Pictures of Kairi

So, this is one of my favorite pictures. It's my momma, Denise, holding her first grandbaby, my baby girl, Kairi. This was taken the day that Kairi was born at the hospital. Goodness, I tell you, that was an experience like no other. I mean, first of all, I'd never had any kind of major surgery, other than going in for stitches once when I was much younger. And I'd hardly call that a major surgery.

Anyways, so we found out on the August 28, that Kairi had flipped and was breech. The OB who was seeing me that day, told me to try a few things at home and see if she possibly flipped. If she didn't they wanted me to come back on Monday, and see if one of the other OB's at the office could try to flip her around into a normal position. So, I tried what I was told, but to no avail.

So, went back in on Monday, and see my normal OB. She says, nope, she's still breech, we're gonna have to do a C-section. Great.
I'm not a big fan of needles, and the thought of getting a spinal block in all honesty, freaked me the crap out. My OB did a lot of reassuring in the office that day with me, and we ended up scheduling the c-section for the next day, September 1st. And I had to be at the hospital at 8AM. ....so much for sleeping THAT night.

So, there I am at 8AM....getting everything prepped...I have to admit, looking back at the pictures, I felt like an absolute whale. Kinda looked like one too...but I digress...

The funniest part about getting prepped for the c-section was getting me into the hospital garb. I mean, I was able to move around pretty decently and everything, so I had no problems with that. But the nurse gave me this tube top looking thing...and I'm in the bathroom just staring at it thinking, "Where on EARTH is this supposed to go?" I mean, she'd shown me that it was supposed to go across my stomach, but, it wasn't nearly large enough....so, I laid it on my stomach, and waddled out to the room. The nurse comes back in and has some heartbeat sensors to monitor the baby. She starts cracking up. She said that I was supposed to wear it around me, because that would then put the appropriate pressure on the sensors to be able to pick up the baby's heartbeat. Ooooohhhhh.....okay. My mom, sister and Tarrence all got a big kick out of that one.

So, anyways, they finally get me all situated and roll me into the operating room. I sit on the table they're going to be cutting me up on, and have me sit in the fetal position...kinda hard considering the big ol' belly, but I manage to make it work. I can feel the needle going into my back for the spinal block, and I can't remember the last time I sat so still....I was so afraid of them missing or me jumping or something and ending up paralyzed. But it worked and within seconds, I couldn't feel my feet. The nurses literally had to move my legs for me, I couldn't do it. They get me laid out, get my oxygen going, and all that other good stuff. The doctor comes in, and then, my mom. My mom was going to be in the operating room with me the entire time. She came in and sat right at my head the entire time through the c-section...she was so super supportive the entire time. She even got to cut the umbilical cord. She said it was somewhat creepy to see, and kinda weird looking, like a chain in a flesh sheath....*shudders* Anyways, the bring Kairi up to my head so I can see her. I only get a couple of moments to see her, as they're still trying to close up the gaping wound they inflicted upon me to get her out.

I remember that first moment I saw her though...she was crying, naturally, but she was just so beautiful. Ten fingers, and ten toes. Her cute little ears, and the perfect little nose. And that wail! Well, I guess that's something that all moms have to get used to.

I ended up staying in the hospital until that Friday...long enough for them to take my stitches out. Those first few days, I stayed at my parents, learning all sorts of things, and learning what true sleep deprivation feels like. And one thing I learned VERY quickly...sleep when the baby sleeps.