When Jake was in the hospital, I didn't take time to blog...ha...I didn't have the time to blog. I also didn't have time to write in a journal or otherwise record the experience. So, I thought I'd try to take some time in the next few days (okay, so in reality with me it will likely be weeks) to blog about those 58 days.
Days 1 and 2...
DAY 1, January 10, 2007
I learned the night before that they would be inducing me. Through the night, the doctor on call started to get concerned about a few small episodes of bradycardia and finally decided to speed up the induction by a couple of hours. I don't have fond memories of the 12 hours I was in labor. The very best moment was the moment that Dr. McLees said the magical word that I'd been waiting for...c-section! At last! I was so ready to have the delivery over...mostly because of the drug I was on to prevent me from having seizures--magnesium sulfate. The mag made me beyond lethargic. By the end (I'd been on it for several days), I could barely move or speak. In my head I was participating in conversations, but what actually came out was "buuuuuuuh." Not my best moment.
Andy was with me for the delivery. He was so sweet and so terrified. He wouldn't watch the surgery...the wuss! :) I had an epidural rather than a spinal block because of my blood pressure. I was surprised that I could actually feel a tugging and then feel when they pulled Jake out. It only took a split second for him to cry, but that was honestly one of the longest moments of my life as I closed my eyes and held my breath. They prepared me that it could be up to 3 days before I'd actually see Jake...he would be whisked away to NICU and I would be bedridden and on the mag for up to 3 days to give my kidneys time to recover. Miraculously, his breathing was stable enough for them to bring him right up to my face before taking him away. 3 seconds...that was about all I had. The mag also made my vision terrible--I had double vision, so I had to concentrate really hard and close one eye to get a good look at him. It would be another week before I'd get to kiss him again.
27 minutes...the length of the entire surgery. McLees is a speedy guy...and good...you should see my scar--it's fantastic.
12 hours...the amount of time before I get the best news since learning Jake was healthy...they were stopping the mag...I'd get to see Jake within hours. It was 4am on Day 2--January 11, 2007. My room was ready by 10am and as soon as I moved (and we had a lot to move:), Andy wheeled me to the NICU. I scrubbed in for the first time; he wheeled me through the door, down a row lined with isolettes, turned the corner and Jake was straight ahead. It was so overwhelming. Part of it was also so unfair. Andy and the grandparents had all got to spend time with Jake. They'd toured the NICU. They'd met the nurses, learned the lingo and the procedures...and here I was, his mother, lost and essentially the last to meet my son for the first time. I cried...a lot...I still cry now thinking about it. I could never see how small he really was...how scary he looked (seriously)...all I could see was my Jake. My beautiful Jake...and how he looked just like his daddy.
246 days ago . . . 2 pounds, 9 ounces/ 14 1/2 inches long
