The morning of Monday, March 12th, I was scheduled for my c-section at 8:00am. We got there at 6:00 so they could take a medical history and prep me. John gave me a wonderful priesthood blessing the night before. It helped ease my fears and concerns, leaving me with a peaceful feeling that everything would go well.
Excited to meet our little guy and nervous for the pain of recovery.
The worst part of the whole labor and recovery process was getting the spinal block. John was waiting outside the OR for them to get me numbed and the doctor to make the incision before they let him in, so I was on my own. The anesthesiologist had to poke me FOUR TIMES to get the needle in the right place. I told myself all morning that I wasn't going to cry, but I got so overwhelmed and emotional at that point that I just let the waterworks loose. It hurt SO bad and the nurses were great, but I wished John was there for me to squeeze. Luckily it was all uphill from there.
At 8:30 Hudson arrived. This was my first look at him, over the drape.
He wasn't crying very much and wouldn't respond to their attempts at making him mad. They said he had too much fluid in his lungs. I was pretty scared, but they kept reassuring me he was going to be fine.
His "leave me alone" look.
They finally let John bring him over so I could get a look at him.
I had a fabulous nurse who took charge of my camera, allowing John to stay by me during the procedure. She got all the shots I would have asked for (and some I wouldn't have, like the c-section).
They weighed him in at 7 lbs 6 oz. Nice and healthy!
His oxygen stats were still low so he had to stay in this space suit oxygen tank thing for a couple hours.
At 10:30 he was breathing better on his own and they let him come to my room where I nursed him and held him for the first time.
After getting to know our new baby the nurse came in to bathe him. It was really nice because they did it in my room where I could watch. The other two boys had had their first baths in the nursery so I missed out.
After he was all cleaned up and fed again, we called my mom and the boys to come see him.
Marshall was in awe of him.
Grammy was so excited to meet him.
Coen didn't really know what to think or expect.
Love this expression.
Holding him all by himself.
My mom brought the boys over each day to see their new brother. By the second or third day all they wanted to do was get to the cafeteria for popsicles! One day John took them home for a few hours so my mom could spend uninterrupted time bonding with Hudson.
Getting up and moving was so much easier this time around. Each time the nurses came in to make me do something (there are steps to the process of eventually getting up and showering), I was ready for the step ahead of what they were asking.
When they un-cathed me, I told them I was ready to scoot to the edge of the bed to sit.
Next they wanted me to stand, but I was ready to walk a few feet.
Then came going to the bathroom, walking the hallway, and showering. Before a nurse could even come tell me it was time for a walk, I was at the nurses station saying hello.
I was so pleased with myself and felt great to be this much ahead of where I was at with Coen's recovery.
I was amazed at the difference between the pain and discomfort with Coen vs. Hudson's birth and recovery. I could stand straighter, there wasn't a burning sensation across my whole abdomen, I could move easier and at a faster rate, and I had just an all-around quicker recovery this time around.
Daddy did a photo shoot late one night before bed. He took pictures of all Hudson's little parts.
Big yawn.
Our new family of FIVE!!
On Thursday morning we were out the door by 11:00. I was more than ready to go rest and recover at home.
We start them on the Xbox early around here.
