Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Larkin Elizabeth Woodard

Before I tell you about Larkin’s birthday, let me tell you about her name.  We love family names…and names that are unusual.  Well, Larkin was Matt’s great grandfather’s name.  We have always loved it and wanted to use it for a girls name.  I do think it’s slightly funny that we named our first born BOY after a woman (my mom) and our sweet little GIRL after man.  Her middle name is Elizabeth.  We chose this name because that is Liz’s name and Matt’s mom’s middle name.  It was also the name that my mom was going to name me up until the last minute.  So there you have it…that’s how we chose.

On to Larkin’s birthday.  We had to be at the hospital at 5:00 AM.  Soooo early!  Matt’s mom came over that morning to stay with the boys and bring them to the hospital for the birth.  A sweet nurse, Carla, started my IV while a couple of other nurses asked me a million questions.  I had a few more things to do (questions, bloodwork, etc.) because we didn’t have a chance to do any pre-op the day before since it was a last minute thing.  They hooked me up to a monitor.  The funny thing was that Larkin looked absolutely PERFECT on the monitor that morning…way, way better than she had at any of my NST’s.  Dr. Harper and Michelle thought that was quite humorous.  Dr. Harper talked to us…we signed some paper work.  With Dr. Harper’s recommendation, we chose to have my tubes tied so I had to sign those papers.  I may post more on that decision later.  We had to wait awhile to get my blood work back to make sure it was ok to go ahead with the spinal.  After it came back, they took me back to the operating room.  It’s funny (well not really)…this time, my second csection, I didn’t anticipate on being that nervous since I knew what to expect.  However, this time I was just as nervous or maybe more because I was so worried about Larkin.  We just didn’t know what to expect.  There can be so many problems with the two vessel cord…plus that she was small…plus that she had intrauterine growth restriction..we just didn’t know what to expect.  Anyway, we got back to the OR and I got onto to the sterile metal table.  And I started the whole body sweats and the whole body shakes because I had to get a spinal.  I HATE getting a spinal…it’s a toss up of what I hate the most…spinal or IV….hmmm…I HATE THEM BOTH!  After lots of digging and extra numbing medicine…because apparently I have a weird back?!?…I got my spinal!  YUCK!  I was worried that I would get sick because I got very nauseated with Campbell.  However, this time I told them that and they went ahead and gave me some medicine…NO nausea!  Yay!  And, this time, I was numb on both sides immediately.  With Campbell, they had to tilt the table to numb my right side.  Let me just say that Michelle makes me laugh…she was good at distracting me!!!!  Let’s just say that having a baby…even a csection…is not for the modest.  As I lay pretty much naked on the table, all the nurses (which I’m friends with a lot of them…and if we aren’t friends, I know them from Michelle) are bustling around getting things ready so it’s quite embarrassing.  At one point, I hear someone calling my name from outside the operating room.  I look over (and remember that Im just laid out on the table) and my friend, Susan, (who is also an OB nurse) was waving away.  She wasn’t working and just came to be there for the birth which was so sweet.  Well, the next thing I know, Susan is in scrubs and by my side.  Dr. Harper asked her if she wanted to assist and she said yes.  So, she was literally right in the middle of things assisting Dr. Harper in the surgery. 

Okay…back to the birth.  Dr. harper came in and got started.  I have to say that I felt (not pain) a lot more pressure this time than I did with Campbell.  The whole thing is pretty much a blur but I do remember feeling a ton of pressure and then Susan saying “awww…she is precious..she looks like a baby doll” and then Dr. Harper said “she is a tiny little thing but perfect!” And I hear SCREAMING!  Which seems like a no brainer that I would hear screaming BUT we never really heard Campbell scream..he grunted and made other noises because he had so much fluid on his lungs and he needed some extra help.  Larkin, on the other hand, did NOT need any help.  She was absolutely PERFECT!!!!!

Here are some pictures to document Larkin’s Birth!

This my LAST picture EVER of me being pregnant.  :(  Check out my belly.  I can tell now that it had shrunk and wasn’t as big as it was suppose to be.

Larkin Elizabeth Woodard 394And, OF COURSE, I was on my phone.  Notice that you don’t see my left hand/arm.  That would be because my IV was in and I do NOT move my hand/arm once it is in!Larkin Elizabeth Woodard 395This is the last time that Larkin was on the monitor!Larkin Elizabeth Woodard 397Me and Michelle (my wonderful nurse AND friend).  The lady behind me is the nurse anesthetist, Christi.  She is really sweet and is friends with Michelle.  She gave me my spinal for both Campbell and Larkin. AND, she had a baby girl about a year ago and she had a two vessel cord and a tiny baby too!!!Larkin Elizabeth Woodard 398Before the operating room…Larkin Elizabeth Woodard 399In the operating room..Larkin Elizabeth Woodard 400Michelle stole the camera which was great because she got some shots that Matt couldn’t have gotten from his stool!  This is Susan and Dr. Harper.Larkin Elizabeth Woodard 401Larkin Elizabeth Woodard 402My itty bitty girl.  I’m not sure what a normal cord looks like but Dr. Harper said the cord and placenta looked really small.  They were both sent off for testing so maybe the tests will tell us something about the two vessel cord.Larkin Elizabeth Woodard 403And she’s screaming!!!  Love Dr. harper looking down at her!!!Larkin Elizabeth Woodard 404ANd I know this isn’t focused but you can tell that I am smiling and sooo relieved that Larkin came out breathing!Larkin Elizabeth Woodard 406She weighed 5 pounds and was 17 inches long.Larkin Elizabeth Woodard 409All cleaned up.Larkin Elizabeth Woodard 415Her two apgars were 9 and 9.  Such a blessing!Larkin Elizabeth Woodard 416We all agreed that she looks so much like Trigger….nothing like Campbell!Larkin Elizabeth Woodard 420Larkin Elizabeth Woodard 422Larkin Elizabeth Woodard 423Me and Susan…Thank you, Susan for coming and for assisting even though you weren’t supposed to! ;)Larkin Elizabeth Woodard 426My first time to hold Larkin!  Larkin Elizabeth Woodard 427Larkin Elizabeth Woodard 428

We are slightly in LOVE!!!!!!!

No comments: