When Life Takes Over

It's two weeks until Christmas, and my how our lives have changed since my last post. I finished my degree a year and a half ago and opened my own preschool. Two goals in 2 short months. BAM! Then, shortly after graduating, I decided it was time for another baby. I got the hubby on board and 2 months later we were pregnant. BAM! The next 10 months were a blur. I worked 25 hours a week at the preschool, Lily was in full time kindergarten and I was pregnant. I felt sick a lot, I had heartburn, Braxton-Hicks, dizzy spells, you name it. I was due July 3, and my doctor was concerned that our second little girl would be bigger than Lily was (9lbs). So, the decision was made to induce me a week early. Tuesday, June 26 was chosen because I would be exactly 39 weeks and it was her on-call day. I agreed, and scheduled the appointment with her nurse for the 26th at noon. I was instructed to call the Family Birthing Center the night before and check-in. When I called on Monday, they bumped my time up to 9am. 6am on Tuesday, we woke up and started our day. Finished packing our bags, and went out to breakfast. We got to the hospital right at 9 and started the admit process. 40 minutes later we were all checked in. Then we got word that Dr. Ahmed had to do an emergency c-section, so we just waited…and waited…and waited… At 12:47, Dr. Ahmed arrived to break my water. 1 quick poke and a LARGE gush and we were on our way! I sat for about an hour with monitors on, and was then allowed to walk for 15 minutes, be monitored, walk for 15, etc. About 5pm Dr. Ahmed returned to check my cervix. I had dilated to about 3.5, so she said she’d give me 2 more hours and then if there was little progress we would start Pitocin. 7pm, she came in and did my check, I was about 3.5-4, so she said we’d start the Pitocin but first she wanted to do a quick ultrasound to check Zoey’s position. Low and behold in the two hours that had elapsed, Zoey had turned sideways and was now transverse. I would need a c-section. The efficiency and speed the OR team worked at was nothing short of precise. By 7:38 we were in the OR and I was being prepped for surgery. I was given a spinal block and morphine. My blood pressure dropped, so the anesthesiologist lowered my head and gave me something to perk it back up. I felt better within minutes. My mom and Josh were lead in and they started. I was numbed from about the chest down, which was a very weird sensation to say the least. I was laying on a gurney with my arms outstretched on each side, loosely strapped down to remind me not to “try to help”. I felt nothing but pressure and tugging. At some points it felt like I was being pushed through the gurney. Finally, at 7:55, Zoey was pulled out. Josh stood up, and took about a half dozen pictures of her coming out. I was given a sedative and passed out. A short while later I jolted awake, still in the OR and realized I had been asleep. I was then wheeled back into the birthing room where my mom, Josh, Lily and Josh’s grandma were waiting with Zoey. She was measured while I was being stitched up, and weighed in at a nice 8lbs 4oz (about 1/2lb less than Lily) and 21.5” long (the same as Lily). Almost 6 months later, I feel like I'm finally out of the fog of the last year. It's amazing the difference 6 years makes when it comes to being pregnant. I felt like all of my creativity and energy had been drained out of me and it's finally coming back. I have ideas flooding back in my head and I have big plans for my preschool and the energy to follow through! Another plan is to pick this back up. It's nice to have a creative outlet.