Birth Day

On Friday, August 3, 2012, Chris and I loaded our bags into the car and headed to the hospital for a scheduled c-section.  We got to the hospital a little before 7 and were let into the labor and delivery unit for registration.  We gave them our names and explained why we were there, and as they checked their schedules, they got eerily quiet.  After a few seconds, they told us that we were not on their schedule and they were going to check into it.  We waited patiently and knew we were not leaving that hospital without having our baby.  After reading through some of our notes, they realized that we have some connections in the hospital and informed us they were going to work us in.  

We were sent to the waiting room while they prepared a room for us.  I called my parents, who were on their way to the hospital, and explained what our situation was.  They could only laugh.  We were still in the waiting room when they arrived.  We also called Chris' parents to fill them in because they were at our house taking care of Luke.  While waiting, our physician walked by and asked what was going on, we explained what had happened.  She turned right around to make sure we were going to be taken care of.  At about 8:30 a.m., they led us to our room.  The nurse instructed me to strip down and put on the oh so lovely hospital gown.  I did as I was instructed and then crawled into the hospital bed.  Our nurses name was Shelle, and she was so kind!  When the anesthesiologist came in and asked if I was Mrs. Bishop, she said no and told him to go check the board to learn my name.  

We knew we were being worked in, and our doctor performing the surgery came in to tell us she was trying to get us in by 11 that morning, but there was a high risk patient on the floor as well and we may be later than that.  Sure enough, the high risk patient was taken back first and it pushed us back quite a few hours.  Around 3:00 that afternoon, Shelle came back in and started prepping me for surgery.  I was rolled back into the operating room shortly after and the anesthesiologists started prepping me for the spinal.  I had such a terrible experience with the spinal when I had Luke, I was so nervous about this.  I grabbed the nurses hand and she talked very calmly to me while the anesthesiologist explained everything he was going to do.  This wasn't the same guy that was instructed to go learn my name, but the resident.  He was spectacular.  And while getting a spinal done is not something I would want to do often, he made it much better than my previous experience.  

When anesthesia was done, they called Chris in and they started surgery!  It took 22 minutes from start to finish to deliver our healthy 7 lb 11 oz, 21" long baby boy at 3:55 p.m.  Once Owen was out and suctioned, he cried and cried and cried!  He cried from the moment he came out until he made it to the warming table in recovery, and even then it never let up for very long.  Chris was able to cut the umbilical cord and take a bunch of pictures while he was still in the O.R.   The pediatric resident was a little over zealous and tried to take him out before letting me see him, but the main pediatrician promptly instructed her to give him to Chris so I could check him out.  Chris brought him over and I was able to reach out and touch him before he was taken to recovery where Chris, Owen and my parents were waiting for me.  

Daddy and Owen's first picture together

As soon as I got settled in recovery, they asked if I wanted to nurse Owen, and of course I said yes!  I didn't get that opportunity with Luke, so it was so special to have that with Owen.  He latched right on and immediately calmed down.  It was awesome!  Chris' parents brought Luke up to the hospital and Luke climbed right into the bed with me, where we gave him his big brother gift that Owen brought.  He was thrilled to get a surprise!  He leaned over and gave Owen a kiss and I knew that they are going to be best buds.  My Aunt Susan and Uncle Robert and older brother, Jon, came to the recovery room to meet baby Owen for the first time.  After a couple hours in recovery, it was time to be transported to the postpartum floor. Chris and his mom carried our stuff to the room while Luke stayed in bed with me while transport moved us up to our room and Chris' dad rolled baby Owen with us.

We got settled in our room, and it was time for Luke to go home and get to bed.  He didn't want to leave, but I reassured him that he would see me the next day.  He accepted that and Chris walked down with him and his parents to say goodnight.  We had a pretty great night (the morphine helped) and spent the next 2 days in the hospital before being released on Sunday.  My mom came and stayed with me while Chris met Luke for lunch and went home to shower on Saturday.  Chris' parents brought Luke to see us a few times - but after a while you know when it's time to go home, hospital rooms are a little confining to a 2 year old.  Our dear friends Kristin and Otto came to visit as well as Owen's Uncle Jon and Aunt Emily.  It was wonderful to have so many people come by and see us!  

We are settling into life as a family of four.  We look at our boys and realize how incredibly blessed we are.  Owen is such an amazing addition to our family and we just adore every precious moment with him.