On Tuesday, September 20, 2011 Charlotte Kelly and Elliot Marie entered the world. It was- without question- the very best day of our lives.
I'll try and be as brief as possible in telling their birth story...
Tuesday morning was my regularly-scheduled, weekly appointment. I went in at 10:00- Chris met me there. We must have had a feeling it was time as he usually didnt join me for my weekly appts.
The nurse took my blood pressure and it was high, so she took it again.... still high. A few minutes later, the doc entered. He took my BP and once again, it was high. We chatted for a moment and Chris said, "Doctor, do what you have to do to deliver these babies today." The doc gathered up his things and said, "I'll be right back." We could hear him in the hallway talking, but couldn't exactly make out what he was saying. A few minutes later, he reappeared. He began talking about high blood pressure and pre-E. He explained that in order for me to deliver, I needed to go home and wait for a few hours then come back. If my BP was still on the rise, I was to head to St. Ann's for a c-section. The bad news.... my regular OB would not be there to deliver as she was in a conference. I was devastated. Dr. R HAD to be the one to deliver! And she was going to be the one to notify Dr. J! How would Dr. J know to come to the delivery if Dr. R wasn't there!?
I left the OB in a haze and immediately called my mom to cry about Dr. R. I raced home and gathered things for the hospital and cleaned up the house a bit.... just in case. At noon, Chris came home and loaded the car. We had a repeat appointment at 1:00 that day to re-check my BP. The verdict was- if my BP was still high- C/S. If it had gone down- it was back home and wait a little longer.
We arrived right around 1:00. The nurse came in and checked my BP one last time. I had a terrible feeling it had gone down and my hope of delivering that day was over. (now let me just say, that I didnt want my BP to be dangerously high at all.... I just wanted it high enough to warrent a delivery).
A few agonizing minutes later, the doc appeared and instantly said to head to the hospital. My c-section was scheduled for 4:00 pm! Holy hell, we're having some babies!!!He then went on to say.... Dr. R would be there afterall! And if that wasn't amazing enough.... so would Dr. J!
So we jumped in the car and called our parents to tell them to head to the hospital. I don't think either of our moms stopped long enough to blink before racing to the hospital.
We arrived around 1:30, went up to the 3rd floor, and registered. We were taken back to a triage room where I changed into a gown and was hooked up to monitors galore. It turns out I was contracting about every 1-4 minutes, but they weren't really strong enough to do anything. In triage the nurse took my medical history and got me prepped for my c/s. Dr. R made an appearance and explained that we were stalling for Dr. J who had a 5:00 appt and would be in right after.
So we waited, and waited, and waited for what seemed like 3 weeks. Finally around 4:30, I was taken back to the OR. Chris had to stay behind until I was prepped and ready to go. I'll spare the complete details of the OR, but basically, they numbed me from the armpits down and put a curtain up in front of my face. Chris came in and sat holding my hand. Then they got to work...
They were very careful with my incision because of my past surgeries. A few minutes into surgery, Dr. J appeared! When she walked in, I just looked at her crying and said "thank you." I shudder to think where we'd be without her...
Then, a few minutes later, at 5:08 PM, the most beautiful Baby A to ever exist entered the world. I could hear her cry before I could see her. They lifted her up over the curtain so I could see my amazing little miracle and I've never felt such a rush of emotions in all my life- and imagine I never will again. She was perfect. Healthy, plump, pink, and LOUD! No need to worry about that little one's lung development! Chris cut the cord and just moments later... the most beautiful Baby B to ever exist entered the world. Meeting Baby B is a little more of a blur as the OR had gotten a bit hectic at that point. There were nurses caring for babies and doctors caring for me and people taking pictures.... it was perfection.
I could see Baby A from where I was laying. She was in her bed and was so pink and so healthy. I just couldn't get over it. Chris eventually brought both of my little miracles over to me for the first time. I was in awe. How is it possible that these two perfect little beings are mine?! How is it possible that I get to take them home?!
After surgery was finished, I was taken to triage where Chris and OUR BABIES were waiting. Dr. J and Dr. R came in got to hold them. Then we called in the parents... I can't remember exactly how it happened but I imagine there were quite a few tears... and several thousand pictures. Eventually, Chris went down to the 2nd floor for the babies' first baths and I was cleaned up a bit myself.
You're probably wondering why I havn't called the babies by name yet... that's because at this point, we still hadn't decided on names for our little girls! We were pretty confident in Elliot Marie for Baby B, but were still trying to decide between Emma and Charlotte for Baby A... We were so unsure, we continued to call them Baby A and Baby B for several hours after their birth. Finally, with lots of votes from family and nurses, we officially decided on Charlotte Kelly for Baby A and Elliot Marie for Baby B.
The rest of that first evening is a complete blur to me. I know I held them, I know I nursed them, I know I walked for the first time post-surgery. But other details come and go. What I will never forget, is seeing them for the very first time and hearing their very first cries of life. I will never forget the instant love I felt for them and the love that grows stronger and stronger each and every day.
In sum:
Charlotte Kelly was born on Tuesday, September 20, 2011 at 5:08 PM, weighing 5 lbs, 14 oz and measuring 18 inches long.
Elliot Marie was born on Tuesday, September 20, 2011 at 5:09 PM, weighing 6 lbs, 10 oz and measuring 19 inches long.
So it's official... after three long years and many tears, our baby girls are finally here!
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