Our biggest adventure yet!

Meet Lucy Rae O'Connell, born Wednesday, December 11th, 2019 at 5:04pm! 

Nearly three years in the making, she is finally here and we couldn't be happier!  

John: Last week, we confirmed that "Elrod" (our name for the fetus) was still breech, so scheduled appointments with a chiropractor and the OB for different attempts at turning the baby.  The OB appointment was set for Thursday, and we were told to come prepared for a sudden birth, just in case the procedure caused distress or labor.  They said it was 50-50 if they could turn the fetus; if it didn't work, we would schedule a Cesarean section soon thereafter.  We were a bit on edge that week, making preparations and a bit disappointed that we'd likely miss out on that feeling of surprise that comes with a natural birth.

Wednesday morning, we got that surprise!  I had decided to forego duck hunting and go to work that day.  I was just nervous about Thursday and wasn't feeling motivated to go hunting.  Good choice!  As I prepped to go to school, Laura flagged me down from the bathroom.  During her shower, she had the sensation of warm water running down her leg, but thought it might just be shower water.  When she stepped out, there was no more ignoring it; this was the real deal!

I made the mistake of telling her that she should eat breakfast while I was on hold with the hospital.  The birth classes had repeatedly told us that during labor at the hospital, you are not allowed to eat.  We are "list packers", so I grabbed the go-bags and worked down the list of other items to get the car loaded.  We were so calm and collected, but also so excited at the same time.  

Laura: When we got to the hospital, I went to the sign-in desk and there was an old John A. Logan College student of mine, Gina.  She has worked there for a couple of years and it is always great to see her.  She said, "I haven't seen you in a while!" and I told her that I had been coming in so much before for blood tests for my miscarriages, but now, "I am pretty sure my water has broken and I am having a baby today!"  She was beyond excited and I think I made her boring desk job a bit more worthwhile. 

Then, we were taken up to the labor and delivery area, to a kind of waiting room with beds and curtains, where expecting parents wait to see what they are gonna do with you.  We were the first ones in there, but soon all beds were full of other mothers.  They hooked up 2 monitors on my belly, one for uterine contractions and one to monitor the baby's heartbeat.  Then, Dr. Schneider came in with a portable ultrasound machine and confirmed that the baby was still butt-down and folded up in a nonideal position.  So, we started talking about a c-section.  "When did you last eat?", the nurse asked.  "Uhhh 8 am", I answered tentatively.  "Well, we will schedule you for around 4pm, because you have to wait 8 hours before anesthesia."  Oh boy.....

It ended up being really nice to hang out with Johnny all day, excitedly awaiting the baby's arrival.  We could see and hear the heartbeat, so were not worried, and we had some time to order last-minute supplies on Amazon on our phones.  I got many blood tests and IV bags of fluids to ensure I was fit for surgery (and to keep me from being thirsty, as I was not allowed to drink either).  We also played whet I called 'Baby Name Sudoku', where we wrote out our remaining 4 boy names and all the potential first name-middle name combinations (that makes 28) and started narrowing it down and crossing some off.  We made it down to 8 names combos, with 2 clear leaders.  That's progress!

Finally, around 4pm, they started prepping us for surgery, explaining what would happen.  We donned our gowns and caps and were raring to go.  I got a pretty purple outfit, complete with slipper socks.

John: I put on my blue-footed booby outfit and walked Laura to surgery.  I took a photo of the clock in case it took a while and I started freaking out about how long it was taking.  I took another about 20 minutes later as I started to worry.  Soon thereafter, three different people came out separately and told me that her spinal block didn't fully take, that they were going to try another, and that if that didn't work, they'd put her under and I wouldn't be allowed in.  I was troubled, but apparently not as troubled as Laura was in the surgery room

Laura: It was interesting that I was wheeled in a wheelchair from the front desk of the hospital when we first arrived in the morning, but we walked with our nurse to the operating room and I climbed onto the operating table myself, after having IVs and having been poked and prodded all day.  Walking into the operating room was intimidating, as it was a big room and there were probably 8 people in there all busy, busy, busy.  It gleamed of stainless steel and glass, with built-in freezers full of supplies lining the room.  I was told to sit sideways on the operating table and the anesthesiologist stood in front of me.  I was given a pillow to hug and was told to curve out my spine like a shrimp--a funny image for a not-so-funny spinal block application.  The nurse anesthetist did the spinal block and it didn't hurt too bad.  Then I laid down and waited for the lower half of my body to go numb. They arranged a blue curtain that draped down so I wouldn't be able to see them cut me open (fine with me if I don't see that, thank you!).   My legs got tingly and heavy and went numb and then the anesthsiologist jokingly said I would have to pass a test.  He started asking me, "Do you feel this?  Am I touching you now?  How about now?  Does it feel cold or hot here?"  I felt a lot of what he was doing.  One of the tools he had had electrodes on it, like a little tazer and I felt that one on my stomach and started yelping.  This got the attention of my OBGYN, who came over and pinched my tummy really hard.  When I blurted out, "Yikes!", she was NOT happy....Then, I heard the nurse anesthetist say with total annoyance, "Well.....I guess we should just put her under, since that spinal didn't work.  Otherwise....I guess......we could do another spinal....."  Like he wasn't going to even ask me if I wanted to be aware during the birth of my baby!?!?!?!  Luckily, my OBGYN and I both heard him and started protesting, so then, the nice anesthesiologist took control, the nurses helped me sit up, and he did another spinal that took completely.  Then, he went out in the hall and fetched John because the time had come.

John: At 5pm, the door opened and I was given good news and an invitation to come in.  What a relief!  And not a moment too soon; as I walked in, there was a team with tools about ready to cut in.  I got behind the curtain that was draped across Laura's chest and held her hand.  Only a few minutes later, the anesthesia technician asked if I wanted to know right before they pulled the baby out.  I get woozy sometimes, but figured I didn't want to miss it.  He gave me a tap on the shoulder and I stood up just in time to see feet and arms come flailing out!

The doctors asked if I knew the sex, but there was a lot going on with cords and swelling and I didn't want to guess wrong.  They gave me a hint that Laura also heard, "there's nothing hanging down".  I turned to Laura and told her "IT'S A GIRL!"  We both locked teary eyes and enjoyed the moment.  We had (not so) secretly wanted a girl, and could not believe it.  I have wanted a girl as long as I have wanted to have kids (since high school).  During the pregnancy, we had convinced ourselves it would be a boy (the moniker "Elrod" certainly helped), but we now had an adorable little girl! One of the nurses said I better get ready for prom dresses and cheerleading tryouts; I thought to myself: "or stethoscopes, or racing helmets, or drums, or whatever else she wants to do!"  I am excited to watch this little girl grow up into a great, empowered woman, watching her mom as a great example.  But for now, I want to just enjoy her beautiful little baby face!

We couldn't believe our ears when we heard her cry as she came out, knowing that many c-section babies need help breathing at first.  She measured at 5 lbs. 15 oz. and 19.5 inches at birth.  Everyone in the room got a kick out of Lucy's tendency to stick her feet up.  She had been breech with her legs outstretched for so long, so she was just doing what she knew best.  She definitely passed her flexibility test.

This was Laura's view of the table where they were checking on the baby, just legs and arms flailing.

Laura teary-eyed after seeing our baby from across the room

Laura: While John was watching the nurses asses assess the baby, I was moved from the operating table to a rolling bed. I remember how scary that felt.  I had nurses on both sides of me and the ones on the right said "Take my hand and lean into us.  You will feel like you are falling forever, but you aren't".  That's exactly what it felt like, since my bottom half was still completely numbed.  Sure enough, I did not fall, but was lifted up by fabric that was beneath me and was moved like a stretcher onto the new bed.  Then, the bed was rolling quickly out of the room in a blur and I ended up in the recovery room, where they monitored me.  Meanwhile, John got to hold Lucy against his bare chest and she started to suck on his collarbone, his shoulder, and anything else she could get her mouth on.

 Then they put Lucy skin-to-skin on my chest.....she latched on to breastfeed right away, which was amazing!  I had no clue what I was doing, but I guess she did!

After about an hour, we made it to our romantic getaway destination, our "Parent-baby room", an expensive hotel where doctors, nurses, and food are delivered daily at unexpected times.

John:  As much as I was overwhelmed by the whole experience, I could no longer ignore my growling stomach.  We had missed the cafeteria dinner hours, so ordering in was our only option.  Rather than have some stranger bring a pizza, I called Hannah and Micah and they jumped at the opportunity to help and to meet Lucy earlier than expected.  Micah and Hannah also took a lot of sweet pictures of the three of us!

John: That night was a long one!  If we thought we had any idea what we were in for, we were very naive.  Lots of fussing and feeding and even more sleeping-mid-feeding than we could imagine.  I was dead tired by the next afternoon, so it was such a huge help that Alison came to visit and took a full 8-hour shift with Lucy and Laura so I could go home for a nap, shower, and a few chores that I wanted to get done before bringing the girls home.  That 2-hour nap and that shower were game changers!  I came back ready to go and we had a much better night.  Alison also took some great photos during her visit:

John: The next morning, Stephanie, Marsha, and Alison visited.  None of them could get over how cute Lucy was, nor could Laura and I.

John: Laura was craving a shower so much.  But the rule was that she needed to do some laps in the hallways a few times to prove she was stable enough to shower.  So it was great when Katherine and Kyle came by to visit and go for a walk around the maternity ward with us.

John: Momma certainly knows best.  We were eligible to leave Friday night, but Laura wanted to stay another night, and she was so right!  One of the nurses reminded us that we could send Lucy to the nursery for a couple hours while we napped, so we took her up on that twice and it really helped us recharge our batteries for the big move to the house.  We had a few final checkups and headed out into the great big world!

Welcome home, Lucy!

Passed out after a bit of celebratory champagne!

Fluffernut has been a good babysitter so far, even though he has already gotten punched in the face by her flailing around!  He is very curious about her and tolerant of her strange noises.

As this is mostly a travel blog, we are excited to see oh, the places we'll go with Lucy!