Welcome to the world precious Emberly!

She's here! Here's her story- good thing hers isn't 2 years late!

Because of the events of Luke's birth, my doctor decided a repeat planned c-section would be the way to go for any future babies. We set the date a few months ago- May 15th- unless I went into labor early. 

I have to admit that most of the pregnancy I was excited about my planned C. But the night before? I started panicking. Just the idea of surgery, the IV, the pain... everything started coming back to me. Not to mention the "newborn" stage, breastfeeding, counting dirty diapers, dispensing medicine, etc. 

I had 2 pre-op appointments on Monday. I had a final visit with my doctor and then filled out all the paperwork at the hospital. I was curious what pediatrician would be on call, so I popped into OB and found out. 

Tuesday was pretty much a complete day of cleaning, making sure everything was packed (yep, I left packing the hospital bag until the last minute), and tying up loose ends. I had to take a prep shower Tuesday night and rub this nasty smelling bacteria killing stuff all over my belly to prep for the surgery. My parents came up so they would have Luke first thing the next morning. We didn't go to bed until almost midnight (knowing the alarm clock would be going off early the next morning!). 

Wednesday morning came fast. Alarms went off at 4:45am and I had to take a second prep shower. I wanted to "get ready" so I at least felt somewhat human after surgery. I did my hair, and put on makeup (well I wasn't really supposed to wear makeup, but I snuck some foundation). We finished packing (pillows, blankets, towels, cell chargers) and we were off. We actually got out a little later than expected and arrived 5 minutes late to the hospital. I joked that if we couldn't get the 2 of us to our scheduled surgery, how the heck are we ever going to be on time with 2 kids?

We walked in and they got us situated in our room- Room 102 (right next door to the room I was in with Luke). I immediately fell in love with my nurse. I can't say enough good things about the nurses at that hospital. They were just all so wonderful!! 

I warned them that morning sickness had come back in the past couple weeks and since I hadn't eaten anything since the night before I was a little queasy. They wanted to get my IV in and started pretty quickly since I needed a full round of antibiotics before surgery (I was Group B Strep positive this time around as well). They also started some anti-nausea medicine. I wish I could say, "then they put my IV in and was whisked away to surgery"- but it wasn't that easy!

They started in my right arm... and when I say arm- I mean the TOP of my arm. After two failed attempts (the second time was in the side of my arm) and the comment "roley poley vein", I started seeing stars, everyone sounded like they were underwater, and I started throwing up. It was pretty terrible. I'm not a public thrower- upper and it was pretty embarrassing doing that in front of 2 nurses and Josh. They got me a cold rag and brought in a fan. It brought back so many memories of getting the IV with Luke. I've decided that the IVs are worse than the surgery- hands down!

The nurse then moved to my left arm/hand. I honestly don't know why I didn't speak up sooner because I have had multiple lab techs tell me that my veins are better in my left arm. She immediately found the vein ("threaded it"- that term totally gave me the heebie jeebies) and started the IV. Here I am recovering after that horrible process. See all the bandages on my right arm?

After all the hurry up, let's get the IV started, I had about an hour to "relax". They started a bunch of meds and it made me really sleepy. I wanted to fall asleep but I was so excited I just couldn't. I was also super anxious about the spinal block, so my mind was really focused on that. 

I met the anesthesiologist and he was absolutely fantastic. He talked me through the procedures he would be doing and he would be there if I needed anything. He seriously ended up being my favorite!

My doctor came in around 7:30am to say hello and she asked if I had anymore questions. She also said there was another patient who may need an emergency c-section before me- which would bump our c-section back about 2 hours. Although I was bummed, I've been in that other patient's shoes. I just didn't want to have to anticipate surgery for another 2 hours! 

Within 5 minutes of my doctor telling me that, the OR staff was in my room wheeling me away! It was GO TIME! No emergency c-section for the other patient (yay for her!) and ours was still on schedule! YAY! The ride down the hall was surreal. It's like there was NO turning back. Josh was with me until the door of the OR and they asked him to wait in the hall. I wish I would have snapped a picture of him in his "bunny suit". He was adorable. 

The OR was freezing. I had the shakes but everyone was so cheery, talkative, and friendly. It was such a relaxed atmosphere (much different than Luke's c). My anesthesiologist was there again and after they transferred me from my bed to the OR table he started the spinal block. It was a million times better than I thought, but it still freaks me out to have a needle stuck in my back. The nurse let me lean on her and she held my hand the whole time. After the spinal was in, I was thrilled that all the pokes and prods were over! I also requested that they wait to put my catheter in until after the spinal. Why feel THAT when you don't have to??!

My doctor, the pediatrician, and the other doctor all arrived and I knew it was go time! My OB always has a second doctor on hand for repeat c-sections. Because of the risk of uterine rupture, she always wants a second set of eyes overseeing everything. 

The prep took about 30 minutes total. To me it FLEW. I seriously felt like the prep was 5 minutes. Before I knew it they were telling Josh to come in. It was 8:21am.

Josh took the seat next to me and surgery began. They made sure that I couldn't feel anything and the suction machine began. Everything started coming back. One of the worst things I could remember was smelling something burning. I'm sure they were cauterizing something in my belly.

All of a sudden they said "lots of pressure" and then I immediately felt relief. I think she was screaming even before her whole body was out of me. She took her first breath at 8:26am.

My heart was totally wrapped around her little finger the second I heard that sweet cry. I typically don't cry during really important events (like my wedding or the day Luke was born). I've often times thought that was weird that emotions don't strike me at the time of an event. It was TOTALLY different this time. As soon as I heard her the waterworks started. I really think that because the whole day was totally planned out, I was able to relax and truly enjoy her birth. That sounds crazy since it was so hospitalized, but I'd been through it before. Now matter how babies come in to this world, it is a precious experience. 

Her initial APGAR score was a 9 and her second was 10! Talk about a perfect baby. She weighed 7lbs, 9oz just 2 oz shy of her brother. She was also born a week earlier than her brother (she was 5 days early, Luke was 3 days late). I'm fairly certain that she would have surpassed his weight if she had been allowed to make it to her due date!

They brought her to me and I was able to see those squishy warm cheeks. It was a sweet moment.

The next hour I was being stitched up and Josh went with her to recovery. I just closed my eyes and thanked the Lord for such a perfect baby and such a perfect birth. Josh later told me that he was pretty amazed at how messy the surgery was. He couldn't believe how much blood was on the floor. Yikes!

The anesthesiologist stayed by my head the whole time and about 20 minutes into sewing me up I started getting really hot and I felt nauseated. I told him I needed to be sick and he immediately got the vomit bag and waved an alcohol strip over my nose. The doctors both said that the area they were putting back together was very sensitive and it was common to get sick at that stage in the process. It was my worst nightmare to be sick on the OR table. I couldn't feel anything from the waist down and my arms were strapped to the table. All I could move was my head. Also the anesthesiologist added an anti nausea booster to my IV. I also have to throw in- with my epidural with Luke they just upped the medicine for the surgery. With my spinal they gave me a boost of Duramorph which kept me relatively pain free for 24 hours. I still had to have some Toradol for incision pain later in the day, but the Duramorph was wondeerful!

I was actually able to close my eyes for a few minutes while they finished. Again the whole surgery experience was COMPLETELY different than Luke's. With him, I fell asleep on the table, not because of relief but because I was so exhausted from laboring for 23 hours. This time around everyone was talking about just normal every day stuff and it was such a relief for everything to not be super intense.

Around 9:30 I was wheeled back to my room and I was able to hold her. I also nursed within that first hour I was with her (her second hour of life). It was sweet and she is a pretty great eater! They initially told me recovery would take 1-2 hours, but after about 20 minutes I was feeling great (no fever, blood pressure was great, etc) and asked if my parents could come in. They said "absolutely" and they got to meet her!

Around lunch time I started getting hungry, but of course I was on a liquid diet for 24 hours. I started with gatorade, jello, chicken broth, and water. Of course after my first round of Toradol for pain it all came back up. I was just thankful it wasn't when some sweet visitors came to see her (they left about 5 minutes before I got sick).

Big brother Luke got to meet her that afternoon. He was so sweet and we had them exchange presents. Emberly "gave" him a train to go with his train set (the train's name is Luke). Luke gave her a baby doll- her first one. It was a sweet moment that we captured on video.

The rest of the time in the hospital was pretty uneventful. I never got sick again thank goodness. I was up walking around the next morning and was able to shower that evening. Also I was unconnected from everything (IV, catheter, leg cuffs that puffed air, etc) the morning after she was born. It was nice to feel human again and do things for myself!

We left Friday morning. I was actually sad to leave!! Our nurses were some of the best and I really missed all their help! I did feel waaaaaay more prepared to come home this time though. All the bottles, pumping, nursing, etc has come back and I remember it all. But this time I feel like I know what I'm doing and I don't feel like "something's wrong" every time she cries.

Here she is all dolled up and ready to go home!

And before we left the hospital I wanted to snap the after shot! 

Here's a before and after: 5:45am Wednesday and 11:30am Friday. 

 Our new family minus Luke-a-duke.