Preston's Birth Story

Sorry this took so long but here are the events that took place on March 25th. We started our day bright and early at 4:30am so that we could be in the hospital by 6am. We checked in and were brought to a room to get me set up for surgery scheduled for 8am. Got hooked up to all kinds of machines and started an IV. Ouch!!! That was not fun. Then the anesthesiologist came in to discuss what would be happening next. While we waited for my doctor to arrive, Peter got into his scrubs and was ready to go. When my doctor arrived, we walked down to the OR to get me ready for surgery. Peter had to wait outside the OR door at this point because he is not allowed in the OR until after they give me the spinal tap. It all seems like a blur right now but at the time I remember being freezing cold and really scared. The OR is cold to discourage bacteria growth. And they had 80s hit music playing for "ambience"! Then I got my spinal which wasn't as painful as I expected. They laid me down and put a heated blanket on me. That was like heaven. My doctor came in and they were getting ready for the surgery. Because I couldn't feel anything, I didn't know if they had even started yet. So I asked when is my husband coming in? They said we are going to get him right now. It was such a relief when he sat beside me and held my hand. I knew everything was going to be ok. So I just laid there as they pulled and tugged, not feeling a thing(thank god)! Then I knew it was close because all the nurses started moving around to get ready. Then at 8:24 my doctor held Preston up over the curtain and said Hi Mom!! He cried, I cried, Peter cried. It was an amazing experience!!! The whole operation went smootly from start to finish. Music playing, good conversation, cracking jokes. It was like M*A*S*H. All the doctors and nurses were great and very friendly. When he was all cleaned up, the nurse brought him over to us but I couldn't really get close or touch him because of my oxygen mask and my arms were pinned down by the heated blankets. So Peter took him and held him close to me for a few minutes. So as the doctor is sewing me up, the nurse tells us that Preston's blood sugar is a little low(they were checking it because I'm a diabetic) and they will have to give him a bottle. So Peter took him into the recovery room to feed him while they finished sewing me up. Then I joined them in the recovery room and the three of us spent about an hour there together. After lots of testing and monitoring, they took Preston off to the nursery for more monitoring and a real bath. I had to wait in the recovery room until I could feel my legs before they would move me to my room. Wow that is such a weird feeling!!! By 1:30 we were all back together in our room enjoying the new addition to our family. Overall we are impressed at how well everything went. Even my 4 day stay at the hospital was not bad. So glad to be home now and getting settled. We are both doing great!!! I'm recovering faster than I expected and Preston passed his one week check up with flying colors. Now the mushy stuff....... All I have to say is that this has been the most amazing experience of my life!!! I never knew you could love something SO much. I am so in love with him. Words can not describe the feelings and emotions Peter and I are going through. We are team Voelker now! The three of us are looking forward to a lifetime of joy and happiness with our family and friends. I can't imagine not having this experience, you can't give up and all the hard work was definitely worth it.