Here is the latest addition to our family! Alex Thomas McClellan, born October 2nd, around 7:30am, weighing in at a hefty 8 pounds, 11 ounces and measuring 20 inches long.
Here are my whale-like proportions the day before baby extraction. I looked tired then.
I was definitely tired of being pregnant. I don't miss the belly at all.
We had to get to the hospital at oh-dark-thirty Wednesday morning. I endured the necessary preparations for my C-section, including getting the IV (which made me feel nauseated, probably due to my silly anxieties about needles being shoved up my body).
It felt like lots of waiting, and I, surprisingly, was able to snooze until the nurse came to walk us over to the surgery room. I felt like a dog on a leash as she led us there, leading with my IV bag and line.
Dan had to wait outside until I was completely prepped for the surgery. So I had to face the rough parts all by myself. Fortunately for me, the second I sat up on the table, the anesthesiologist started scrubbing my back. He didn't waste a second. In the past, it has felt like forever until the prick and spinal - at least, plenty of time for me to get anxious. Because for me, the spinal is the scariest part. Knowing that if I flinch at the wrong moment, life as I know it could be over. Spines aren't very forgiving. I don't worry about the C-section - that's the doctor's problem. But my doctor has always been there for me to hang on to and he wasn't there yet. So the anesthesiologist was about to give me the jab and my doctor arrived at the very moment to support me. The whole thing didn't take more than two minutes - not enough time to get overly anxious. It was reassuring to me, though, that the anesthesiologist did a sensation test, to confirm to himself AND to me that the spinal was completely effective.
One of the nurses exclaimed about how pretty my C-section scar was, and before I could think of an appropriate response, my doctor said, "Thank you."
It is always such a relief when Dan comes in! This time, I was so completely covered, even my hands and I had an oxygen mask on my face. The only place Dan could touch me was my forehead. But, somehow, the whole experience is so much less scary when Dan is with me.
The first time to hear my baby cry is such an indescribable feeling. And then I waited and ached to see him, as they cleaned him off and foot-printed him.
Here I am, seeing my baby for the first time.
I only got to see him for a few minutes (too short a time, for sure!) before they whisked him off to the nursery for a better wash and weighing. It didn't feel like it took too long for the doctor sew me back up. The surgical nurse exclaimed over my belly in a very flattering way.
I was barely in the recovery room, still feeling loopy and disconnected, when they brought Alex in to me. He was sucking his thumb like a pro and totally making hungry cues.
He was an awesome eater from the start. Too bad for him I started to feel really lousy and my blood pressure dropped enough to worry the nurse into calling the doctor. I didn't know much about that, though. I was too busy dealing with the realization that I was going to puke and the only parts of my body I could move were my arms and my head. My arms were a little occupied with nursing. Fortunately, Dan came to my rescue yet again and held a handy barf bag. I even managed to avoid getting vomit on my precious boy. Not my finest moment though.
Here is the proud daddy. So handsome!!
I love the crinkle nose. This kid didn't open his eyes for almost two days.
My parents brought Ethan up to the hospital. He was a little fascinated with the baby and super excited to see me. Very flattering. He wanted to hold Alex right away.
My mom - a hero. She stayed a week with me and was amazing. So sad she left! The boys are too, though Ethan misses Grandpa more.
This is as close as Camden wanted to get to his new brother.
That phase has passed. Now he wants to know where Alex is all the time and check on him and give him kisses and help him if he cries. It's really sweet.
