Annabelle's Birthday!

Monday, April 19, 2010. I had an 8:00 am appointment with my high risk doctor to attempt a third amniocentesis. They sonographer did an ultrasound first. She took measurements and estimated Annabelle to weigh 7 lbs, 1 oz. We were both so shocked because I expected her to weigh about 5 lbs. Especially since I only gained around 10 lbs the whole time I was pregnant!


The doctor came in and found a really small pocket of fluid to try to get to. He threw his tie over his shoulder and went to work fast sanitizing my stomach with iodine. They said they didn't numb you for the procedure, so I prepared myself for another painful few minutes like the Friday before on my second amnio attempt. Once he got the needle through the uterus, she moved her back against it like the 2 times before. The sonographer said, "I'm just going to grab the baby and move her over." That sent me into a slight panic, but I guess she knew what she was doing. It was in and over within a few seconds, almost totally painless and super fast! Nothing like my 2 last tries at it! I asked to see the fluid and was so amazed that this was what my baby was floating in for 9 months. I made Jeremy look but he was mostly disgusted by it. I told him that we could tell her when she got bigger that we saw her pee before we ever met her!


They sent it off to the lab to test for lung maturity and said they would call around lunch time. I cheated on my bed rest and we went to the dollar tree for some things to give the boys at the hospital after Annabelle was born. We went to Hobby Lobby and I got a few things to finish up some letter orders. Every time Jeremy's cell phone rang, our hearts sank and one of us would scramble for the phone, but every time it was someone other than the doctor's office.


We finally got home and decided to start gathering things for the hospital suitcase. Jeremy cooked some cheese sticks for me. As he was heating up the sauce, the phone rang and it was the high risk doctor's office. They said her lungs were mature! I gave my regular OB's office a call to let them know, but they insisted on documentation from the other office before they would even give me a day to come in for the c-section. They ended up calling about 2 minutes later and asking when I had eaten last. It had been about 4 hours since breakfast, but my lunch was literally on the stove and waiting. They said, "If you want this done, go to the hospital right now!"


I scrambled to call my mother-in-law who had our boys at preschool. She wouldn't answer and my hands were shaking so bad. We scrambled around the house trying to piece the rest of our suitcase together. We got to the hospital, they hooked up my IV and started pumping me full in overdrive!


It all happened SO FAST! When it came time for my c-section, about 2 hours later, I walked off to the OR, so TERRIFIED!!!! They don't let anyone come back with you until they get your spinal in and get you opened up. So, the nurse (Gena, who I irritated to no end in all of my trips and stays in labor & delivery) let me hold her hands. The anaesthesiologist put in the numbing meds and inserted the catheter. I sorta jumped but he said it was OK. They asked if my legs felt heavy. They didn't. They told me to lay down. I turned around and laid down with no problems. They kept asking if I felt any different, if my legs were tingly? They went to put in my catheter to drain my pee- I felt everything! The anaesthesiologist and my doctor just looked at each other because I could pick my legs up and move them all around. I could feel him pinching my stomach, I felt it all!

I was so terrified that they were going to cut me open while I could still feel everything. The anaesthesiologist said that he could try doing another spinal or epidural. I didn't want to go through sticking another needle in my spine to not have it work again. So, they had to put me to sleep. I do remember my doctor stabbing me 3 times in my previous c-section scar before I got any pain meds or was put to sleep. She just kept apologizing and I was yelling in agony. I have no idea what she was doing though....

I remember waking up back in the delivery room with the satan of all nurses.... the lady with the blue eye shadow. She was my arch nemesis. I had warned all of the other nurses that I didn't want her touching me. Of course, I wake up and she is digging into my flesh and "massaging my uterus." I also remember assaulting her at least once. She was kneading away on my stomach and I grabbed her arm and pushed it away. Only problem was that I couldn't let go. I felt like rigamortis had set in and I had no control over my muscles. She told me to let her arm go and I told her I couldn't. She got mad and left. She also kept getting mad because I would press my pain pump too many times and it would alarm. Looking back, I should have told her where to shove it.

Jeremy tried to show me a picture of Annabelle. She had black hair. All I kept saying was that she had a rug on her head and that wasn't my baby. I was in so much pain and I didn't even want to hold her when they finally brought her in. I don't think I held her until she was 2 days old.

I had my tubes tied so I am very thankful knowing I'll never have to experience that pain or fear again!! My little angel is here and healthy and I am so grateful!