Meeting Cletus the Girl Fetus

Wednesday morning started off way before the crack of dawn. With Abigail we had an evening date with the doctor. I was really trying to avoid that again because I had to fast before the operation. Nothing like telling an extremely pregnant woman that she can't eat or drink for 10-12 hours. So at 9:30 the night before I took my last large glasses of water and was prepared. Of course neither Josh nor I slept much. We packed up all of our things to try to tire us out but that didn't work well. I think we got all of 3 or 4 hours of sleep. We woke up around 4 AM to leave the house at 4:45 AM. We had requested (told everyone) that the hospital arrangements would be Josh's parents coming to the hospital with us in our car and then my parents coming to the hospital with Abigail once I was in the postpartum room. I wasn't going to have Abigail sitting in the hospital lobby for hours on end. With her we were delayed by 2 hours. Not to mention the 2 hours we had to be at the hospital before the scheduled surgery.

We arrived at the hospital at 5:30 AM and went right up to the waiting room upstairs. This time we were on a different floor from when we had Abigail so it was new but not so new. Very surreal. It honestly didn't hit me that we were here to welcome our baby girl into the world and my pregnancy was coming to an end. Not that I was complaining about the relief that I was going to feel in my legs. I was extremely over that part.

Up to the fourth floor we went (we were on the second last time for those of you who care) and sat in the waiting room for about 10 minutes before we had to do the administrative paperwork. It also allowed us to get directions for Josh's parents so they didn't have to sit there for two plus hours. What was really weird is that we were not the only people in the waiting room. Soon after we sat back down, it was time to go to the back. I was brought into a little room with a very nice nurse, Millie. She asked Josh if he ate breakfast and he stumbled to say no. He didn't want to leave me but had really not eaten. Millie picked up on that right away and told him that we are just going to change and get some lines started. Nothing major so he should go with his parents down to the cafeteria for a bite. Otherwise it was going to be a few hours. We just chatted while she got me hooked up to all the monitors and start my IV. Josh came back about 30 minutes later and soon after Mike, the anesthesiologist (or dope man as Josh called him). He hooked me up with the good stuff and I was on my way. What I wasn't prepared for, because it didn't happen last time, was that I had a lot of trouble keeping my eyes open. I wasn't falling asleep but it was serious work to keep the eyelids up. This was a life changing moment and I wanted to see it!!!

Mike came back to check on me and I was very numb. Josh got his hospital couture on and I was soon rolled back to the operating room.

Don't I look high????

Once on the table, I felt some tugging and pulling but really was just relaxing with my eyes closed. However, the minute I heard the soft cry of Madeline, my eyes shot open! She was here!!! Josh stood up a little to see her and then went over to the warmer table to confirm that her name fit. He said she definitely looked like a Madeline Sara. Good thing because we had NO CLUE what she would be named otherwise. Soon she was brought over to me and I got my first kiss and hug in with my new daughter. She was just so beautiful.

Josh accompanied Madeline out of the operating room for a roll to the nursery for a quick check out and a drive by the awaiting grandparents. I was closed up and wheeled to the recovery room. What was really nice this time was that Madeline was waiting for me there. With Abigail, I didn't get to see her until we were in the postpartum room. I didn't like that and glad that hospital changed things from two years ago. I was able to start nursing right away and we were soon rolled to the room where we would live for the next few days.

Final stats on me: 25 lbs gained. I had gained 32 lbs with Abigail but this time I didn't gain as much weight. I have called this the 2 year old pregnancy diet. Picking up Abby, playing on the floor, going up and down the stairs multiple times a day with her kept the weight off. Not that I was looking to stay skinny pregnant but it makes the afterwards that much easier.