The Incredibly Boring Birth Story of Number Two

I essentially had the most ridiculously calm birth of our second child ever. My second birth was a scheduled csection. The area that we are in VBAC's are not supported at the local hospital. To be honest, I am perfectly content with the decision of a planned csection. My scheduled date was Friday, March 8th. My mom drove up from Fredericksburg Thursday afternoon to take care of our #1, R. M and I tried to get some sleep Thursday night, but that is practically impossible when you know you have to get up at 3:30 in the morning. We crawled out of bed as quietly as possible, and got ready. We both showered seeing as we didn't know when our next shower was going to be. I grabbed M some snacks and made him a coffee...I wasn't allowed to eat after midnight :/ (I did get my favorite restaurant for dinner Thursday night!) We got loaded up in the car, and drove the one mile to the hospital. I was super excited and perfectly at peace knowing that we were so close to meeting our little boy!

We get to the hospital and have to go in through the emergency entrance (it's about 4:25 a.m. at this point). I had previously come in to do all of the registration, but I guess the people in the emergency room hadn't gotten the paperwork. That took all of 5 minutes, and then we headed up to L&D. They already had a private room ready for me, and we went on in. Got into my hospital gown, the usual pee in a cup, and they got me all hooked up for stats and stuff. I loved that this hospital was so open to my personal requests regarding the delivery. For one, I requested that my IV be put in my arm instead of my hand. I know, I know sounds little, but that was one of the biggest things I dealt with during my last birth. Nothing hurts worse than trying to pick yourself up, and having a needle stab the crud out of your hand. They monitored and prepared me for surgery, and M and I napped on and off, joked, watch some tv, and prayed. It was a very wonderful and peaceful time between the two of us.

About 7:00, the nurses came in to wheel me down to the OR. Wow, what a different atmosphere when your surgery is something fun! When we got down to the OR it was more waiting, but my team all came in to introduce themselves. We finally got moved to the actual OR, and Michael had to wait outside while they got everything set up. I was all jittery, and a bundle of nerves and excitement. I do have to say that the spinal was some major pressure...more so than my epidural with R. The nurse that was holding me was great, and very supportive! They all talked me through each step which was wonderful. I have to say that feeling a spinal take affect was absolutely bizarre. It's like a slow tingling sensation starting in your chest and then going down to your toes, and then eventually all the feeling goes away. After the spinal was in full affect they started the csection. The whole atmosphere was great! Everyone was so excited, because we were delivering a baby on our time! The spinal put some pressure on my diaphragm, and I started to feel a little paranoid and short of breath. M came in about that time, and I asked him to pray over us and the surgery. It helped calm me down, and breath! My doctor was very talkative and told us what was going on. When it was time to deliver little L they pulled the blanket down a little to where we could watch the delivery. It was an awesome experience getting to watch him being pulled out! At 8:03 on 03/08, my beautiful baby boy was born! He had the sweetest cry! The nurses brought M over for then cleaning up, and cutting of the cord while the doctor started working on sewing me up. M brought baby L over so that I could see him and touch him. Then they got whisked upstairs for bath and stats while the doc finished with me. They moved the table up a little, and the extreme pressure I was feeling in my chest lifted immediately and I took the biggest breath!

After surgery was complete I got moved to recovery. It felt like I was in recovery forever, but it was only about 20-30 minutes. It was then that we found out that L was 7 lbs 11 oz and 20 1/2" long! They kept telling me to try and sleep, but I was too excited! Finally, I got moved up to my room, and M came in with baby L. I got to nurse, and he latched on like a little pro! About the time that we were finishing up my mom and R came in and we got to introduce the two brothers. R was very concerned about my big booboo, but he was enamored with L. My heart swelled with pride watching this growing relationship between brothers. My recovery that day was a little rough. Every four hours I started feeling nauseous, and I would end up throwing up any fluid I had in my stomach. Eventually, everything got better, and I was up and ready to walk the next morning. The nurses did not expect me to be ready to take a shower Saturday morning, but I was chomping at the bit to get going. I showered while M slept, and I got to put on a little makeup and put some clean clothes on. M's family came in that day, and came up to meet baby L. It was great to see everyone, and I'm happy that we decided to wait to have visitors until the next day. It would have been pretty difficult seeing everyone through the puking.

We went home Sunday afternoon, and R was so happy to have us all home. The recovery this time was a heck of a lot easier this time around, and so was nursing. It was so nice to have my mom with us during that first week home. I am so thankful for the love and peace that surrounded us during that time. It made everything so pleasant, and such a blessing.

Presenting our number 2, Baby L! Hasn't even had his first bath yet!

We're Still Alive, Pt. 2

Okay, okay, I know I said sooner, but isn't this is better than nothing right? :) 

So the last part was Christmas. I was still at the bank, heavily pregnant, and M was still trucking through school.  M started his second semester at SHSU, and Robbie headed back to our sitters. The semester was relatively boring besides us getting ready for little L to join our family. M finished both semesters with a 4.0, and lined up to take two classes during the summer.

March came up on us super quick, and on March 8, 2013 we welcomed our newest addition Baby L.

This was R meeting Baby L for the first time :) he loved him instantly, and nothing has changed since.

Since then we have been trucking along. I went back to the bank after 6 weeks, and then a few weeks later I was offered a teaching position at a preschool. I started there in June, and will continue teaching there in the fall.  It was such a blessing to be offered that position, because the boys get to come with me. I'm done by 1:30 in the summer and 3:30 in the fall, so I will be getting more quality time with them! Oh, the other awesome thing?! The school is nursing friendly! As a huge supporter of breastfeeding, I cannot express how relieved I am to have a nursing friendly workplace. I have heard plenty of stories of women who stop nursing after two or three months, because it's so frustrating to have a workplace that is not conducive to pumping/nursing....but that's for another post. 

This summer has been super fun for us so far! We invested in a state park pass ($70 for a year, and it gets you into any state park!? Ummm yes please!) and have gone several times to the Huntsville State Park. It has paid for itself in the last two months. As much as M and I complain about Hville, the beauty of the area definitely makes life a little easier. Yes, it does get dreadfully humid, but we can go early in the morning or later in the afternoon, pick an easy trail for the family, and then go splash around at the lake. Sometimes I plan our meals based on whether we can eat it at the park or not. 

We have also been doing some traveling/exploring. We have gone down to The Woodlands, Bryan/College Station, San Antonio, Fredericksburg, and Dallas. We are hopefully going to be making a trip to the beach later this summer. Below is a picture of our trip to the George Bush Presidential Museum and Library. 

 

We all had a blast! Now, I have a three year old with a ton of energy that needs expelling, and a hubby who needs help finding coffee stuffs! We are visiting my mom right now, and I'm so excited to see more of my family tomorrow and Sunday.  So, time to bid you adieu, and leave you with a peaceful picture of my view while drinking coffee on the back porch this morning.

Two of my awesome boys, and a small glimpse of my mom's green thumb :)

Have a blessed day!

A