Let's see....now where were we?
Oh yes, I survived the "day o' contractions" and was finally pain free. That lasted a glorious 48 hours, but alas, those darn things started right back up. By now, I had been given the "you're pregnant. It's part of the deal" speech and so I didn't really think much of them. They were uncomfortable, but bearable. Life continued on like normal for the rest of the week. Until.
Friday, April 16.
4:30 a.m. - I wake up and take my mom to work. Josh's car needs some repairs and so we are sharing a vehicle for the week. I need the truck to go to my dr's appointment so she is now at work without a vehicle.
8:00 a.m. - I drag myself and Charleigh out of bed. I had showered the night before because I had gone to a get together at my MOPS Mentor Mom's house. As a result, I threw my hair up in a ponytail, applied ZERO makeup, threw on some clothes, got Charleigh dressed and headed out to my weekly checkup appointment. No bags, no pictures, no nothing.
9:30 a.m. - I get a call from my girlfriend wanting to know if I would still like her to watch Charleigh while I go to my appointment. I tell her "no thanks, we'll be fine." It's just an in and out thing after all.
9:45 a.m. - We are called back for my appointment. My OB asks me if I have still been having contractions. To which I answer "Sure, but whatever. I can handle it." She checks me out and declares that the baby's head is much lower than it was the previous week, but there is no effacement or dilation. She then listens to the heartbeat. I notice that it sounds a little slower than usual and also that the doctor has kind of a funny look on her face. After putting the doppler away she turns to talk to me. It goes like this:
Dr. C: Well, Carrie, you're scheduled for your c-section on Tuesday. But we may be able to move it up at this point.
Me: Ehh, I'm okay with Tuesday. I'm handling the contractions okay and I just want to do what you think is best.
Dr. C: Perhaps we should think about going ahead with the delivery.
Me: When would we do it?
Dr. C: Today, silly. Go ahead and get dressed and let me see if they can fit you into the schedule.
(Insert me beginning to panic a little here. Deliver? This afternoon? I have so much to do still.)
10:15 a.m.- I head into Dr. C's office (with Charleigh) to find out what the plan is. She informs me that we are a go for delivery today. I calmly ask her what time we are looking at, to which she replies, "12:30" Oh my. Heart racing. Full blown panic. As I sit there in shock she asked me if my husband was nearby. Uh, no. He works in Elk Hills. 45 minutes away. "Call him" she tells me. I nod but don't move. "Now" she says.
10:20 a.m. - Josh gets the phone call all expectant dads dread. "Honey, come home now. Put down whatever you are doing and get here. My c-section is in 2 hours." My mom gets the next phone call. Except hers includes the words "Find a ride to the hospital. Now!" My dad's response? "I'm in Buttonwillow and covered in grease from a repair." My in-law's? They were almost 200 miles away on their way out of town. Awesome.
10:40 a.m. - My mom arrives at the hospital. Charleigh informs her that it is time for us to go pick up the baby. She spoke of it like we had ordered our dinner and it was time to get it. Don't we all wish? As my mom and I are deciding that she will go drop Charleigh off at Susie's house, my girfriend calls back. She asks if I need anything. Yeah, please come get my kid. And because she's amazing, she does.
11:00-11:30 a.m. - I was told to go to registration because apparently I had not registered correctly. When I get there, they are busy and so I sit. And wait. And wait. And wait. Meanwhile, my doctor's office calls and tells me to go straight to the birth center because they need to get me started. The registration people (rudely) inform me that is not an option. I have to register. While waiting, we hear the woman at the front desk arguing on the phone with someone who is clearly requesting that they send me upstairs. But alas, no can do. When I am finally called back, the girl checking me in is slower than molasses. I simultaneously answer questions, field about 10 phone calls, and send out a few texts to friends. Finally, I am headed upstairs.
11:35 a.m. - I arrive at the birthing center, only to be greeted by my doctor in the hallway. "Where have you been?" she asks. Grrr.... And then, because she's great, she eats a cookie in front of me. I was soo hungry at this point. My crepe from 7:30 the night before was really not cutting it anymore. When I give her a (jokingly) bad time about eating in front of me she replied, "I need to keep my energy up for surgery." I love her. Seriously.
11:40 a.m. - I am brought into my room and change into my gown. Looking at the clock, I call Josh and tell him not to hurry too much because there is no way that I will be prepped and ready to go in 45 minutes. Ha.
11:45 a.m. - 12:32 p.m. - Chaos reigns. IVs are flying, meds are going in, and the questions. Oh, the questions. At one point, I had two nurses and the anesthesiologist all asking me questions at once. I thought my head would explode. I was hooked up to the monitors where we found out that I was having regular contractions every 5 minutes. Um, yeah. I did have the same anesthesiologist I had with Charleigh and she agreed immediately when I asked if I could have an epidural rather than the spinal block. One weight from my shoulders. At some point Dr. C peeked her head in and asked them to move it along. Josh arrived some time in there. I was prepped. Josh was dressed in his scrubs. The phone rang constantly. Mine, Josh's and my mom's. The flurry of activity made the whole thing seem so surreal.
12:32 p.m. - I am walking down the hallway to the OR. It all just got a whole lot more real.........
