We woke up super early that day to be at the hospital by 5:30 am! John's parents came over to stay with Meyers, and my parents met us at our house to follow us to the hospital - because we needed an escort (I'm kidding, mom! I'm glad y'all followed us over there!). I was such a mess the night before telling Meyers good night since we would not be seeing her the next morning before we left. I was so sad about that!!
I took one last picture that morning at home at 39 weeks - only picture not in a black shirt! Ha!
We also took a picture at the hospital to fully document the event:)
My c-section was scheduled for 7:30, but we had to get there two hours early. After talking to insurance or billing people (I'm not sure who they were), I went back to get my gown on and get hooked up to the contraction machine (I've sat here for 5 minutes trying to think of the real name for it, and I can't, so that's what I'm calling it and moving on!). It's so nerve wracking being back there by yourself. They ask you a zillion questions, one of which is "do you feel safe returning home?". I'm guessing this is one reason they don't let your husband go back there with you so that they can ask you questions like that. I literally laughed outloud at some of the questions they asked, probably from being anxious and nervous. Like they asked me if I was keeping my baby. That's not a funny question because obviously plenty of people are not keeping their baby, but I laughed and the nurse looked at me funny! Speaking of nurses, my "before" nurses were SO awesome! They were super sweet. They also all loved my hair and kept telling other nurses to come look at it. One of them even asked if she could take a picture on her phone to show her stylist! Needless to say, they made my morning.....well, at least until Emery made her entrance:)
John was finally able to come back there, and we just waited some more. My blood pressure was high as soon as they started monitoring it. I think it was from just being nervous, but they were concerned about toxemia and ran some blood work. I always thought that toxemia went away when you delivered your baby, so I wasn't sure why they were concerned. Nobody ever really gave me an answer on that one. John took a picture of me in my gown and cap, but I am NOT posting that pretty picture!
Finally, it was time to go back. I am not sure why I was so much more nervous this time. I knew what to expect, but I was. They take you back by yourself, and then your husband gets to come back. I know they do that so he won't see the spinal and pass out, but it stinks being in there by yourself. It's so weird how they roll you in to this bright room full of people and they are all about to see all of your business and you feel like you should at least introduce yourselves to each other. Awkward!
With Meyers, the assisting surgeon (I'm guessing that was her title), came in when my doctor did. This time, the assisting surgeon was a "He", and he came in before the spinal and was so sweet! He held my hand and told me to squeeze when they were doing it. He seriously was so sweet. I'm guessing he didn't have to come in that early since the other one didn't, but I'm so glad he did because he made me feel so taken care of and not quite as nervous! He also was so excited that we didn't know what we were having. When he first came in, he asked me what we were having. I told him we didn't know, and he said "Oh, so this is a surprise birthday party!" My doctor came in a few minutes later. That makes you feel better, too, when your doctor comes in. I LOVE my doctor. I feel like we would totally be friends if she wasn't my doctor. I hope I don't ever have to find a new one for a long time because I would be devastated!
In a c-section, they "test" to see if the spinal is working. I remembered that from Meyers. They were doing that, but it seemed like they were about to get started, and John was not in there. I didn't want to seem too panicky, so I played dumb like I had no peripheral vision, and asked them if John was in there yet. One of them told me they were still testing, and another one said, "no, they are starting." So they quickly got John.
I hope this isn't too graphic for anyone, but this is our family book, so I want the details. This time the c-section, took a good bit longer to "get in there". I could not feel any pain, but felt so much tugging and pulling and heard so many noises I did not want to hear. It wasn't that way with Meyers. Hers seemed really quick, and I just felt pressure when they pulled her out. I just kept breathing deep and trying not to think about what I was feeling. I started getting really worried that it was taking so long. I couldn't see anything, but I could hear my doctor and the assisting surgeon talking the whole time. They were talking about Modern Family and doing your own taxes. Their voices did not seem too worried or panicked, so I was guessing everything was fine. With Meyers, I lost a lot of blood (not so much I needed a transfusion or anything, but enough to make me almost pass out). I was worried that would happen this time, but it didn't.
FINALLY, the assisting surgeon asked John to "call it", meaning if the baby was a boy or girl ( I KNOW it's a surprise when you find out what you are having at 20 weeks, and I'm sure that is exciting, but waiting to find out what you are having is a really cool experience! Finding out in the room with all the crazy emotions you are feeling anyway about finally meeting your new baby is so amazing!). They didn't do that last time. John stood up, and it took him a few seconds, but he finally said "It's a girl!" I burst into tears and kept telling John "we are a girl family!" I said the whole time that a boy would be ideal (since we already have a girl), but sisters are sweet! My close friends knew I wanted another girl, but now that we have one for sure, I can say that I was so ecstatic that we had another girl! Boys are precious, and I had 9 months to think about having a mama's boy and me being his princess and the cute John Johns that he would wear:), but I wanted a sister for Meyers. Obviously, I was thrilled to have a healthy baby. With so many things that can go wrong, a healthy baby is an enormous blessing, and I'm thankful for ours.
After she was out, John took pictures and kept coming over to update me on things. I just laid there and cried and was so happy to hear my girl's lungs while she screamed her head off! It took them longer to get me "back together". Apparently I have some issues when it comes to that! It took a while with Meyers, too.
Emery Carroll Eason was born at 7:54 am. She weighed 7 pounds, 8 ounces, and was 20 inches long.
We went to recovery and were supposed to stay for two hours - new hospital rule. We actually stayed about 3 because my blood pressure was still high. When Meyers was born, she had a slight temperature, so they took her to the nursery not long after we were in recovery. Emery got to stay in there the whole time with us, so that was nice. When they told us I had to stay longer, I started crying! I was SO ready to see Meyers. I was having these irrational thoughts like she thought we were abandoning her, and I could not wait to see her! John went out and told my parents that we had a girl. His parents had said they wanted to wait to find out when they got to the hospital, but they couldn't wait, so John called them.
Hanging out in recovery
I was so excited to see Meyers when we finally got into a room. I was so anxious to see how she reacted to me in the hospital bed and to her new sibling. She was not too scared of me, but she didn't want to immediately get in the bed with me like I had hoped. She was so into Emery from the moment she walked in the room.
My heart was bursting during this!
This is Meyers saying "shhh!" because Emery was sleeping. So cute!
Love this picture of them!
I finally got Meyers to cuddle with me!
First family picture.
Could my face be any more swollen? Oh, yes, it can. Wait til' you see our "going home" picture. Oh, and my hair looked much cuter before my c section. I am not sure what happened to make it look so crazy here:)
My parents stayed at our house while we were at the hospital and brought Meyers to the hospital at least three times a day per my request! She had a fun time being spoiled by her grandparents while we were gone!
Her door banner that I made
Birth details
This is the girls in their first matching outfit!!! It's a unisex smocked gown for Emery! John was not super happy about this choice of "going home" outfit if we had had a boy. He's all about smocked things, but he thought it looked too girly. Good thing we had a girl:)
Totally random, but I LOVE saying "the girls. I'll tell John "the girls are going to wear XYZ or "I'm out running errands with the girls". I love it!
Leaving the hospital.
See. I told you my face was swollen!
Emery,
Everyone always says "I don't know if I can love a second baby like I love my first." I get that, but I had no doubt that God would expand my heart with love for you. It happened even before you were born, and continued to expand when I first saw you, first held you, first bonded with you, first kissed you and cuddled you. My heart is now huge with love for you AND your sister. I love you so much. I am excited for your addition to our family. You are so loved by me and your daddy, and Meyers tells you all day long how much she loves you. She normally says "Hello Emery. I loooovvvvee you." It's pretty cute! She wants to touch you and pat you all the time. I wish both of you could remember that one day. I'm just trying to soak in those moments because they are special to me. I don't want to rush anything, but I so look forward to seeing yours and Meyers relationship grow, as well as the special bond that you will have. I look forward to watching you grow and seeing your personality form. That has been one of the neatest things to see with your sister, and I can't wait to see it with you.
I love you, sweet girl. Welcome to our family!
Love, Mama
I loved reading her birth story. It's crazy how different hospital procedures and experiences can be. And I know what you mean about saying, "the girls". I love hearing Bert aske, "How are my girls(which includes me) doing?"
ReplyDeleteYou look beautiful throughout the entire process!