At about 2 1/2 weeks before he was due, my doctor performed an ultrasound (just keeping an eye on things because of my history of pre-gestational diabetes with the last two pregnancies) to make sure there was enough fluid for the baby and got a little surprise. Even though I had been measuring only 3 days or so ahead of my due date all along, the doctor discovered that my little guy's head was too big to be measured by the ultrasound wand! He estimated that he was between 10 and 11 pounds at that point. So, in order to have the safest delivery possible, we scheduled a cesarean section for the following Wednesday. I was supposed to continue working until Thursday, but those plans had to be re-arranged fast.
Luckily, I had had a c-section with Liam, so it was really no big deal to have another one. I wasn't the least bit nervous about that. I just wanted to make sure that both the baby and I were as safe and healthy as possible. So, we made the calls to family and friends and everything was set to go. My mom would come down on Tuesday night and spend the next few days with Liam and Ben so that Kevin and I could concentrate on bringing our third son into our family. What a blessing to know that we could focus all of our energies on the baby and not have to worry about our big boys at home.
So, Wednesday morning we arrived at the hospital at 6:00 am and I was wheeled into surgery at 8:15. By 8:30 am, Nicholas Ronon Carr was testing out his lungs and what a beautiful sound it was! I'd forgotten what a weird sensation it is to have your entire lower body numb and not be able to feel anything. Luckily the anesthetic didn't keep me from holding my beautiful boy for too long.
When Liam got home from school, Nana brought him and Ben to the hospital to meet their new baby brother. They were so excited to meet Nicholas and hold him and love all over him. Liam was especially anxious to hold Nicholas at every opportunity.
But now we are home and trying to figure out our sleeping and feeding schedules while trying to maintain some normalcy for Liam and Ben. Like Mommy, Ben has finished school for this year and Liam is the only one on a "regular" schedule. Nicholas isn't awake much yet. He pretty much eats, then falls asleep, then wakes up, then eats again, then sleeps again. But needing attention every few hours is tiring, as all new parents know. I guess the thing that makes it different this time around is Liam's regular school schedule and, for once, Kevin has an almost regular working schedule. Ah well, we'll figure it out. In the meantime we'll enjoy every minute we have of this new adventure in parenting!
