Your birth day story

My sweet pea, Lincoln,

I should have written this months upon months ago. I should have written this within the week you came home!

You, like your brother, was born via cesarean section. Unlike your brother, yours was planned. Talon ended up being born through emergency c-section after many long hours of waiting.

The preparation for you began in the evening on May 22, 2013. My birthday. Gremily was here visiting specifically for your arrival. We had dinner and birthday cake. I had to not eat after 11pm to be ready for early morning surgery. Your dad and I woke up really early the morning of May 23, 2013 and said to one another, "Let's go have a baby!" I had to be at the hospital around 5am for 7:30am surgery. We packed up our stuff and drove in the dark early hours. 

We checked in, the nurses set up my IV, I filled out paperwork and then we waited for everyone to be ready. Our OBGYN, Amy Johnson, and the anthesiologist came to the room around 7:15am. Everyone was ready! I started singing a silly song as they pushed me down the hallway in the bed to the OR. I wanted to let everyone know I was feeling good and wanted them to feel good too. They were about to cut me open to pull you out. All involved must be happy! 

I was nervous about the spinal and certain I was going to be nauseous. The anthesiologist did my spinal and was very attentive, telling me to let him know if I was going to be sick and he'd adjust my medicine. I got sick within minutes of the anthesthia hitting me. The worst part was my stomach was empty so I just kept dry heaving stomach acid. Your birth went swimmingly. I was prepared this time for what would happen afterwards. They'd sew me up, wheel me into recovery, wash you, check your toes and eyes and everything in between then give you back to me as soon as they could so I could feed you. Daddy brought you to me after they pulled you out. You were screaming! :) I bet you were cold and wondering what the heck??!!

As soon as you were okay and I was okay, they wheeled me back into my room where we would stay for the next three days. The worst part about the rest of your birthday was I was sooooo sick from the anesthesia. It took abut 10 hours for it to wear off. I remember barely sitting up to feed you, to hold you, to sleep with you. I couldn't sit up too far or I'd vomit. I bet I vomited 18 or 20 times that day. Horrible. I tried to eat but I couldn't keep anything down. The nurses gave me painkillers every four hours for the incision which knocked me out. I was out of it most of the day. We had fantastic nurses. I called them my second moms. Such wonderful people and so caring! Two nurses tried to help me up to the bathroom but I was going to get sick again. We all wanted me to walk around as soon as possible to aid in recovery. Movement promotes blood flow which helps healing!

You were eating well but as soon as you ate all the colostrum I had, you started to get mad because you wanted more. You'd latch on, get nothing, tear away and cry. Because of the c section, my milk hadn't come in yet. It'd be another 3 days before it did. I exclusively breastfed you until 6 weeks; you got way more breast milk than Talon ever got. There was a two week period in there when you didn't gain any weight and Dr. Heinrichs said I needed to give you formula. You were already dropping off the weight charts in the wrong direction. I couldn't bear the thought of you being in danger because I was too selfish to not give you formula. 

You were born on Thursday, May 23, 2013 at 7:43 am. You were 7 lbs 8 ounces, 20 1/2" long. You looked like baby monkey with a whispy layer of dark hair all over you. You lost that within a week or so.

You, me, and Daddy spent four days in the hospital together. We enjoyed the time alone with you before it got crazy at home. Grandma Kim and Gremily had come to stay with Talon while we stayed with you. They all came to visit in the hospital though the first day I was too out of it to converse.

We brought you home on the following Sunday. Daddy went to Boulder get the breast pump. I remember crying when Dad had to start working in the garage for camps. I was overwhelmed and felt like I had to take care of everyone. We worked it out but those first few months were tough.

I wouldn't change a thing though. Your birth went smoothly and safely. We brought home our little Lincoln whom we love and cherish. I love you and Talon with the same amount of ferociousness!

Love, Momma