We scheduled our c section 6 weeks prior and I am so thankful our girl stayed right on schedule. The night before I had such a peace come over me. Any anxiety or fears I always get before surgery just went away. I was able to really enjoy my last night feeling her kick, and watching my belly shake during her nightly hiccup session. My husband got into bed, reached over to hold my hand, and we fell asleep that way. I am pretty sure he might have been more nervous than I was. Love him so.
When my alarm went off at 4 am...I woke right up and was so excited. 10 years of only knowing baby boys...I was soon to meet MY GIRL! Sheesh that was just so exciting. An hour flew by and we were grabbing what we packed for the hospital and heading out the door before the sun came up. Driving to Nashville I was still super calm. I knew the time and moments would fly by so I was just enjoying every single second.
We got to Nashville and parked on a very familiar 3rd floor then went in to get all checked in. We went and sat in the waiting room and only about 5 minutes after sitting there our nurse came in to get us. She was so sweet, I knew we would love her from the moment we met her.
We got into our surgery prep room and I got changed into my gown and settled into the hospital bed. Answered 101 questions, got my IV put in, blood taken, baby monitor hooked up, and signed a bunch of papers. I had a few moments I started to cry. Not because of fear, but because I just knew I would miss my girl being in my belly...safe and so close to me. I watched the monitors with our heartbeats going for a while. That was another reminder of how incredible this entire journey has been and how her heart has grown below mine for 9 months. It didn't seem long before we had some family come back to see us and then we were being wheeled down the hall to our surgery room.
Justin had to wait right outside the surgery room while they gave me my spinal and got me prepped for my c section. That is always a lonely few minutes, I didn't want to be away from him for a split second.
We had a phenomenal team in our c section. They made me feel so at ease when I got into the room and while they got me moved onto the operating table. It felt like I had known these people my entire life....and I really trusted them with our lives. I remember once they got me hooked up to everything and I could feel my lower body going numb they went and got Justin. He pulled up a chair and didn't stay far from my face from that moment on. I remember telling him "we're about to meet our girl" and I think we both started to cry. A few moments later a nurse said "grab your camera, daddy...here she comes!" (I am crying already typing this) I heard my doc say "okay I need a big suction" and the next thing I know I heard the sweetest cry. Oh my goodness. She was here. The nurse handed her to me immediately. I couldn't believe I had a baby with a head full of DARK hair! Both my boys were bald so this was such a shock. She was perfect, so gorgeous, more incredible than I had ever dreamed. Of course she was covered in stuff since she hadn't been cleaned off at all yet and I did not care...I couldn't stop kissing her...I couldn't stop crying...and I couldn't take my eyes off of her.
The nurse got her to weigh her and check her out really quick. She was 8 pounds 14 ounces.... 18 1/2 inches long. Pure perfection! Justin then got to hold her and I didn't see him take his eyes off of her. He cried, I cried. Those were moments that couldn't have been more perfect in any way. To see my husband with his only baby girl....oh me....he fell madly in love instantly. He kept saying "shes perfect...she is so perfect". We took some photos and then before we knew it I was sewed up and about to head to recovery.
Liam Kate was born at 7:42 am. We wheeled into surgery around 7:30 and was in recovery by 8 am. That shows you how quickly my surgery went. It was hands down the fastest and smoothest c section I have had. I am so thankful it went so perfectly. Recovery had a few hiccups but I am use to anesthesia making me sick.
Probably 30 minutes into recovery I got nauseated. My body doesn't handle anesthesia well and it does not handle medicine being pumped into my IV well either. I was ready to get my IV out during recovery...I think I asked the nurse a few times to just take it out. haha. Once we got into our room on the 7th floor I was still pretty sick so family got to enjoy our sweet girl while I tried to feel somewhat better. By that night I felt better. I got up, walked to the bathroom, walked around my room and even tried to convince the nurse to take my IV and catheter out then. She wouldn't but said she would in the morning if I was doing ok.
Our first night with our girl was just dreamy. Justin and I both didn't sleep much and it wasn't because Liam cried or woke up a lot. We just couldn't get enough of her! When the nurse had to come get her for various reasons I would miss her so bad and have Justin go to the nursery to rush them or check on her.
The next morning my nurse took out my IV and catheter. I took a shower, walked up and down the halls, and stayed out of my miserable hospital bed as much as possible. I was so ready to go home just 24 hours after my surgery but I knew Liam and I both had to be monitored at least a little longer.
Liam had her hearing test and passed. The pediatrician said she was as healthy as could be. We found out our blood types didn't match so I had to have another shot. And whatever else check ups we had went great so I was really ready to go home. We were told we could probably go home the next morning but that its pretty rare for c section patients to go home before 3 days in the hospital. I could not have stayed 3 days....I don't do hospitals, they are miserably uncomfortable. And honestly...I couldn't think about getting rest...all I could think about was getting home to my boys and just starting our lives as a family of 5.
The next morning we were released by my doctor and Liam's to go home. We were so excited. We called the boys to tell them and they both were just beside themselves with excitement.
Such a huge thank you to our friends and family that came to see us and meet our baby girl. We had a phenomenal experience and are so thankful for another perfect delivery at Baptist Hospital.
Here are (in somewhat of an order) photos from our girls special day. More posts to come on our girl and our family of 5 soon :)
This is the last belly photo I took...It was taken about 10 minutes before we headed to Nashville to have our girl!
T
sorry if you don't like blood! Justin took a peek during surgery to see our girl being born. Loud healthy cries made us both cry!
Having my baby girl has changed my life forever. My way of thinking, loving, and especially praying. The love I felt the moment she was born is something I will never be able to describe. I am so thankful God blessed us with her, our precious gift.
This monitor has Liam Kate's heartbeat on it. I took this right before I went into surgery. I watched this monitor for a while just soaking up my last minutes being pregnant with her. I knew I would miss her being snug in my belly....and I do.
Andrew was SO proud to be the first one out of surgery to see and hold his new baby sister. He said, "I feel like I have waiting my whole life for this, I love her so much." Bless his amazing heart. He fell in love with her so fast!
I had so much time in the hospital to just hold my girl and stare at her. I never dreamed I would have a baby girl, and I fell so deep in love with her. I loved studying her tiny features and kissing her over and over again. Her daddy and I didn't mind when she would wake us up at night because we both missed having her in our arms. When the nurse had to come get her and take her to see the pediatrician or have tests done we were so sad and lonely. It wouldn't take long and I would be out the door and down the hall to peek in on my girl and see what they were doing. I couldn't handle her being out of arms reach from me.
Who knows....maybe we'll be back at Baptist Hospital in 3 or 4 years delivering just one more precious baby :)
Our time at home together has been so amazing and crazy at the same time. I am so thankful for the help of our close friends and family...and I am especially so thankful for my sweet husband. This journey is quite an incredible one and we are so blessed.
More posts and photos to come ...
