He is here! He finally has arrived into this world! September 23 at 4 am I woke to shower and get ready. I picked through a few outfits before settling on a favorite black shirt and jean capris. I was told not to wear makup, so I just did my hair and gathered the last few remaining things for my bag. My mother came at 4:40 to stay with Benjamin until the surgery at 7. Daniel and I drove the sleepy road to to the hospital, which is literally two minutes away. We arrived at the hospital and made our way to the third floor. I had been here many times this pregnancy with preterm labor, but today they were not going to give me a shot and send me home. They were ready for me.
They placed me in the same labor and delivery room as I was in when I had Benjamin two years ago. I met my nurse Donna, whom I was very happy to have. She had been there for my preterm a few weeks ago and I liked her a lot. She would take care of the baby when he came. I was prepped with an I.V. and gown and was hooked up to monitors until the they were ready for us. I felt this little tiny fear in the back of my head pop in every once and a while. I was not looking forward to them cutting me open. I remember it being very painful the day afterward. I had my phone and was listening to the radio when a particular song cam on. It is "Stolen" by Dashboard Confessionals. I placed the phone on my tummy and had a little moment with my unborn baby. This is our little theme song. I got very excited after this to meet him. My doctor came in as well as the anesthesiologist to prep me. When it came time I walked back to the operating room and climbed up onto a skinny table. The anesthesiologist talked me through the steps he was doing and my spinal was done in a few minutes. I laid down after my bum started to get warm and fuzzy. There were people buzzing around me, asking questions and I would answer. Someone laid a warm blanket over my shoulders. I love this part of surgery. Warmed blankets! I need a device that does this in my house. Soon the drape went up so I could no longer see my engorged baby belly. Something cold was wiped across the incision area. I could hear my doctor and then someone said to go get Daniel. He was in the room and sitting to my side. He found my hand under the blankets and I was grateful he was there. I was getting nervous. There was a student nurse in the room, so my doctor was giving a play-by-play so it was nice to hear exactly what he is doing. I am trying to concentrate, but find my self so tired. I remembering being this way last time too. They doctor said I didn't have very much scar tissue. All of a sudden I hear, "Do you see the shape of his head? There is a hand too." I knew we were just seconds away from the delivery. They made their last incision and pulled the baby out. It took a few seconds, but a low cry came out of my little boy. I started to cry. I was so touched and grateful that he was finally here. Daniel stood up to watch them and I could tell he was so happy. He turns to me and says,"If you can't tell, I'm smiling!" Daniel is just so cute. He runs to the baby. Everyone says that he has lots of hair and is gorgeous! He was born at 7:35am, weighed 6lbs 15.8oz, and measured 20 in. long.
Daniel returns in a few minutes and says they are bringing him so I can see. The nurse sets him next to my head and I reach up and hold him. I start to cry again and am in love with him. I didn't want to touch Ben when he came out, because I have this thing with bodily juices, but this time I would have kissed every inch of him. They soon pull away and Daniel, the nurse and the baby wen to the nursery. The anesthesiologist would keep asking if I was ok and tell me what was left to do. He was a very kind man and very concerned about me. I felt nauseated and he held a lima bean shaped bowl so I could throw up. Then laid a wash cloth on my forehead. My doctor was still telling the step-by-step process and I learned that some doctors only do one layer of stitching and it makes it messy, but my doctor puts in at least three before the outside staples. That way I heal faster and cleaner. He is a very good and meticulous doctor. He then ended by talking about having to do surgery with very simple tools in Vietnam. He said he was there for 13 months, 3 weeks, 6 days, _hours and _minutes. I don't remember all the details, but he did not enjoy his experiences there and it is forever in his mind. When I was finished they took down the drape and prepared me for the bed. The doctor said I was a good patient and the baby is beautiful. They wheeled me back to the room and I was monitored for a while before Daniel wheeled the baby to my side. He said he had trouble maintaining his body temp, so it took them a while to bring him back. I held him and they laid another warm blanket over us to keep him warm. He was beautiful. He had long black hair and plump lips. He looked like Ben, but a little different. His head shape was thinner. I nursed him and he was a great eater. No problem latching and he was hungry. They said he kept sucking his fist, so they gave him a pacifier to soothe him until he could come to me. Daniel said he had taken Ben to see the baby through the glass window and he acted shy and would whisper baby.
After a while family came back into the room to hold him. Grandpa Mark went first followed my Grandma Dee and Gram Guenin. Ben had his chance too. He was very careful and all smiles. He loved to kiss and hug his little brother. Soon everyone left and we made our way to the room we would stay in for the next few days. Daniel and I slept a lot the rest of the day and cuddled the baby. Grandpa Mark came back after work and held him for two hours. His eyes were open and he loved to be held. That night the baby would sleep for four hour stretches and then eat really well.
The next day Ben stays with my mom and they visit the zoo. Daniel and I spend time with the baby. Friends visit periodically and bring wonderful gifts. Daniel leaves for a while to run some errands and comes back with gifts. I get lots of chocolate and the baby gets elephant themed gifts. Later on Daniel's sister Michelle and her family visit us. His parents come too. We spend time analyzing the baby and visiting. Daniel is so cute with the baby. He runs to his aid at a moments whimper. He talks and cuddles with him. You can tell how proud he is of him and the love just emanates. I am happy with this beautiful sight. He is such a good daddy.
The next day Doctor Zeller comes and takes out my stapels. He asks if I want to go home and lets me. We prepare to go home and Daniel fills my prescription for pain medication. My mom, brother Joe and Ben all come to help. We load everything up and drive home. Benny has to pull this toy attached to the baby's car seat that vibrates for him the whole way home. If he lets go accidentally, he says "reach" until Daniel helps it find it's way back into Ben's hands. When we arrive home there is a cute sign Ben made to welcome his little brother home on the front door.
There are balloons signs and decorations up all over the living room that Gram, Joe and Ben put up for our welcome home. It is a beautiful sight. Soon the house is all settled and we all take a nap together. Ben visits Grandpa and Grandma Hamman's house and Daniel and I spend time settling with the baby. We watch woman's conference on the t.v. and soon Ben is home. Things are finally starting to fall into their new places. It seems like he has always been apart of our family and couldn't imagine anything different. Ben always want to hold the baby. When he gives kisses it isn't just one, it is like a shower of kisses. We have our moments of difficulty with a two year old and the new things in our lives, but I know they will sort themselves out and our lives will be better than before, because we have a new person apart of our family. We love him to death.
