Around 5 o'clock in the morning on Friday, January 6th, Cary, McKinley, my Mom and I walked into the hospital to get this party started. That is NOT what I was thinking at the time. On the contrary, I was shaking like a leaf, scared as can be (of that freaking spinal), worried about McKinley, worried about Cary, worried about this baby. I am pretty sure Cary and I neither one slept more than a few hours...collectively. But when we reached the labor and delivery/nursery floor we were greeted with the smiling face of Robin, and some of her crew. It helped calm me a lot. We were ushered into our labor room (though, there would be no laboring for me!) and suddenly, I was signing papers, changing into that glamorous gown (swear, if there's a next time I'm wearing what Tori Spelling has worn...way more chic), being hooked to the monitors, starting the IV, and having contractions, fairly big ones too! Then my in laws arrived, then the man whom I would stick that needle in my back. I think I had a few moments to "rest", however I was definitely panicked. That's just me, I guess.
All of a sudden, I was told my OB I had arrived and was getting ready. I looked at the clock and an hour and a half had already flown by! It was time. If my blood pressure hadn't sky rocketed by now it sure was at that moment! I tearfully said goodbye to McKinley, he would spend this time with my mother and father in law. Cary and my Mom would be getting dressed in their surgery garb while I was being prepped and stuck. Fun. And Robin was close behind, scrubbing in as well. My nurse walked me across the hall to the surgical room, now here's where it all gets a little, um, less than ladylike for yours truly. Evidently, I felt it necessary to just whip out a few cuss words. Mild ones, but I apologized to the nurse, who promptly instructed me not to apologize and to say whatever I felt necessary and she would say it with me. There was a resounding, "OH SH*T" a few seconds later...in unison...me and my nurse.
Inside the OR, I sat on the table as the nurse anesthetist did his thing. My nurse was holding me - as she is supposed to during the anesthesia, I was crying, so another nurse came over. It was Dawn, we'd worked together before I had McKinley. She's great, she grabbed my hand. Then in came another nurse, Amy. I also knew her from my medical field days. She's great too. Then there was the guy I'd helped in his orientation to the hospital! He had also scrubbed in my first c-section and remembered us! Then of course, my sweet OB. I instantly felt MUCH more comfortable. Which is good because I was numb and laying down and moments away from seeing my beautiful baby! Robin and company went straight to work, I was prepped, the curtain was draped, all the baby stuff was ready, Robin was camera ready! Cary and Mom came in. I was crying. Happy tears (and frankly, I was thrilled the spinal was OVER)! It was such an emotional experience!
Doctor was talking to us all, I was dozing slightly. There was small talk, a few stories, then Doctor began chatting about my Mom and her career with the surgeon (and dear friend) she has worked for going on 30 years. He said, "This woman right here, she and Doctor are DINOSAURS!" I swear if I hadn't been numb and immobile from the neck down I would have raised up and smacked his arm. God love him, wrong choice of words. He meant it in a kind way, but wow. There was a lot of surgery talk, Cary and I talked a little too. He patted my head, held my hand (which was falling asleep), checked on me regularly. Then Doctor said, "Here we go, Lynn! How big does everybody think he will be?" I think I guessed 20 pounds...only half kidding because that is exactly what it felt like! Lots of guessing went on and then he said he was getting him out. I think there was a comment about getting him out because of his size. My Mom peeked over the curtain (I mean, really?) then grabbed Cary and pulled him up. Not sure he was prepared for that, but I know now he isn't sorry. In my c-section with McKinley we were both so exhausted from being awake for days, the laboring and the drama of everything going wrong, we were just emotional and needing to be focused on each other, the birth and getting through it to see that sweet boy. This time, he was much more prepared and knew what to expect so he could take it all in. I was proud, though I'm not entirely sure either of us ever intended for him to see my insides! Ha!!!!!!!!
Doctor said, "Here he comes! OH! He's BLONDE!" Insert mental record scratch - WHAT? He's BLONDE?! How precious and unexpected! Then there was another comment about getting him out, "oooh, big boy!" as I waited for his first cry. As he cried, so did I. Now I can breathe (literally and figuratively...). Then came the weigh in...NINE POUNDS EVEN!!!!!!!!! Twenty one inches long! Time for Robin to work her magic on our boy, off Cary went to be a part of it. I was a little caught off guard when Cary trotted off to the other side of the curtain (where I could only hear but not SEE what was going down...and I guess that is a very good thing), but I'm glad he was able to get the full experience this time around. As I said, last time we were like deer in the headlights. I lay there, think I had a conversation with my Mom (whom I think asked me if I knew what was going on on the other side...that's the surgery nut for you. No thanks, Mom, I didn't need to know fine details. I will feel them soon enough! Ha!), I cried a little, I dozed a bit, and began to feel a little light headed. The fun was JUST beginning...trust me.
Soon, Cary brought that precious little bundle over to meet his Mama. I kissed him. Cried more. Took a picture and said goodbye to Robin, Mom, Cary and our new baby boy. Then it got really quiet...Doctor was furiously working on me and explaining how extremely large the umbilical cord was and how much fluid had been removed. I mean, TMI! Just kidding...I started dozing a little again, then the light-headedness came back along with dizziness. OHMYGOD. My anesthesia nurse said my blood pressure was normal and all was well, he promised. In no time, I was on my way back to the labor room for recovery. There was propping and lowering, ice chips and then puking. Yes, puking. That was fun...and lucky me, it continued until 9pm!
That means all our guests were witness to my random episodes. My Godmother came in and just held my hand saying, "Honey, I don't like coming in and seeing you like this." Oh my...it was a dizzy day. I fondly remember holding that beautiful baby. I fed him a bottle. I was so groggy, but it was sweet. I felt such peace having all my family together.
When Cary first arrived back by my side after leaving the baby inside the nursery for their routine stuff, he came back and said, "Well, I think I named him. I hope you're okay with Jackson Michael!" Ha! Long ago, we decided if we had two boys they would be named McKinley Shane and Jackson Michael. Guess what? We got 'em! Our boys.
So, this beautiful boy, his name is Jackson Michael. He is named Jackson after Cary's beloved Mamaw, who died in November, 2011. Her maiden name was Jackson. His middle name is Michael, in memory of my Dad, and in honor of my father-in-law and brother-in-law. He is blonde, blue-eyed, has TWO dimples and that same handsome chin his big brother and Daddy have. He is perfect and precious and we are so very, very blessed.
Life is good and beautiful and so full of love,
Lynn
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