, I was surprised how emotional I was when I held Lucy for the first time. Looking back, I wish that I would have been able to meet her for the first time without 20 people watching and taking pictures, but oh well. The first night I don't think I slept for more than five minutes. I was hooked up to all sorts of monitors, the nurses kept coming in to take my vitals, and the drugs were still making me feel weird. Around four in the morning the drugs finally wore off, and they brought Lucy to me. It was so wonderful to meet her feeling clear-headed. I fell in love with her instantly. I can't believe how beautiful she is. The staff here at the hospital keep telling us how beautiful she is. One of the housekeeping staff comes into hold Lucy everyday, claiming she is the most beautiful baby she has ever seen. Recovering from a c-section has not been so easy. I'm finally able to eat solid foods and get up and walk around. My incision is extremely painful and makes bending movements difficult. I have six more weeks of not being to lift anything but the baby. While I'm kind of sad that I didn't get the "typical" birthing experience, I'm so grateful that Lucy is healthy and safe. After the surgery, my doctor said that we absolutely made the right choice in delivering her via c-section. I'm so grateful for modern medicine, because I have to wonder what would have happened if my doctor hadn't been so on top of my situation. We are going home tomorrow, so I'm going to take advantage of my last day here in the hospital. We'll post better pictures when we get home. My mom actually posted some cute ones on her blog if you're interested.

7/24/09: Well actually, the internet at the hospital wouldn't let me publish this post yesterday--so, a few things have changed. We are home! Lucy is doing so well. She is maintaining her body temperature, eating well, and has no health problems that we're aware of. She only lost three ounces in the hospital, so she is a whopping 4 pounds, 8 ounces. While it was nice to be at the hospital in case we had any problems, it is so nice to be home.

Emma holding her cousin Lucy

I love how she sticks her leg straight out during feedings

World's best dad.

Look how tiny she looks in her car seat.

They had balloons and a banner waiting for us when we got home.