Oh what a day.

We started out early leaving the house around 4:30 for our 5:00am appointment to check in for the c section at 7:30. I’d slept the night before but not too much, of course. I was definitely nervous when we arrived – and of course had forgotten to get gas before hand, so I had to stop on the way.

Mom and I checked in and sat in the lobby for a bit before it was time for us to go up to the labor and delivery floor to prep for surgery. 

We got up to the room and got ready with a great nurse who then immediately went on shift change. But our next nurse was great too. They all made me feel as comfortable as possible given the circumstances. I joked that I was going to stop feeling important soon when people didn’t want a urine specimen every time I went somewhere. I’ve been peeing in cups twice a week now for almost 3 months now.

Katrina arrived with coffee for Mom and everyone was excited. My doctor came by and we all joked that everyone was sick of waiting to meet this little person and would be excited to get the opportunity today. I met with my anesthesiologist, who was fantastic and had trained a bunch of the guys I go to the gym with. One of them even swung by after his shift was over to check in. Very sweet.

By 7:15 it was time to head to the operating room, where they wheeled me in the bed – like a very slow strange roller coaster ride. Then they were like “okay, now get up and walk in!” Which somehow seemed pretty scary. My doctor and anesthesiologist were super sweet and doc held my hand while I got my spinal block. Then they asked me to swing onto the bed, which I promptly almost fell off of – oops.

Mom and Katrina came into the OR all suited up and the curtain came up. We were off and running!

Getting a person taken out of your body is an interesting experience. I didn’t feel any pain but there was a lot of yanking​ around. I can best equate the feeling of her being taken out as the gut bounce AFTER you get socked by a dodgeball. Apparently this is not a metaphor everyone understands, but that’s okay.

At 8:02am, 6lb and 19.25″ Ember Walker Rose arrived. She was perfect, of course. She’s got a full head of hair (where did that come from?) And coos a lot more than she cries. She’s a calm little girl who is too big to fit in all the premie outfits I brought – ha ha fantastic.

More photos to come as we had a barrage of visitors Wednesday which was fantastic.