The day the Narruhn world changed

A little over a week ago our little bundle of joy entered the world.

It all started out early in the morning. I knew I was having a c-section and they had me scheduled for 8AM but we had to be there between 6-6:30AM. So, I got out of bed just like any other day and got in the shower. While I was standing there with the water coming down on me I had to rub my belly for what would be the last time. It was kind of a bittersweet moment. Although pregnancy wasn't my favorite thing I really did love having a belly to rub and feeling those little feet moving around in there. I said a little prayer that all would go well and our baby would be healthy. Before we got in the car I had Mom take a few last minute pictures of Nick and me and a picture to show my belly right before baby came.

We got to the hospital and they admitted me and sent me to triage where I had to wait a short time for the nurses to get an IV in my arm. I was dreading this because no one ever seems to find my veins but I knew being tense about it wasn't going to help. I'd heard drinking a lot of water helps the veins be more plump, but I wasn't supposed to have anything to eat or drink for 12 hours before, so no nice plump veins in this ladies arm. It took three sticks for them to get one. Let me tell you, it wasn't the most comfortable place to have an IV either. It was right on the inside of my left wrist where it bends making it really uncomfortable to do anything later on (like hold a baby when you're nursing). The anesthesiologist, Fannie, came in and  explained everything to me. She was amazing. I was telling her how the outside of my right leg has been numb for about two years and how I was told it was a pinched nerve in my lower back. She did this little wet test thing with an alcohol swab and determined it wasn't any nerve in my back but was a pinched nerve in the top of my leg somewhere. Finally someone had an answer! Anyways, they prepped the OR and then came to get me. I had to walk across the hall in a hospital gown, just one, and the back was opened. The only thing I was worried about the whole time was if my fannie (Fannie told me to watch my language...haha...I'd forgotten her name was Fannie) was hanging out but the ladies made sure I was all good to go. Nick went out to get Mom. She wasn't able to go into the operating room like Nick but they had a small room off to the side with a window where she would be able to watch the nurses cleaning up the baby and take some pictures.

 I got into the operating room and Fannie had me sit on the table and push my lower back out as far as possible. Let me tell you, all the yoga in the world didn't make that any easier considering I had a bulging belly in the front of me. I bet I looked hilarious. Then she put the needle in my back and made sure she had spinal fluid coming out, which meant she was where she needed to be to get the spinal going. A spinal....like nothing I've ever had....ever! Having the spinal done didn't bother me so much, I felt the prick and then she was done. The weird part was how I couldn't feel anything from my belly button down to my toes. After she was done getting the spinal she had me lay down. She'd explained to me at the beginning how some people kind of have a freaked out feeling because it feels like you can't breath after you get all numbed up. I didn't think much of it, but she was right. I didn't feel like I couldn't breath, but just laying there on my back (which I wasn't really able to do for the previous 9 months) with my body numb and a full term baby laying on my lungs wasn't easy. I forgot to add that they had me drink some weird tasting shot of some stuff that was supposed to help with acid reflux before taking me to the OR. As I was laying there waiting for the spinal to kick in completely I started to get sick. Then Fannie got an emesis basin and kept rubbing my forehead. After being sick I felt 100% better. Once the spinal was working its magic they brought my handsome husband in all garbed up in surgical clothes. He sat right beside me the whole time. I kept looking at him and talking. Then all of a sudden my shoulder started burning and Fannie assured me it was pretty common to have that sensation. I looked at Nick and then I told them both I was going to be sick. Nick held the emesis basin for me that time. I can't really explain to you the emotions I was feeling right then. I was more worried about Nick worrying about me being sick on the OR table than anything. I knew I was in good hands. I had Fannie and two MD's in the room with me. IF anything were to happen, I was covered! But Nick, I couldn't imagine how he was feeling watching his wife be sick and knowing there was nothing he could do. After I was sick that time I was again 100% better and didn't get sick again the rest of the c-section.

Once my MD had my uterus open, and I will never ever forget this in my whole life, she said, "Your baby has a lot of hair!" I couldn't stop smiling. I guess what they say is true about having heartburn and if you do your baby will have a full head of hair. After that the MD's reminded me about them pushing on my belly (supposedly this is the part most people don't like). Me, I was smiling away, just staring at Nick. I didn't care how hard they pushed on my belly, I knew our baby was coming out! It actually took two of them. My primary MD couldn't get the baby out so the other MD had to try. While they were pushing on my belly I was laying there, staring at Nick, knowing life was going to change, and I couldn't stop smiling at him. He told me, "You can't even get a bigger smile on your face right now!" Then I heard, "You're baby is a......" and it seemed like blasted forever before they told us! But, we had a girl! They held Kailey up over the screen so Nick and I could see her, then took her off to our left to start cleaning her off. Nick stayed by my side and then they told him he could go over and see her. They'd already opened the curtain for Mom to be able to see what was going on too.

They gave Kailey to Nick and let him bring her over to me so I could see her. I couldn't even cry like most people say they do when their children are born. I was smiling too much. I was so happy. I was amazed and in awe.

They took Nick and I into a room. Then the spinal really threw me for a loop. My legs kept jumping around like jumping beans while it was wearing off. I'm not sure if it was me trying to move my legs or just something that happens, but it was happening. The nurses brought Kailey in and Nick and I had an hour before we could have guests come in.

I only ended up being in the hospital two nights and went home a day early. I made sure to get up and walk around when I could. The first day was the worst. The more I was walking the better I felt. I walked around the nurses station at least 6 times on Thursday. Friday morning my MD came in and said the nurses told her, "Please go down there and let them go home!" I hope we weren't really that bad. Nick told her it wasn't that we wanted to get out of the hospital, it was that we wanted to go home. She also thought I was nuts for not taking the Percocet, but the Motrin was just fine for me. Percocet always makes me a bit loopy and light headed, not what I wanted to be with a brand new baby, and besides, I didn't need it.

As soon as we all got in the car I looked at Nick and I started crying. I know a womans hormones are wicked after birth, and it was probably part of it, but most of it was I was so overwhelmed. I didn't think I could love Nick any more than I did, but I was completely wrong. He is an amazing husband and takes such great care of me, and I'd just had his baby. That was something amazing to say the least. I can't even put into words how it feels to be a family, not a couple. As soon as we walked in our house it felt completely different. It wasn't just our house anymore, it was our home. The feel was warm, cozy and perfect. I saw Mom sitting on the couch (we were discharged in the morning before Nick could pick her up) and I just went to her and cried more. I was truly overwhelmed. Mom just let me cry. She told me I was right, I'd married an amazing man and I would be an awesome mother and if she'd thought otherwise she would have told me.

Our family is home and adjusting well. There really is nothing like having a child. Part of me doesn't know if I can do it again. I don't know if I have the capacity to love another child just as much as I love Kailey, and only time will tell. But in the mean time, I'm going to bask in the warmth and love I have right here within my grasp everyday and cherish every moment.