The rest of Wednesday and 3/4 of Thursday after coming home from the hospital were great. Devry was, and is, an amazing baby. So content. So happy. She is very alert and loves to take in the world around her. Nights were what you might expect - every two hours or so. But it was beyond wonderful to have my mom there to help not only with Pierscen, but with Devry so that I could nap at every possible chance. :)
My mom had made several freezer meals and brought them frozen on the plane since it is about an hour flight and popped them in our freezer. We still have a couple. Thank you mom! While she was here she cooked and cleaned and organized and entertained. She was amazing. I really don't think I could have done it on my own.
Want to see something cool? Talk about genetics. This little bump on her ear is IDENTICAL to one on Ryan's ear. Awesome, right?!
As I mentioned, 3/4s of Thursday was great. But then headache returned. Ryan contacted Dr. B. He said to let him know in the morning if it was still there. When I got up the next day, I went to sit up and thought my head was going to explode! Ryan called Dr. B, who contacted Dr. F, who said to go ahead and take care of me. Devry had her pediatrician appointment that morning, but Dr. B said to come back to the hospital as soon as we were done.
Devry checked out perfectly. She was a little under 6 lbs, but still within what was normal. I really struggled through that appointment though. I was in so much pain I could barely communicate. The doctor asked me several questions that I kept asking her to repeat because my brain just could not comprehend what she was asking me. It was pretty sad. They were very understanding, but it was rough.
So back to the hospital we went. I checked into labor and delivery and Dr. B came in. This time they drew even more blood in hopes that it would work better. Talk about pressure! Physical pressure that is. It is not a painless thing. That much blood being put into my back was painful in and of itself just because of the pressure. As soon as they finished I tried to lay down, but it was really hard to do because my back muscles were so tensed up. It took me quite a while to relax.
But the most important thing was that it worked! Oh blessed relief. I don't remember how long I had to stay. The best chance of it working is to lay flat on your back for three days. Kind of difficult to do in practicality. So we stayed until they said I was good to go, then went home and climbed back into bed. If I didn't already feel useless, I definitely did then! Again, I could not have survived without my mom.
The rule about keeping up with the Mountain Dew was the same. So. Much. Mountain. Dew. Haha.
My mom took the picture below. Those eyes. It's amazing!
Being banned to bed, at least I got in lots of snuggle time.
And visits from curious big hairy brothers (of the canine and human type).
Eskimo kisses. So sweet! (Oh! It is important to note that Friday after work, Ryan took Pierscen fishing since the weather was nice and we wanted them to have some good father son time. He came back wheezing pretty bad. That was the beginning of lots of fun...)
Devry was not, and is not, much of a pacifier girl. She will take it out of desperation and even then she just chews on it angrily while she glares at you. I just love this picture below because it shows how tiny she was. Granted, these pacifiers aren't super small, but they definitely aren't that big either. I love tiny babies!
Saturday was my mom's last day. Her flight left around noon. She snapped these cute pictures below.
I wanted to go see her off at the airport, but my vote was vetoed and I was sent back to bed as to not dislodge the blood patch work. It was really sad to see her go, but I am so grateful she was able to come!
We love you Grandma! Thank you for everything!!!
At 4:45 am on December 8th, Ryan and I headed into the hospital. My mom flew in two days previous, so she was there to help with Pierscen when he woke up.
As a side note, we had our c-section date and hospital check-in time set since the day after my first appointment at 8 weeks. I don't know how they are able to schedule that far in advance, but it stayed the same the whole pregnancy.
Check in was simple and quick. Even though there was nothing to be done, it was hard not to feel disappointed that we weren't there for induction. Especially since I started in a regular labor and delivery room while we waited.
They hooked me up to the monitor and asked me if I had been having any contractions. I had only ever had one and it woke me up when it happened. That was actually really cool! I had never had that experience. But that was it. However, as I was laying in bed, I thought I felt my stomach tighten. It wasn't painful though. The nurse looked at the screen and said, "Well that was one!" (Insert another heartbreaking sigh. I had been dilated to a 1 at my 38 week check. I was a 1 when I went in to be induced at 41 weeks with Pierscen. So the fact that I had made progress, even just a tiny bit and I was in fact having contractions made me really REALLY wish they had given me a chance. Moving on...)
Next came the worst part of all. Okay not quite, but it was awful.
The catheter.
They put it in well before the surgery with no anesthesia. Thankfully I had been warned by other c-section moms here that this would be the case, but it did not stop me begging for it to be otherwise. The nurses said it's just how the OR likes it to happen.
Excuse me?! This is out of covenience to the OR staff?!
Yes. Yes it is. No other reason.
Let me just tell you... it is awful. Not only does it hurt, but then it feels like you have to pee. Constantly. Which of course doesn't matter because you ARE peeing, but the sensation is horrible. I felt like I had a UTI. I got super nauseous and shaky. The nurses wondered if it was just from nerves, but I wasn't nervous about the surgery. Like at all. I was just sick. They brought me some anti-nausea stuff, but as luck would have it, it made me more nauseous.
Seriously guys. This is probably one of the dumbest medical practices I have yet to encounter. There was no medical reason. It is done that way because the OR doesn't want to deal with it. Granted, I understand that the spinal block only lasts for so long so they don't want to waste time, but it takes maybe 30 seconds. Trust me, it would be worth the delay.
Around 6:30 it was time to head to the OR. We waited around in the prep area watching the various staff come and go while I continued to shake and feel like vomiting. I made sure that Ryan had his phone in his pocket and urged him to take a picture regardless of whether we were supposed to or not. At last it was go time. They wheeled me in, and told Ryan that they would come get him right before they started. They got the spinal started and gave me more anti-nausea stuff, but I knew more than likely it would only get worse. When I was in labor with Pierscen and even through the c-section, I was super sick. I threw up several times, including right after than precious moment when they told me I was a mom. Haha. Since I was expecting it, I did my best to just relax and take deep breaths, telling myself over and over that I was going to be okay. Soon Ryan was ushered in the surgery began.
Ryan smiled reassuringly and held my hand. "They're almost done," he said. Shortly thereafter I heard the most beautiful sound in the world - a baby's cry. Pierscen did not cry at all and that terrified me. Since I couldn't see what was going on, that cry was my only way of gauging things. Even though he was totally fine - just curiously looking around at the world - it still freaked me out. So to hear Devry cry, not scream, but cry, it made my heart swell and I started crying.
"She's still a girl," Ryan informed me. Even though we had had a good ultrasound, there's always that "what if" part of things. Phew!
Moments later a beautiful bundle was brought around the corner and placed in the crook of my arm. MY ARM! I GOT TO HOLD MY BABY!!! It was still awkward - not super cuddly, but I got to hold her. That's all that matters. It lasted a very short time before they wanted to whisk her off with Ryan to go to the nursery and get her all cleaned up and weighed. I kissed her and said my goodbyes.
No picture. Can you believe it? It didn't even cross my mind. Say whaaaattt? After all that anger and Facebook venting? Yup. I didn't even think about it. Of course I wish I had that picture. I really, really do. But my baby was here. She was healthy and crying. I didn't vomit when the told me I was a mom. Everything was good.
I closed my eyes, took lots of deep breaths, and waited until I was done being sewn back together.
I hung out in recovery for a while eating ice chips - bless you ice chips! - staring at my dead legs and trying to get them to move. Eventually a lactation specialist brought in my angel baby and I finally really got to hold her, skin to skin. My very first thought when she handed her to me was, "Holy cow - she looks like me!" I can't even say what it was really, especially because everyone says she looks just like Pierscen (albeit feminine) and Pierscen looks just like Ryan. I didn't see it at first, but now I can say they are undeniably siblings, though I really think she just looks like Devry. :)
She ate really well for her first go and I prized holding her and feeling her against me. As mentioned in my previous post, part of the c-section robbery is not being able to hold your baby right after birth. The separation and waiting game stinks big time with a c-section, so this time - even if it's more clinical at this point, is still precious and wonderful. I think I spent about 45 minutes with her before the bundled her up and took her back to the nursery. I had to wait until the feeling came back to my legs and I could wiggle my toes before I was allowed to go up to my room.
Along the way we passed the nursery where they paused so I could wave at Ryan through the window.
I hung out in the room while Ryan sent me pictures and updates. So without further ado:
Devry Anesa,
6 lbs 0.7 oz, 20 inches long
I have had the name Devry (Dev-ree) picked out for 10 years. I had a coworker named Devry and I thought the name was beautiful. And so was she. She was kind, thoughtful, smart, etc. So when Ryan and I got married I ran the name past him and he really liked it so that was that. Her middle name was much harder. I wanted something from my side of the family. I could have gone with Diana, but I personally don't love alliterations. I spent a bunch of time going through my family history charts, but nothing jumped out at me. I really wanted something Danish, so I jumped online and looked up Danish girl names. I narrowed it down to two possibilities and let the boys choose. They both liked Anesa, which was my favorite too. So there you have it. :)
After having her hearing tested, which she initially failed because she was too awake and distracted (she passed just fine later) they finally brought her back in.
She was so tiny! Perfect, amazing little angel.
Pierscen was just shy of 8 lbs, so this 6 pounder was especially little to me. They always say you forget how small they are, which is totally true, but when they are two pounds smaller than your last it's even more true! It was so wonderful to be able to hold this sweet angel of mine at last.
Already full of personality...
Around mid morning, Ryan drove home to pick up Pierscen and my mom. My friend had her second baby the week before I did and had recorded her daughter meeting her sister for the first time and it was really sweet. I wanted to do that too, but it was pretty anti-climatic. Haha. He was really excited to see me, but then went very serious. No real reaction. Just very quiet and stared for a while. Ryan put him on the bed and explained that I had a very big owie and needed to be super careful. He crawled up gingerly and sat with me for a while - just the two of us talking before we introduced Devry. He asked lots of questions and was very sweet and gentle.
After Grandma got to meet and hold Devry, she brought her over to meet Pierscen. That's when we should have recorded. After the initial shock of seeing mom in a hospital bed, he was ecstatic to meet his little sister. It was amazing. He was so in love! I can say with confidence he will always be a wonderful brother to her. Of course they will fight, but goodness, he loves her fiercely.
I mean look at that. He's got his arms wrapped around her, pressed cheek to cheek. Love!
Here's my mom and Devry. Can I just say a million times over how grateful I am that she was able to come?! She was literally a life saver.
We took the picture below because all the pictures we had sent out to family she was wearing the beanie. She had a good amount of hair!
Mom and Pierscen headed home for lunch and naps and I had some alone time again. Pretty precious!
Her eyes are incredible. They are huge and expressive. I like to call them Disney princess eyes because all of the princesses in the last while have these ginormous eyes. I love it!
As the day wore on, my shoulders began to tense up really bad. As a connoisseur in all things shoulder tension related, I can say it was unlike anything I had ever experienced. I tried to relax. I tried to rub them. My mom even brought me my bean neck wrap and we tried that. Nothing. It got worse and worse until the tension turned to horrific head pain. I became extremely nauseous and vomited again and again. Even after I was cleared to eat, I ordered a bunch of things I thought would be easy on my stomach. Didn't help. It just kept coming up. Later that evening when my mom and P were back for another visit, I was walking around the room nice and slow (nothing like getting up and walking around after having your gut sliced open) and the headache grew so intense I burst into tears and sobbed and sobbed.
My sweet, sweet, amazing little boy grew alarmed and climbed up onto the bed with me and wrapped his arms around my head, pressing his cheek against mine and said, "I'm here. I'm here." If I wasn't already crying, that would have done it. He is seriously so thoughtful and kind. Major melt my heart moment.
After witnessing my level of pain and nausea, the nurse asked a few questions like whether it got better when I laid down or not. It definitely did. She said it sounded like I had a spinal headache from the anesthesia block and said she would contact anesthesia.
I think it was around 10 pm that the anesthiologist on call came to see me. (Not the one who did the block, Dr. F .) He said it definitely sounded like a spinal headache but that before doing a blood patch maybe they would try some conservative methods (like tons of Mtn Dew) and see how I was doing in the morning. I didn't really know what to say, so I said okay. Not long after, an anesthesiologist in our ward, Dr. B, came to see me. He had heard about my situation and came up immediately. He said he had had a spinal headache before and that there was no way he was going to let me wait until morning. The only question was whether he was going to do it, or if my original doc wanted to do it. He called my doc who said he would be back in to do the blood patch.
I was so grateful for Dr. B for stepping in and making sure I got the help I needed. By all means he didn't have to. A short while later Dr. F came in to do the patch. Everyone was a little baffled by the fact that I ended up with the headache in the first place because spinal headaches are much less common on blocks then they are with epidurals and he had already used the smallest needle possible. (The headache is cause when the puncture doesn't close all the way and an air bubble gets trapped in the spinal chord space.) They fix it by drawing blood from your arm and pumping it into your back where the black or epidural was. The blood coagulates and forms a bandaid and POOF! The pain goes away. And guess what?
IT WORKED! Hallelujah! I have never experienced pain like that before. Or such relief. Modern medicine is amazing folks.
Ryan stayed the night that first night, which was really invaluable in helping get Devry from her bassinet. C-section recoveries are a beast guys. And he also changed a billion diapers. This girl was an amazing pooper. Holy cow. The whole tar stage was ovre really fast because she pooped so much! Haha.
The next morning, Ryan had my mom take him to work so she could have the car and I ordered real food. I think I would eat this every day... Omelet, potatoes, fresh fruit, and Mtn Dew. Even though they did the blood patch they said to keep chugging the Mtn Dew. Good thing I like the stuff. :)
My mom came by after dropping Ryan off. My mom brought a ton of presents for P to help him feel special and give him things to do, but the best was a Woody doll, just like in Toy Story - pull string and all. I don't think I saw P without it once through all this. You can spot it on the couch next to them in the pictures below. Thanks mom!
I had a few friends stop by to say hi, but it was a pretty peaceful day - and much less painful!
That night I told Ryan to sleep at home. No sense in both of us losing sleep. The nurses all encouraged me to keep her in my room at night for bonding, which I totally agree - but expecting a c-section mom to handle things on her own is a little rough. One nurse told me almost secretively, like she would get in trouble for saying it or something, that if I didn't have anyone staying with me that I could send her to the nursery. I was very grateful for her kindness but ended up keeping her with me anyway. :) It actually wasn't too bad. It was really hard and painful, but we survived. And goodness, who wouldn't want to cuddle this sweet baby as much as possible?
Aren't those eyes amazing?!
Wednesday rolled around quickly and I was cleared to go home. 48 hours seems kind of quick considering c-sections are major surgery, but I was doing well and the headache hadn't returned. Dr. B came back to check on me a few times. He is my hero. Ryan was able to take off the rest of the day to help me get home and situated.
We dressed Devry in this adorable monkey outfit we received for my baby shower. The hat was pretty silly, but hey - it was December and cold out. Holy cow. I know it's cliche to say it, but looking at these pictures I can't believe how tiny she was! (Yes, there is a three month delay in birth to actually writing this down so she has changed a lot since then.)
I adore these pictures of my boys and their precious girl. These two are going to take such good care of her.
She was technically big enough for the car seat, but she was still so tiny that we tucked a few blankets on the side to help keep her steady.
Dodger was thrilled to meet her. He did everything he could to try and get in a few kisses. He was the same way with Pierscen.
Home sweet home. There is no better place to be! Especially when you have help and can take a nap worry free. ;)
Stay tuned for part two of the recovery adventures... Return of the Headache. Dun, dun, DUNNNNN!!!
