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| Roses from Dan for my birthday. We took them to the hospital the next day so we could enjoy them during our stay. |
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| Last at home belly picture at 40 weeks 4 days |
On Friday, August 15th at 10am I was scheduled for an ultrasound to monitor Shack Baby #2. At 40 weeks and 5 days pregnant I was showing very little signs of labor and Baby Shack appeared to be doing very well. During the ultrasound everything looked good: the baby was still in a good head down position, she was measuring around 6 lbs 12 oz (about a pound bigger than four weeks ago), and had a nice strong heart rate around 140bpm. The only thing that didn't look so great was the amniotic fluid level. My level had been on the low side of normal at my 36 week ultrasound and it had dropped into the below normal range for this appointment. They sent my ultrasound results over to the doctor on call and he instructed me to head over to labor and delivery. In the back of my mind I knew this was a possibility and was okay with it especially considering that I was 5 days past my due date. I made a few phone calls to my parents (who already had Lena for the day) and Dan who was working at the rental house in Long Beach to tell them I was being admitted. Given that I had few signs of labor I knew that a c section was likely in my near future.
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| In front of St Jude Medical Center before I check myself into labor and delivery |
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| In my labor room...excited to meet our little girl! |
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| On the belly monitors waiting for word from the doctor. |
I drove across the street to the hospital and checked into labor and delivery. It turns out that they were having a VERY busy day but they found a bed for me and I relaxed on the bed while they hooked up the belly monitors. The doctor poked his head in briefly to tell me they first wanted to check to see how urgent my amniotic fluid situation was before deciding anything since they already had four other c-sections scheduled that day plus an above average number of vaginal births. It wasn't too much longer before Dr. B (my doctor from Lena's pregnancy- how ironic) came in to explain that my fluid levels were very low and that I would be scheduled that same day to deliver. He explained that placentas have a lifespan and mine was dying a little ahead of schedule. Baby Shack was already showing signs of stress by producing little urine (amniotic fluid) as she diverted any nutrients to vital organs while others like the kidneys were beginning to shut down.
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| Getting ready for my c-section |
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| One last belly shot - 40 weeks and 5 days |
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| Ready to go! So excited! |
I texted Dan the news and told him to first head home to shower, change, and bring our hospital bags and do a few last minute things. I thought my surgery would be scheduled for that evening but things began to move very quickly. I was soon in my gown, my IV was inserted, I signed all the paperwork, and was given various medications, and my blood was drawn. They told me my c-section was moved to 3:30pm. I quickly called Dan and told him to speed things up as it was already just past 2pm. He finally arrived around 2:45pm and we snapped a few last belly pictures before heading into surgery.
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| Dan is all dressed for the c-section |
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| Here we go! - I'm a little nervous and really glad Dan is there. |
Around 3:15 we walked over to the operating room and I gave Dan one last kiss before climbing onto the operating table. In my last c-section with Lena I was so drugged up that I don't remember much. This time I was totally coherent and it actually made the experience a little more nerve wrecking. The anesthesiologist was a neat guy who put on the U2 Pandora radio station and it helped to calm my nerves a bit. He did my spinal (it hurt a little but not too bad) and then it slowly felt like my whole body was turning to stone. They put my catheter in and prepped my body for surgery. I began to get incredibly nauseous and the anesthesiologist gave me a shot of something to make me feel better, and more relaxed. Dan came in and held my hand and then Dr. B came in and began the surgery. He narrated a bit too much for my taste telling me when he started cutting and when he could see my uterus and when he was pulling Baby Shack out. He commented that my last c-section scar looked great and I laughed as I reminded him that he had done my last c-section when I had Lena. Dr. B mentioned that my amniotic fluid was really low and it was good that they had done my c-section so quickly.
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| There she is! |
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| Getting cleaned up and evaluated. |
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| Miss Kinley's first official posed photo! |
Then all of a sudden after a little tugging I heard her cry. It was the best sound! Dan left my side to go snap a few first pictures. He came back to tell me that she looked so much like Lena. I could hear Baby Girl crying here and there while the nurses and doctor counted off instruments to check to make sure they didn't leave anything inside me. They stapled me up and soon Dan came over so that I could meet Miss McKinley Jane face to face for the first time. I gave her a sweet kiss - she looked so chubby to me! We were surprised that she was so big! 7 pounds and 5 ounces!!! She look healthy too with an apgar score of 8.9.
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| Love at first sight (even though we both have our eyes closed...) One of my most favorite moments. |
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| In the recovery room |
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| The first time I got to hold McKinley. |
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| Mom and daughter |
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| Miss Kinley admiring her proud Papa |
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| Up in the Mother Baby Unit with our new little girl. |
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| The room whiteboard in the Mother Baby Unit |
Then Dan and McKinley left to go to recovery while the doctor finished stitching me up. I soon joined them and got to hold McKinley for the first time and fed her. She proved to be a great eater right away. She was so cute. Dan texted the news to everyone and soon got his chance to hold McKinley. After I recovered they wheeled me to the Mother Baby Unit where we would stay for the next four nights. It was neat having McKinley right there in the room with us rather than having to go visit her in the NICU like when we had Lena. I feel like I was able to bond with her much more quickly.
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| Lena (with Grandma and Grandpa) meets McKinley for the first time. |
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| Getting to know little sister- Lena is obsessed with loving on little Kinley. |
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| Giving Kinley her birthday present - Sunshine Bear. |
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| Lena opening her Big Sister present from Kinley. |
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| Daddy and his girls reading Lena's new book. |
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| Grandma and McKinley - grandchild #12 |
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| Grandpa and McKinley - 9 grandsons and 3 grand daughters |
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| Grandma and Grandpa with McKinley - Lena got to stay with them for four nights while we were in the hospital. |
My parents brought Lena over around 7pm that night and she got to meet her sister for the very first time. It was a sweet moment. They exchanged gifts and my parents got to hold McKinley too.
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| My view from my hospital bed. I never get tired of looking at that sweet face. |
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| Two pink carnations from Dan for our two sweet girls, roses for my birthday, white flowers from my Mom for Miss McKinley |
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| Daddy and Kinley snoozing |
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| Daddy snuggles |
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| Dan helping out by giving Kinley her breast milk and formula supplement |
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| Snuggles with Mom - I love these moments! |
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| Play time with my miracle girls |
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| A family of four - at last! |
My recovery was fairly quick! I was able to keep down fluids well and was able to eat breakfast the next morning without any problems. I spent my birthday in the hospital on Saturday and received a few fun visitors. After the first two nights I was completely unhooked from my IV, catheter, and was up and moving around very well. Lena was missing us quite a bit so Dan slept the last two nights at my parent's house with her while I recovered with McKinley in the hospital. It was a challenge to care for her on my own and I experienced the most exhaustion I have ever had during those two nights. Since McKinley was loosing too much weight they put us on a strict feeding plan that involved supplementing with formula and pumped breast milk. They also authorized us to spend an extra night in the hospital.
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| All dressed and ready to go home! |
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| Getting ready for McKinley's first car ride - going to pick up Big Sister |
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| Daddy getting Kinley snug in her car seat |
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| Excited to take her home. |
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| Ready to go! |
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| Off we go! |
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| Lena is excited that "Baby came out" and "was born" and is going home with us. |
Finally, on Tuesday morning Dan came to get us and we checked out of the hospital. I felt like a celebrity as they wheeled me through the lobby to our mini van. People congratulated me, clapped and stopped to admire Miss McKinley. At last we headed to my parent's house to pick up Lena and take our special miracle girls home for the first time together. We are so incredibly blessed.
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| We're home! |
