DISCLAIMER***Fair warning, there is a picture from a surgical procedure included in this post. I have tried to present it in a manner that limits the “realness” of the situation, but I wanted to give you guys a warning so you are not caught by surprise.***END DISCLAIMER
1 MONTH!! My little lady, you are one month old today! Before we get into your birth, look at this picture! What a little cutie!!! Looks just like her daddy…you know, minus the beard.
Let’s venture back to the not-so-distant past. On February 8th, Jessica and I arrived to check into the hospital. We packed way too much stuff, but were prepared for whatever the next few days could throw at us. As we arrived at the hospital, we sat in the receptionist area and waited…and waited…and waited. This is the look of a pregnant lady wanting to get into her room.
We were finally taken back to a room and made ourselves as comfortable as possible. The nurses began administering medicine to Jessica that would make her body prepared for labor. This went on throughout the night. The following morning, Jessica’s doctor arrived to BEGIN THE LABOR!! She broke Jessica’s water with what looked like a large knitting needle and gave her round 1 of another medicine that would allow her to start dilating.
This went on for the entire day. Our families visited and stayed at the hospital the majority of the day. By the time it was around 8:00 pm, we advised our families it would probably best for them to go home rather wait around for nothing to happen. We told them it looked more like there wouldn’t be anything happening until early in the morning (at the soonest). Little did we know…
A little before 9:00pm Jessica’s doctor came in and gave us (mainly her) some options. Option A, we continue on the path we have been all day, checking back in two hours and then four hours. The catch? We could be in the exact same spot we were right then, with the same result pointing to doing a c-section rather than getting Evelyn out the natural way. Option B, we go ahead and do the c-section. Jessica said if the result after 2-4 more hours could be the same as we are at now, let’s just go ahead and do the c-section. So this was it!!!
We went from 0-100mph real fast! I informed the families we were mistaken and it was happening. They came back and now we are impatiently waiting our turn to go to an operating room. The nurse gave me all the garb I needed to put on to be in the operating room. I was highly uncomfortable.
What you can’t see in that picture is that the smock I am wearing is taped on me. That’s the nurse’s solution for it being too small to tie around me. Go figure. My job as we head towards the operating room is to sit and wait some more. They will come get me when it’s time. Awesome.
So, I sat in a lonely hallway, wrapped up like a hermetically-sealed burrito. Finally, a doctor comes through the doors and calls my name. We go through a few doors and I am instantly beside my beautiful wife who is being prepped to be cut open. I sit down beside Jessica and we listen as the doctors begin the procedure.
It’s at this point I’m waiting to hear the typical medical/surgery dialog movies and TV shows have prepared me for. “Have you guys had the crunch wrap supreme at Taco Bell?” Jessica and I look at each other puzzled. The operating room staff is naming their favorite food item from Taco Bell. Jessica interjects, “You guys realize I have not eaten anything in like 36 hours, right?” The team apologizes, which is ruined by me chiming in, “What about the Baja Blast Freeze, you guys tried those? They are great!!”
Note to self and my wonderful readers. If you find yourself in a similar situation, please do not add to the conversation. I’m pretty sure if Jessica would have any sort ability to swing her arm, I would have been knocked out of my rolling chair.
The doctors continue and I am informed, “Dad, get your camera ready, here she comes!” I look up from the curtain blocking our view and I am greeted with an absolute amazing sight, as the doctor pulls Evelyn up from Jessica’s abdomen.
It was a magical moment, seeing our little girl for the first time. I’ll be honest, I was really scared. Again going back to my movie and TV show training, I know that babies cry when hey are born. Evelyn was not crying whatsoever. I was worried, but the nurses assured me she was great. I kept looking back telling Jessica everything I was seeing. It was a completely surreal moment. As was the next 24 hours.
Our baby girl was here! We were taken back to our room, where I Facetimed the family in the waiting room so they could see Evelyn. We spent the next few days in the hospital and experienced many different highs and lows. As a pre-cautionary measure Evelyn had to do phototherapy for one day to ensure she didn’t continue to trend upwards on the bilirubin scale, which measures for jaundice. I’m pretty sure this is how superhero babies are created.
So we leave the hospital and here we are now. I’m not sure where the month went, but we are here and Evelyn is doing great. Jessica is doing great. I am doing great. We have had an amazing support system and many friends and family who have visited and checked in on us. We are truly blessed and are looking forward to what the next months and years will bring along.
Evelyn, your mother and I are amazed be you each and every day. We love you unbelievably and getting to see Jessica be your mother makes me feel the greatest joy imaginable. Holding you in my arms everyday and looking into your tiny, squishy face, makes my heart melt. I love you, my little lady.
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