I think being alone and focusing on my body made things worse because it was then that I realized I couldn't catch my breath. My stomach was completely contracted and was not releasing to let me breathe. I started to cry just as Drew walked up the stairs to check on me, a whopping three minutes after I had gone up there in the first place. We decided I should get checked out so he, Laura, and I headed off to the hospital. I was admitted to triage and got all hooked up where they figured out that I was having one giant contraction with no let down and couldn't figure out why. They took my blood and checked my dilation, the latter of which was terrible feeling. I was only half a centimeter dilated. I was still having trouble breathing and it was getting frustrating, so I started to cry again, at which point they decided to get an i.v. in me for fluids. Then something amazing happened. They gave me fentanyl. It was the most welcome feeling! 5 seconds after it was in my i.v. I was able to breathe and my body relaxed. Drew, my mom, Laura, Danny, and Amanda were all there for me and I couldn't have been more thankful. They determined that I was not ready to have the baby and sent me home at 1 AM.
Funny side note, as I was walking through my curtain to use the restroom and change to leave I saw my friend Dani Mathews getting ready to leave, too! She would deliver her daughter Mila only 8 hours after I had Booker in a completely opposite way than I would!
Drew and I get home and I go back to the guest room to try and get some sleep. Up until now, for the past month or two, I had been getting up every 2 hours to pee, the night prior it was every hour. This night, after returning from triage I was getting up every 30 minutes. It is the most infuriating feeling to have to pee with such urgency and not have anything left in you! Around 8 AM I woke up and realize I have leaked a little bit of what I believe it amniotic fluid, I ignore it and try to go back to bed. I woke up at 9 AM, still leaking fluid. Drew was awake and making breakfast for us since we weren't planning on going to church after the rough night we had. I decide to call Labor & Delivery and they suggest that we go back in to check if my water had indeed begun leaking. Neither of us really wanted to, so we ate breakfast first and slowly got ready to leave. We check in at L&D and get sent to triage again. Same routine, take the blood, swab for amnio fluid, and check the dilation. I was still at the same, half a centimeter. Aubrey, our lovely nurse, came back with results. Yes, my water had indeed broken and I was going to be admitted! Booker was definitely coming soon! She also had some bad news for me, over night I had developed pre-eclampsia.
I ended up in a wing by myself (and Drew, my mom, Laura, Danny, Amanda, Max, Scott, Sue, Tyler, and Heather) for a short time while they continued to check on me. They gave me pitocin to try and jump-start labor in hopes of a vaginal delivery. Unfortunately for me, after two hours I had only dilated another half a centimeter. And let me tell you, Dr. Brumfeld checking my dilation was the worst. Apparently my water hadn't fully broken, but it sure did when she jammed her fist up there. *shudder* Because of the pre-eclampsia they also had be on magnesium sulfate, which made me incredibly loopy and I did not like it one bit. After finding that I had barely dilated Aubrey and the doctors gave me two choices. I could either wait and see if I dilate further or have a c-section. The doctor put it this way, "We'd like to get him out while you're both happy and healthy." I couldn't argue with that!
Drew and my mom got suited up and I got carted on down to OR during the Seahawks halfitme against the Titans (we won). The spinal block wasn't THAT bad! Drew sat in front of me while the anesthesiologist jabbed me with a needle repeatedly in my back. I was completely numb from the ribs down within 5 minutes, which was the most odd feeling I've ever had! My mom was able to be by the doctors, by my feet and actually recorded them pulling Booker out! Drew stayed by my head, standing where he could see me and watch the cesarean. He's brave, I know! After some tugging, they pulled out our baby and carted him over to the warming table after I got to see him briefly. Drew and my mom both went to look at him while I lay on the table spread open like a Thanksgiving turkey with it's stuffing pulled out. I cried, knowing I wouldn't be able to hold him. He was having some breathing issues, so they took him and Drew up to NICU for further observation. I was able to give him his first kisses before they left.
Kissing my baby for the first time
Thank God I had my mom there at least. She was able to stay with me while they put me back together, holding a pan up to my face as I threw up; another awkward feeling to heave when your stomach is NOT in your body! They cleaned me up and took me back to my room where I got to see the family. I wanted to go see Booker, but apparently I had to wait until I could stand... Bullocks. I heard that B was just fine and they only kept him to make sure. At two hours old he was lifting his head and moving it from side to side as he lay on his tummy. My strong boy.
After four days, we were finally able to head home. Because of the magnesium sulfate making me all loopy, I hadn't cried or really shown much emotion while in the hospital, which Amanda says freaked her out. I was taken off the mag and as soon as I saw Booker in his car seat, knowing we were going home, I lost it. He is all ours and we get to take him home! Our own tiny human to raise. I thank God for him and Drew every day. They have made my life worth living.
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