After 7 years, 5 pregnancies, the worst heartbreak ever, and the most profound joy and love we could ever experience...our family is now complete. Always missing one, but remembering her always.
On December 12, 2013 at 11:32 a.m., we welcomed the final addition to our family...a sweet rainbow baby girl, Evyn Myka. This is her birth story.
Evyn was a scheduled repeat C-section. Since Bailey was emergency C-section and Cameron was a repeat...that meant Evyn also would be arriving in the same fashion. For my anxiety and sanity, we scheduled for her to be delivered at 37 weeks 2 days. We also grow big babies here, so an early eviction was fine by us. Her birthday had been scheduled for probably a couple of months, so it was just a hurry up and wait game.
Our C-section was scheduled for 8:30 a.m., so we had to be at the hospital by 6:30 to check-in and head on up to be prepped. So, on the morning of the 12th, we got up, got ourselves ready to go, then we got Cameron up and ready, and we left the house for the last time as a little family of three.
We arrived at the hospital and everything went as scheduled...until it was time to go back. By that time, my parents had arrived and Adam's mom had arrived. They had taken Cameron out to the waiting room because we didn't expect for it to be long. However, the surgery in front of us was taking longer than anticipated, so we ended up having to wait. Another family came in for a scheduled 9:30 C-section and was able to go to the open operating room, because they were using a different doctor. Once my Dr. was finished with the procedure ahead of ours, we had to wait for an operating room to be prepped so we could go.
FINALLY (after what seemed like ages), it was go time! They took me in a wheelchair and we headed back. We rolled in through the operating room doors at 11:05 a.m. The anesthesiologist (who was AMAZING) came in and placed my spinal and the party started.
Side note: The anesthesiologist who we had this time (different than with Bailey and Cameron, who was the same) came in and introduced himself before the procedure (like normal). What I was very impressed with is that he had reviewed my prior C-section notes and the first thing he asked me was "I see you had a LOT of meds last time...what happened?". I explained to him that I felt more than I think I should have felt and was in pain when we delivered Cameron. I told him I hung in there until I knew Cameron was out safe and sound and then they had to knock me out because they had maxed me out on the meds they were giving me. I also explained that I felt more during my cerclage placement in July. He told me his goal was to make sure this last C-section was the best experience that I could have, so I could finish on a good note. :) He succeeded and I am so thankful. I think he had to place either 2 or place a 2nd time (not really sure which), but the first time he was placing, I kept feeling pressure in my left hip, then he stuck me again, and that was that. He explained everything to me as we were going through the process. I told him I got super nauseated with both Bailey and Cameron's C-sections, so he watched that closely. He explained to me that my nausea is directly related to a significant drop in my blood pressure. Every time it dropped, I started feeling bad. As soon as my blood pressure would start going back up, I would be fine.
Once the procedure started, my doctor, the anesthesiologist, the staff, and us were all chatting. We talked about the weather, No-Shave November being over, what razors are the best, Christmas plans - all sorts of stuff.
And at 11:32 a.m., we heard the best noise ever...a cry. Evyn was finally here! With very little hair (compared to her sister...VERY little) and a loud set of lungs, she was finally here! Weighing in at 9 pounds 2 ounces and 19 1/2 inches long, Evyn Myka Southerland joined the outside world and completed our little family. Daddy went and helped and took pictures while they finished up with me. Again, the small talk conversations continued, but I was awake and coherent throughout the entire procedure. Painless and easy.
While my doctor was in there, she did tie my tubes. This baby-making factory is closed. We had already talked long and hard about this, and we had decided that should we decide we want more kids, we will go ahead and restart the adoption process and will add on to our family in that manner.
But, for now, our family of 4 is wonderful.
