Warning...This may be a little long but I want to remember every detail so feel free to skip this post if you want! Otherwise, enjoy!
Due to a condition with my uterus, my OB felt it would be safest to have a repeat C-section although I desperately wanted to try for a VBAC. In the end a healthy baby and mama is what matters, so I agreed.
We were able to schedule for December 1, just 3 days before my due date. We were supposed to be there at 11:30, with the surgery scheduled for 12:30. I found out the day before that I was not allowed to eat or drink ANYTHING after midnight the night before. WHAT?!? I was 9 months pregnant and I can't even have a sip of water? They said I could swish water around in my mouth and spit it out. Needless to say, I was ready to get to the hospital and get everything over with just so I could eat and drink again...and of course meet my new baby! I was able to take Brady to school that morning which was nice and he wore his Big Bro t-shirt. His PE coach greeted him at the car and was ready to hear all about his excitement about the arrival of his little brother. My mind was put at ease knowing Brady was happy and well-cared for while I would be at the hospital.
We ended up arriving a little late to the hospital and found out during check-in that they had been asking if I had arrived yet. The lady had been given instructions to get me checked in quickly and up to the surgery floor. As soon as they put me in the wheelchair to take me up to the 11th floor, everything started happening so fast. I got to the room and changed into a gown. The nurses came in and introduced themselves and started prepping me. I started getting really nervous and shaking, with my teeth chattering. Everyone kept asking if I was cold and I told them no, I was just nervous. They put my IV in and I started feeling sick. I lost my color and felt light headed and nauseous. From then on out, whenever a new Dr. or nurse would come in and try to tell me what was going to be happening, I would stop them and let them know that I would do much better if they would just do what they needed to do. I didn't want or need to know what was going to be happening to my body...it only made me feel sick. The anesthesiologist got a kick out of this. Finally I was all prepped and ready and I actually walked myself over to the OR room. Blake wasn't able to join me at this point, however the anesthesiologist started me out with some medicine in my IV to calm me down before inserting the spinal block. This was the magic to a smooth delivery for me. I was able to stop shaking and calm down and not pass out. The atmosphere in the OR was also very relaxed and calm...the Dr's and nurses were listening to the radio and singing along. I didn't have to have my arms strapped down this time which ended up being a good thing since the medicine they gave me made me start itching immediately (which lasted for at least 24 hours...ugh).
After a while, Blake finally was able to come in. Turned out he almost missed everything because he wasn't suited up. The nurse had to help him quickly put on all his OR gear. I was already cut open when he came in but he didn't see anything because the Dr's and nurses were all around. It was great to have him there to talk to and share our excitement together. The Dr. kept saying "You might feel some tugging" but I never felt any until the very end. At one point, I asked when I should feel the tugging and Blake grinned at me. He told me later that the whole table was moving from the tugging they were doing. They finally told Blake to get the camera ready and that's when I felt all the pressure and tugging. I was able to take deep breaths and it never really hurt...just a little difficult to breathe from all the pressure way up high. Then they told us to look and they had little Grant up for us to see. That is the most amazing moment...seeing your baby for the first time. It took him a couple seconds to cry but then he let out a huge wail. We were able to watch them take him and weigh and measure him and clean him up. They announced 13:15 and I said WHAT? thinking that was how much he weighed. Thankfully that was just the time he was born (1:15)...he weighed 7lbs. 11.5 oz. and was 21 inches long. Blake actually cut his cord! All along he had told me he would not be doing that. Then the nurse suctioned his mouth out with the bulb syringe and looked at Blake and said "You saw how I did that, right?" and handed him over. Talk about panic! You want us to take care of this new little creature who is learning to breathe right before our own eyes??? Blake brought him over so I could see him up close and touch him. I asked the Dr. if he was sure this was our baby because I had expected him to look like Brady. This baby was bald and looked nothing like me. Haha!
They sent Blake back to the recovery room with Grant...all alone(he told me he was so nervous back there) while they finished sewing me up. When I finally was wheeled back, I saw the two of them sitting there and it was such a sweet sight. I was able to finally hold Grant and check him out. I requested some help trying to nurse him right away and he was able to nurse for a few minutes. I also was finally allowed some ice chips! Blake went out to tell everyone about him while I enjoyed some snuggle time with our little baby. I had to stay in recovery until I was able to move my foot a tiny bit. Grant still had a little mucous he was trying to cough up so they took him off to the nursery and then I was wheeled up to my room.
My legs and lower abdomen slowly regained feeling throughout the rest of the afternoon and by that night, they were back to normal. This was unfortunate because the nurse came hourly that night to check my stomach and would have to push on it. Several times, she felt clots and pushed them out by pressing on my lower stomach. This was the most painful part of the whole process. I would dread seeing her come into my room. Blake would come over and let me squeeze his hand. By the next morning though, all the major clots had passed and my stomach wasn't as crampy anymore. I did notice though, that every time I would nurse Grant, my stomach would start cramping/contracting. They said that the nursing was causing my uterus to contract back to its original size...pretty neat! (but ouch!)
The nurse came the next morning and removed my catheter...didn't hurt a bit. They were ready for me to get up and move around. It was difficult getting out of bed and by the time I reached the bathroom, I wasn't feeling great but I decided to keep on. I had heard the faster you get up and move around, the faster your recovery is and I was ready to go home. Anyway, I went to use the bathroom and decided I needed a shower so mom got the water going. Then I started feeling worse so I called for her. When she saw me, she called for the nurse who thankfully grabbed some smelling salts? ammonia? I don't really know what. I just remember her waving it under my nose and them trying to get me back to my bed. The next thing I remember is waking up on the floor and hearing my mom and Blake yelling my name. After talking to the Dr. later, he said that my blood pressure had probably bottomed out. I was able to get up later that afternoon but didn't attempt to shower until the next day.
After my little fainting episode, I figured they wouldn't let me go home until Friday (I checked in on a Tuesday). However, the next morning the Dr. asked if I wanted to go home and I said YES!!! I couldn't wait for Brady to meet his little brother. Everybody was nervous about taking us home...Mom was afraid I would pass out, Blake was afraid the baby would choke on his mucous again...but I persisted! Grant still needed to be circumcised so I showered while they took care of that. Then finally we both were ready to go home. We loaded Grant in his carseat and were off!
Yeah...he peed on me.
Showing off his muscles
Brady is such an awesome big brother and loves Grant so much!
Grant loves to play Monopoly Deal with the rest of us. Usually he and Mommy win!
Holding his new lovie from AliceAnn...Isn't it adorable with his name on it?
Trying to lick something!
Starting to grow some hair finally!
A little smile!
A big smile!
Just to prove that he is not always happy! But always cute!
Grant and Aiden...his future BFF! (By the way, Sarah is holding Grant and I am holding Aiden). They are only about 6 and a half or 7 weeks apart, but look at the size difference!!! Grant looks like such a big boy!
So Grant reached the 6 week mark last Tuesday. He is growing so quickly and is such a joy to all three of us. As of last Thursday, he weighed 9lbs. 14 oz. almost reaching the big 1-0!!! He is now a consistent social smiler and is also cooing and "talking". One of his new tricks is making bubbles with his mouth. He seems to be outgrowing some of his fussiness and may be forming some sort of routine...*knocks on wood*. Some nights he will go 5 hours of sleeping and those are my favorite nights. He rolled over from tummy to back on the day he turned 6 weeks. I keep saying he's a strong one. The best news of all is that my maternity leave was extended until the 27th due to a bout with mastitis...which I still seem to battling a bit. But it gave me an extra week home with my baby and I will definitely take it!
It looks as if Blake is having to hold Grant back in this picture! So funny!
Nat and Danielle: Grant is wearing the cute high tops from Will!
Man of the house
Right after bath time...He looks so scared!
His first time wearing jeans! Thanks, Mimi for the cute outfit!
For those interested, the stickers came from pickysticky.com. I have one for each month all the way up to 12.
I can't believe our little baby is 1 month old today. Time has gone by so quickly. I am cherishing every moment I have at home with though, because my maternity leave is quickly coming to an end. He had his check-up on Monday and here are his stats.
Can you tell he was hungry when I was taking these pictures?
