Wednesday, February 27, 2013

The Birth Story: Jaxon Drake Peterson is here!

Well, our little guy is here! The days are already flying by. I figured I should post about his birth as he is now 2 1/2 weeks old :)

Jaxon Drake Peterson arrived safe and sound on February 11, 2013 at 9:46 p.m. Just a tiny bit earlier than we expected! They admitted me to the hospital at about 5:00 on the 11th, and we thought we would most likely be meeting JAXON the next morning. However, at about 7:00 p.m. our doctor came in and told us that my high blood pressure (and an already jam packed surgery schedule for the hospital the next day!) warranted GO time.

All of a sudden things happened fast! By 7:30 they were beginning to prep me for surgery and by 9:00 I was in the OR. I am glad it happened that way, we were so ready and probably wouldn't have slept much anyway if we waited until the morning. Also, thankfully, both sets of our parents arrived in Santa Barbara that day! They were able to see me before the C-Section, but not able to see me or Jaxon afterwards as visiting hours ended at 9:00 p.m.

I was nervous as usual about the surgery and all the things that come with it. They had a horrible time with my IV's again and I still have the bruises on my arms to show for it. I was a nervous wreck going into the OR, but managed to keep my cool enough to not show my total panic. My doctor was amazing, literally holding me in a hug embrace as they completed the spinal anesthesia. Jon was able to be in for the whole time, but not near me until after the spinal was fully inserted. Honestly, just writing/remembering it makes me a little light headed. It was not that bad (except for the incident of shooting pains going down my left leg..... but I'll skip that part)..... it's just my phobia is still real. Although, MUCH more manageable then it was a year ago.

Once they were rolling, I was all set with one head phone in, holding Jon's hand, trying to keep taking deep breathes and eagerly anticipating meeting my baby boy. The doctors told us they were getting close, and then we heard them say, "Look at all that hair!"Seconds later, a lively, crying, beautiful, baby boy was held up and presented to us. What a joyous moment! The  emotions overflowed into tears.... of relief, gratitude, and pure happiness. After Jaxon was cleaned up, they placed him by my head for a few moments and let me touch him.  No words can describe that moment. It almost feels too sacred to share, so intimate, so perfect.



The rest of the surgery is kind of a blur. It was soo different than the C-Section with Drake. With Drake, the intensity in the room was high and there was a constant swarm of Doctors. This was quite different, SO routine it almost caught me off guard. Things I do remember:

* One of the doctors talking about his new car purchase while stitching me up. 
* The anesthesiologist getting a call on his cell phone about anther patient and walking away.
* Jon encouraging me and telling me it was almost over.
* A nurse reporting that Jaxon was doing great, with APGARS of 8 & 9.
* The doctors asking JON to help lift me off the operating table, because they were so busy with other babies being born they were down one nurse at that point. 
* Visual of the clock on the wall....Feeling like minutes have never ticked by so slowly in my life..... after they whisked my baby away I just wanted to be with him! 


I spent about an hour in recovery and felt pretty lousy. The narcotic they used didn't really agree with me very well, but thankfully that didn't last too long. FINALLY, at about Midnight we were taken to our room and they brought Jaxon in for us to snuggle and love on. 

And that my friends, is "the birth story". Well at least the modified, SHORT version! :) I will try to post more about the first few days, adapting to having him at home, and all the emotions that have come along with brining him home. 

To hold you over.... he is snuggly, cute, healthy, sweet, and doing just about all the things newborns do! We are blessed.