The Surgery

Although we didn't want or plan for a c-section... it was the best decision that we could have made because it meant that our little boy was delivered safely.

I LOVE the picture below... one of the first ones taken. He's holding onto one of my fingers and one of Josh's! So cute! :)
Once I found out I was not going to be able to deliver Isaac naturally, I was upset. I was scared... I'd watched way too many birthing shows on tv and knew what c-sections looked like being performed. Most of all, I was nervous about dealing with a second anethesiologist. My super sweet nurse kept telling me that she just wasn't sure whether or not he would be able to administer my pain meds through the epidural or whether he'd have to start over and admister them separately. I had a pretty BIG and crazy "freak-out" moment at that point... neither the nurse, my mom, or Josh could settle me down for a long time. I just layed there sobbing at the thought of having to go through what I went through to get my epidural all over again.

Surgery prep seemed to take FOREVER although it only took about 45 minutes. I had to drink a nasty drink, they washed and shaved my belly, and then... the best man at Knox Community Hospital walked in! Vern, the wonderful anethesiologist! Seriously, he was a million times better than the first guy! I'm pretty sure Nicki, my nurse, had told him about my meltdown because the first thing he told me was that he could indeed use the epidural that was already in place to give me my pain meds for the surgery. I told him that I loved him, I think. LOL

I was very anxious to be wheeled into the surgery room... it was COLD and had very bright lights. There were about 8 people running around getting everything ready. They transfered me to the operating table and set up that big blue sheet/curtain you see on tv. The frigid temperatures immediately made my teeth start chattering and I was shivering as well. Josh soon joined me and looked silly in his hospital garb. Dr. N did a needle poke test on my belly to see if I was numb enough for the surgery to start. Vern, bless his heart, was right by my side talking to me about each step along the way. Josh was also very supportive.. but, we were both so nervous. We both remember Vern talking through everything to make us more at ease.

Even though I wasn't in any pain during the surgery, I still FELT a lot. I felt Dr. N make the vertical incision (The bikini cut was not able to be done b/c they were worried about Isaac's size). I also felt TONS of pressure as they were delivering the baby... my mom told me she heard me cry out. She was just outside the door of the room. We were VERY lucky to have a baby who cried immediately after being delivered. The tears just started rolling down my face when I heard him. Josh looked up over the curtain and he said Isaac was covered in a grey goop and looked pretty big. The nurses rushed him over to clean him up. Vern turned to me and said, "See, 5 minutes of pressure and it's all over." Next, I remember three separate voices announce that the baby was definitely all boy! Someone also said, "Wow, he's long!"

While waiting to meet the baby, I start shivering A LOT. I couldn't seem to stop! I also started to do this weird quiver/yawn combo with my mouth. A nurse brought Isaac over and put him extremely close to my face and asked, "Do you want to give him a kiss?" I did, of course... and then she whisked him away to the nursery. My mom got to meet the baby and my sisters were watching through the glass windows as he was weighed and checked out.

I kept asking Josh if the surgeons were almost done. I was happy to hear them stapeling my belly closed after finishing the inside sutures. I'm so happy he stayed right with me because the incision seemed to take forever to be closed. Next, I was moved back to a regular hospital bed and wheeled into a very dark recovery room. I could still not seem to stop shivering even though I had been covered in warm blankets. My nurse explained that the blood loss from surgery was causing the shivers and that it would soon stop. Isaac was soon brought into the room and I immediately tried nursing. We didn't have any success, but we did get lots of snuggling in.

It seemed like my vitals were checked every 5 minutes. The rules were bent and my mom was able to come and visit with her grandson and I for a few minutes.... she was SO happy as you can imagine to hold the baby for the first time. I remember being VERY thirsty and wanting to drink cups and cups of water. The rest is kind of blur until later that night. I do know that the actual surgery only lasted 15 minutes and it was all SO worth it to have our son. I'll post more about our time in the hospital, my recovery, and our first days home soon.