It started off early; I woke up at 4:25, 10 minutes before my alarm was supposed to go off. I decided to go ahead and get up and in the shower early. I got out and got dressed and ready, made sure I had everything together, then got my hubby up. He got dressed and ready and we took the kids to my friend Chrissies house. She was up waiting for us, and wished us luck. We took off from her house and headed towards the hotel. I called J and he said they were getting dressed and they'd be downstairs soon. We pulled up and I saw N, I got out and went into the hotel lobby, I said today's the day, and gave them each a hug. We all got into the Van and headed towards the hospital. Base was fairly busy as it was Monday morning PT time, so we waiting a little and talked about how everything would go.
Finally we got up to the hospital, and to Labor & Delivery, we left N & J in the waiting room and I told them I would have a nurse come out and get them so they could meet their son, but that the next time they'd see me I'd be on the mother baby floor and I couldn't wait to see them with their son. I hugged them again, and we took one last belly picture together.
I checked in and got all set up, I asked the charge nurse if she could make my IP's more comfortable with the whole situation, and since we could only have one person in the delivery room, I asked her if they would be able to see their son before he was taken off to he nicu. She said as long as he was doing well, she would make sure they could see him. So she set them up in the L & D room that was closest to the OR.
Meanwhile, I got shaved, and had two IV's placed; they also gave me some reglin, and zantax for nausea and heartburn. I also asked if I HAD to take the poly-citrate, for acid reflux, and he said they recommend it. I told him the last couple times I've had to take it I've thrown up and it makes me feel ill, so he said he promised that I wouldn't throw up and did a few little tricks (like making me smell alcohol pads) to take me feel better.
Finally at 8:00am I was wheeled back to the OR, they messed around with my back placing the spinal for what seemed like forever, then finally rolled me over and put the sheet up, after letting me get numb for a bit, they announced the start time, 8:31 and asked to bring "Dad" in. Shortly my hubby came around the corner, he asked how I was doing and I said well, and I happily announce that I didn't throw up. Finally I heard uterine incision, and then I felt them tug and then I felt Ari come out. It felt amazing, I could finally breathe again, He started wailing, and tears streamed down my face. He was here, I did it again. I felt an amazing rush of adrenaline and emotions overcome me. Anthony went over and started taking pictures, and then they came around and let me see him. I gave him some kisses and then they wheeled him out to see his parents.
I then found out that during the process, my bladder had either been nicked, or tore b/c of thinning, so they repaired my incision, then placed a patch in my bladder. It took almost an hour to fix me all up, and then off to recovery I went. My ob explained to me I would need to go home for at least a week with a catheter in. Then off to recovery I went, while in recovery my temperature was very low, I was 92 when I got there and 94 when they brought me to the Mother baby unit. But I was never cold; they said it was from the meds. Once at the mother baby unit I called and asked the nicu to bring up the baby then called Anthony and told him what room I was in and to call N & J to let them know.
I got to spend some time with Ari before N & J got there. It was so nice to meet him and cuddle him. N & J got up to the hospital within the hour and presented me with a dozen beautiful roses. I was holding Ari when they came in and I placed him into N's arms. It was amazing, she sat with him and talked to him, and then J held him and they both just looked so in love with their son. An amazing sense of pride overcame me at that time, and tears started coming to my eyes.
After we ate, I sent N & J back to the hotel room, they looked like they could use a good night of sleep and I really didn't mind taking care of little Ari. It also gave me time with him to cuddle and hold him. We spent the entire night cuddling, feeding (I was blessed to be able to pump for him) and sleeping off and on. It was wonderful.