Cooper's Birth Day

Our day began at 1:30 in the morning. I had gotten up to go to the bathroom and was unable to go back to sleep. We had found out at our appointment the Thursday before that we would meet Cooper on this day, and now the day we had dreamed of for so long was here. In a matter of hours, I would hold our child. I "accidentally" woke Karl up, and together we watched the minutes and hours pass on the clock. Once the alarm went off at 5:oo am, we only had 4 1/2 hours to go before the big moment! Talk about some serious nerves!!!

We got ready, loaded the car, dropped Sadie off at my dad's, and made our way to the hospital. All these other cars on the road were driving to work or home or wherever, but we were driving to have a baby! What a feeling!

My last bump picture! The car was packed, and we were ready to go!

Dropping Sadie off at her Grandpa's

Sadie and Maggie saying good morning

Our last pre-baby picture together!!

Karl dropped me off at Labor and Delivery, where I thought I would have to wait a little while and fill out paperwork. Oh no. They took me right back to a room, had me change into a gown, and got me hooked up to the machines. As I lay there waiting for Karl to find me, I just listened to Cooper's heartbeat. That is one sound that never got old to me during my pregnancy, and each time I heard it, I loved it even more. Once Karl got to the room, the nurse went over everything with us. I would get my epidural at such and such time, then Dr. K. would remove my cerclage, and then...and then...we would journey on over to the operating room for my c-section. It was just after 7:00 am at that point, and the c-section was scheduled for 9:15. Two hours have never gone by so quickly.

Things went along just as the nurse had said. I didn't do very well getting my epidural though. Within minutes after getting it, my blood pressure dropped pretty low, and I felt terrible. I felt queasy, sweaty, and I couldn't even keep my eyes open. That was a little scary for both of us. However, after getting a hefty dose of something in my IV, my blood pressure came back up, and all was good again. Interestingly enough, each time the epidural doctor came in to add to my dosage or just check on me, my blood pressure would drop. My body did not like him! I was very thankful for that epidural though when Dr. K. took my cerclage out. It did not come out easily, and I cannot imagine how it would have felt if I hadn't been numb!

Once the cerclage was out, it was about 9:00. How had we already gone from being hours to just minutes away from having a baby?! As they wheeled me out of the room to take me to the operating room, the emotions hit. I was about to have a baby. The baby we so desperately longed for and prayed for and spent the last 9 months falling in love with was about to be placed in our arms. I tried to keep it together, but as soon as Karl was able to join me in the operating room, I lost it. I don't think either one of us was prepared for the emotions that came with that precious time. Once they got Karl in his spot, it seemed like only seconds past before they said, "Okay, Dad. Get that camera ready!" And then they held up our child. My eyes are filled with tears as I just think about that moment. There in front of me was my baby. It was love at first sight. He was such a mess, but still the most gorgeous thing I've ever laid eyes on. Then the nurse brought him to me to hold. One of the nurses in the room took our first family picture.

Then Karl and Cooper went over to the table for Cooper to get cleaned up and weighed, and then Karl took Cooper to show our parents. We were reunited in the recovery room, and when they wheeled me in, I looked to my left where Karl was standing, and the look on his face stole my heart. He was smiling down at our baby, and his eyes were beaming. That was my first moment to see him as a father. He looked so proud.

We spent an hour in recovery, and when they handed Cooper to me, I felt a little panic. I know way too much about how to get pregnant and what to do and not to do when you are pregnant, but I don't know anything about babies! Everyone said it would come natural, and my fear was always what if it doesn't?! As it turns out, it does. I held our child skin to skin and nursed him and immediately, I was a mom.

After recovery, we went to our room and our parents came to meet and hold their first grandchild. From this point on, my recollection begins to get a little less beautiful and a little more blurry. The pain medicine was doing it's job well!

It was the best day of our lives.

Happy Birthday, Cooper!