the one about Quayd's birth...part 2

So, here is a continuation of my baby story. I need to warn you (Kristi) that there are pretty graphic pictures of my C-section here. Remember I told you that one of the nurses offered to take pictures for me? Well there are 4 of them on here. I think they are SO cool, but maybe you won't. Consider yourself warned.

I wasn’t due until September 16th. By mid-summer, I was going to the Doctor twice a week. Tuesdays and Fridays. After each visit with the Doctor, I had to go to the hospital and have a non-stress test and blood work. A few of the times, my Doctor made me stay at the hospital over night because my blood pressure was so high.

My dad and step-mom came to visit from Tulsa in August. I hadn’t seen them since my wedding, nearly 4 years earlier so I was pretty excited. Except I was stuck in bed. I couldn’t do anything fun and I was SO mad! They went and did fun things with my nephews and I didn’t get to leave my house, except for a couple of hours on Tuesdays and Fridays. ERRRRRRRR!!! They were pretty good to come hang out though, and they actually spent a good share of their vacation doing my laundry and cleaning my house. They drove, so their schedule was flexible. We hoped they would be here for the birth, but it was time for them to head back. We knew I was probably going to have the baby early, but we weren’t sure how early. They left on Wednesday, August 28th. For some reason, my regular Friday appointment was changed to Thursday (the 29th). Brett came with me to this one and I was 37 ½ weeks pregnant. We discussed the options, and decided it was far more risky for me to stay pregnant with my Pre-Eclampsia than to have the baby 2 ½ weeks early. My Doctor decided the baby was ready and it was time. He had been “checking” me” but I was no where near ready. He said I could have a C-Section and get it over with, quick and easy or he could start my labor, but it would be LONG and HARD. At this point I was so sick and decided a C-Section sounded very nice. So we scheduled it for the next morning. Imagine how excited we were! It was such a great day! We went to Wal-Mart and got the last few things we would need. I was so huge and puffy and I waddled through the whole store. But I didn’t care. I was about to be a MOMMY! Brett also took me to my favorite Mexican restaurant. His Grandpa Galley came over that night and helped Brett give me a blessing. Surprisingly, I slept pretty well that night (Thank you Ambien!)

We had to be at the hospital around 10:00 or something. After they prepped, poked, prodded and yes, shaved me, I was finally ready for surgery. My mom was there, Mike, and Talia (she got checked out of school to be there). By the time we had a baby, Our Grandparents came, my brother, Brett’s brothers and several other people. The support was AWESOME! Since I had spent so much time in the hospital the weeks prior to this day, I had become friends with many of the nurses. One of them, Megan, was not going to be working on me or Quayd during the surgery, so she offered to take my camera and get good pictures of the birth. It was great!

My goofy husband was right there by my side. I remember them wheeling me towards the OR and Brett was escorted to a room to change. They started my spinal block and got me all ready for surgery. Once they were ready to start, they brought Brett in. He was so funny. I could see the color in his face starting to change. I finally asked a nurse to check on him. She took him outside and he nearly passed out. She took him somewhere and she was fanning him and stuff. She had him eat some cookies and juice. Wherever it was that they took him, Mike could see him, and thought it was so funny. I was in the OR, about to have a baby and thinking, “Where is that pansy!” I was wishing I brought Mike in the room instead! After just a few minutes, Brett was feeling better and came back in. He was just in time for the birth.

I felt no pain. Not even a little. I just heard the Doctors talking back and forth and I heard them slurping the water and goo. It hadn’t been long at all when they told me we would have a baby in just a few seconds. So many thoughts and emotions went through my mind. I wondered if he would be cute, if he would be healthy, if he would really be a boy (still), I wondered if he would like me, if I would like him, if Brett was going to make it through the birth, if the baby was scared, or in pain, I wondered if after all of the health issues I had faced if he would still be ok, if I would be a good mom.... then I heard his cry. And I knew we would be just fine.
That was one of our miracles. They held him over by me so I could see him and he was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. Even though he was covered in blood and slop. But man, was he ever mad! He cried like nothing I have ever heard before. They did his APGAR stuff and he scored a 9. (Then when they scored it a little while later he was a 10.) They wiped him down a little bit and Brett brought him over to me. It was such a cool moment. I looked up and Brett, he looked at me and we just cried. We have a picture of that exact moment and I just love it. Brett then had to take Quayd down to the nursery. I just laid there and relaxed while everyone else had to watch all of the mean things they did to my baby. They called from the nursery to tell me his weight and everything. 6 lbs 12.5 oz. 19.5" long. They said he was great. I couldn’t wait to see him. It seemed like forever before I got down to my room. In recovery, my blood pressure was high and it took awhile to get it down to a safe level. Finally, they let me go. When they wheeled me to my room, there were so many people there to greet me. It was amazing. My baby was perfect and healthy. I was amazed and sort of surprised that he had been so healthy and perfect. He was definitely protected in my belly. That was another miracle in the bank.

This is me a few hours after surgery. I really thought the puffiness would go away, but it didn't. You will have to stay tuned to find out why. And this is us the day we left the hospital. Man, my coloring was just terrible and I looked awful, huh. It's ok. You can say it. I looked pretty bad. I know. I can handle it.

Anyway, there is SO much more to this story, so you will have to check back. I hope you aren't getting bored yet.....