Sunday, November 7, 2010

theNKOTB

On Friday October 29th I headed to the doctor so she could give me a better idea of when this baby would be here. After a few words from the doctor and an exam, she sent me to the hospital to do a non-stress test.

At the hospital they hooked me up to all the machines to do the test. They would be monitoring the baby's heart beat and my heart beat for 30 min. 30 min turned into 90 min. My doctor came in (she hadn't been there before) and said I couldn't wait any longer. (A little back story: Kade was born via c-section and I was trying to not have a c-section this time. Due to high risk, inductions can't be done after a previous c-section. So we were basically on a waiting game.) The baby's heart was decelerating. He was in distress and he needed to come out. Translation: c-section....forever.

I will now always have to have c-sections to have my kids. It makes me sad. I'll never experience "giving birth". I know most women will say that I'm not missing out on anything but I am. I feel like I am. But I'd rather have my babies here healthy and safe.

I had been fasting as per request from the doctor's office as a "just in case" for the anesthesiologist. But when I went to their office they had me drink orange juice
before the non-stress test so that the results would be more accurate. The test was at 2:20 ish and we were finished at the hospital at 4. Because I had had the oj they made me wait until 6:30 to come in and get prepped for the birth! Meaning more time of not eating. Let's just say I was starving! By the time the baby was born I hadn't had anything to eat in 21.5 hours! Blast that oj!

Needing to wait to come back actually ended up working out pretty well though. It gave Aaron enough time to get off of work and come home to help me get everything ready to go. And then we left our house. Kade stayed back with my mom, and we left our only child for the last time. He would no longer be our only child, or only boy. Honestly that was harder than I expected.
Kade and I were best buds. I couldn't imagine loving another child as much as I love him and I was worried about him and how he'd feel about everything. After a million hugs and kisses to Kade, we left.

We drove to the hospital. We were surprisingly calm. Especially for the ridiculous amount of traffic we hit. It normally takes us 15 minutes to get to the hospital. That day, it took 40.



There was a pretty sunset.

We got to the hospital and checked in.

Took the elevator up to labor and delivery.

We were escorted to the room I'd be prepped in, where we found this sassy number for me to put on.

And then we waited.

Aaron texted and called family and friends.

After three attempts and a blown vein they got my IV in and drew some blood. I was obviously dehydrated from the forever fasting that had taken place that day. Therefore, my veins weren't super cooperative.

Aaron slipped into HIS sassy number and insisted on taking pictures with me. P.S. my mom took these. Just in case you were wondering.

Surgery started and finished. This guy was born. Tadd was born at 8:44 pm. The nurses ever so kindly let me rest my head against his for a minute before they took him to his first bath. (I'm being serious about the kindly thing. When Kade was born I barely got to see his face before they took him to clean him off. It's another disadvantage to c-section. You're completely numb and laying on a table not really able to move so you can't instantly hold the baby. Sad face.) These are also courtesy of my mom.

After being taken to recovery and watched for an hour they finally took me down to mother/baby so I could hold my sweet little boy.
Instant love that cannot be described. Only felt.
He looks so different from Kade, but then there are times that he looks so similar. Weirdness.
He slept in my room. I'm not afraid of what goes on in the nursery. I just don't like being away from my new baby for that long! I want to soak up every second of the tiny-ness.

This is random but I was feeding him in the hospital and his little foot found it's way out of my gown through the pocket. I love baby feet.

Daddy was in love too.
See! Tiny baby feet are so cute!


Because he was born so late in the evening, Kade didn't get to meet him until the next day. Yes I look incredible. Don't judge. Though I think he was a little disappointed that Tadd wasn't an instant playmate, he sure loves his little brother.
He wanted "baby Tadd" to sit by him while he watched a movie in my room.

And he loves holding baby brother's hand.

Aaron slept like a King on this fancy bed.

It turned out to be a pretty eventful hospital stay. Monday morning at around 6 I woke up with chest pain and I couldn't take a deep breath. The nurse came in and checked my vitals. They called the doctor. Then it was decided that I needed a CT scan. Everything started happening so quickly that I can't remember it all but for some reason I needed another IV. It took four nurses and three more pokes.

Awesome.

They took me down to do my scan. The hospital at that time of day is so empty. It was pretty eerie to be rolled around the hospital in my wheelchair and not see another person the whole way to radiology. And to be honest I was freaking out about the whole situation anyway. Everything turned out to be great though! We found out that it was actually just an unexpected side effect from one of my thyroid medications. Good times. Oh and Aaron slept through pretty much the whole thing. He didn't wake up until right before they got the successful IV poke.

Luckily everything scary happened and the scan results came back before the doctor made his rounds in the morning and he cleared me to go home that same day. Thank goodness. I wanted to be in my own bed and home with my family again!


Because of the CT scan I had to "pump and dump" for 24 hours. Tadd had to have bottles of formula for that time. Kade loved feeding him!

I love this boy. I was preparing myself for the most difficult baby on the planet. He is a sweet surprise! We got lucky enough to have another really easy, mellow baby. He is just as calm and content as Kade was. The only difference so far is that Tadd's stomach is more sensitive so he's had a couple of rough days.

We have done some of his newborn pictures. But I've been doing them slowly.

I'm SO SO SO happy to no longer be pregnant! Tadd has been so fun to have around and Kade absolutely adores him! I'm so lucky to have three cute boys in my life!

The end. Holy cow if you read the whole thing. And 50 bonus points if you can tell me what the title of this post means. Also, I'm still claiming pregnancy brain, so you shouldn't judge my massive grammar and spelling issues today ok?

Also again! Happy Birthday to my mother in law today! Hope you had a great birthday Debbie! We love you!

15 comments:

cat+tadd=sam said...

Duh, the New Kid on the Block!
You've encouraged me to actualy publish Samson's birth story. I'll do it soon!
Tadd is adorable, congratulations to you!

Meesh-L said...

CONGRATULATIONS

I LOVED reading this post! Makes me feel as I was there (which is an obvious sign that I never experienced anything remotely close to giving birth)

You are so wonderful & such a good momma & I love you so much!!

I am so happy for the new addition to your family :)

The Everts said...

I felt and feel the exact same way you did/do. I'm SO sad that I will never have "natural birth." I felt cheated and I felt inadequate. That I had failed in my role in bring children into the world. But it's okay. It's not the most important thing. Just that their healthy and happy and safe. He's such a cutie and you look so cute in your pictures! Good for you, Mommy! xoxo

Sarah said...

man... I read the whole thing expecting u to post pictures of a new kids on the block concert or something. my heart was screaming.... Jordan knight!
jk! glad your not pregnant anymore either! sorry we couldn't come see the little guy. I had two sinus infections one after another and Colin had a cold.... well, needless to say we were in no condition to be around a newborn. I hope to come by your housesoon to see him now that were free and clear of illness

Amber said...

k, took me like 20 minutes to figure out what the title meant. Loved the post. I like hearing the details and you are so lucky to have three cute boys in your life.

S.Shepherd said...

I'm in the same boat as you are with not being able to give birth naturally. I just went through labor first time around to find out it isn't going to happen.
He is just so cute and I LOVE all the pictures that you have taken.
Great post.

Grandma said...

I loved this post. He is adorable and it was so fun to see the experience. Thank you so much. We might be there for Thanksgiving. If the weather permits. I hope you aren't going anywhere.

Fun and Festive said...

I really enjoyed reading the story (tears.) I downloaded ALL the pictures. Thanks for the birthday wish. Love you all!!

Hannah said...

Nickell,

Congratulations on your new little guy. What a sweet family you have!

-Hannah

Kathleen said...

I just can't get over his cute hair and little wrinkles in the face. Congrats! He is so beautiful! I can't wait to meet him.

Erin said...

So I thought I commented on this, because I totally read it, and then turns out I didn't. Um, I love him. And I read this. For reals.

Melody's Voice said...

Thanks for sharing this story. I was way off on the title. I was all thinking the.night.Kade.something?. Tadd. Blair...

Heather Lytle said...

I love that you took all those pictures so I could have a better "picture" of what your experience was like. We miss you guys and wish we can come meet Tadd some day soon (and see Kade too)...(and see you guys too).

Tricia Lauritzen said...

So here is what I learned my latest hospital stay.. If you are a hard stick (for iv) before they even try ask for the flight for life team to do your IV. They do it all the time and are REALLY good. After four nurses and 7 attempts they got me in less than a minute on the first try. Before leaving she said, "just always ask for us, it's one of the things we do when we're here"

KimandJake said...

Um....all I can say is that you make very cute babies! Congrats!!

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