An Epiphany

I guess it's time to share the deets of our third-born's arrival, especially considering I'm bound to forget everything any day now due to the chaos that is raising three children ages three and under. Particularly when one of them is Jack.

Our almost 3-week old boy was actually supposed to arrive yesterday - January 25. But I was scheduled for a c-section January 18th due to a pretty rough delivery with Jack last time around. I'll spare you those details.  

Starting on New Years' Eve, I began having what felt like productive contractions. But they were either not strong enough or not regular enough to be legit labor. (They tell you to go to the hospital when contractions are 5-7 mins apart and 45-60 seconds long.) I'd get contractions throughout the days following, but they were nothing to write home about. Then on Sunday, January 6 at about 5pm, I called my friend Erin Daly to wish her a happy birthday. She jokingly mentioned that she was disappointed that I didn't have the baby on her bday. Mid-conversation, I noticed my contractions moving closer together - every 2 minutes. I started to make myself some dinner but thought better of it when I remembered that you shouldn't eat before a c-section. 

At this point, I was 40% sure I was in active labor. I really, really didn't want to go to the hospital and then get sent home if this wasn't the real thing, but David reassured me it was not a big deal if that happened. Vincent (David's teenage brother) was spending the night that night already - David and I planned to catch a movie after the kids went to bed. So Jackie (David's sister) came over to help put the kids to bed, and we left for the hospital at about 7:30pm. 

David and I hung out in triage where they monitored my contractions - which were definitely regular. The doc came in, checked me, and told me I was in active labor - 5 cm dilated. They checked me in and told me I'd be in the OR in 30 minutes, having a baby in 45. Um. WHAT?! 

Maybe this shouldn't have thrown me into a crazy fit, but it absolutely did. I was still wrapping my brain around the idea of being in labor 3 weeks early, hadn't even told Ash (my sister) or my parents that I was at the hospital, but in 30 minutes I'd be laying flat, getting sliced open and meeting our new baby boy. WHAT?! 

David made phone calls to family as they poked me with my iv and the anesthesiologist explained to me that in order to numb me, they have to give me a shot in a very small, very specific place in my spine. No prob, I thought. Just like an epidural. I had to get shots in my spine for the epidurals with Jack and Selah, this will be just like that, I figured. (I was wrong.)

They sent me in to the OR, and the anesthesiologist started poking away at my back. Ok, so imagine that you are sitting there, getting poked in the spine with a big needle. Try to think of the things you'd LEAST want to hear the doctor say while administering the anesthesia... I can think of a few:

1.) Does that feel like it's in the middle of your spine? (Um. Yes? You're the one looking at my spine!)

2.) Hmm...your spinal spaces are really tiny...

3.) Did you ever have spinal fusion surgery?

4.) Let's give this a try in a different spinal space.

5.) Let's give this another try in a different spinal space.

6.) Ok, third time's the charm. Let's give this another try in a different spinal space.

7.) Me: Ouch!!! Him: What?! Me: Shooting pain, down my leg! Him: Which leg? Me: LEFT!!! OW! Him: Hmm... Let's give this another try...

For real, folks. While Dr. Spaceman (30 Rock, anybody?) was poking around my spine, he made a little spinal fluid leak, which resulted in spinal headaches 3 days later. I hope you never have to endure a spinal headache, friend. They are gnarly. Like, so incredibly painful that even though I was taking Percocet  and Ibuprofen for the c-section pain, this headache almost made me vomit. (Graphic, I know. Sorry.) We almost went to the hospital to get a spinal patch to fix the leak, but decided at the last minute to wait it out, thanks to a call from my sister's friend who had experienced the dreaded headaches. The next day they were gone. Thank God.

ANYWAY, back to Carter. :) Dude came out of my tummy 15 minutes into the procedure. I couldn't feel anything, just heard him crying, which in turn made me cry. He weighed 6 lb. 10 oz. and was 20 inches long. 

He has been a perfect little bundle of joy ever since...well, except he's still trying to get the hang of the whole sleeping at night thing. The pediatrician says he looks exactly like Jack did as a newborn. I agree. He has that light brown newborn hair that I'm pretty sure will turn blonde just like his big brother's did. His eyes are an inky blue, which I'm imagining will turn brown. He is just so tiny and sweet. Trying to soak in every newborn minute. Particularly the good ones. (I'm happy to leave the spit-up covered, screaming ones behind.) 

Jack and Selah can't get enough of Carter. Selah asks to hold him all the time. Jack lays next to him and pats his tummy. (Although he also likes to throw balls at him. We're working on this.)

In case you haven't already just scrolled straight to the pictures, here they are:

Selah meeting her little brother for the first time at the hospital.

Grandma and Selah

This is the last picture I have of being pregnant, on January 4th. Selah, me and my sweet niece Ava. 

Can't believe it's been almost three weeks! I'm not sure where I'd be if it weren't for my awesome support system. David's mom has been over here helping me since day 1. My mom and sister both dropped everything to come visit for a few days and help me take care of my home and kiddos. And Ashley's mother-in-law Maria even flew into town to stay with Ashley's kiddos to make that possible. We've had about ten meals brought to our doorstep by sweet friends so I haven't had to worry about feeding our family. I am so incredibly thankful for all these women!

We've entered another level of craziness at the DeFrank household. With three kid ages 3 and under, the moments have become more intense - the good ones better and the bad ones worse. Ash and I were talking about how sometimes when you start to feel like you are getting comfortable in life and managing things ok, God reminds you that you need Him. Glad our "reminders" are so cute.

Until next time,

-Molls