This second time around Matt had been giving Andrea progesterone shots for months (and getting a bit better at it by the end) so we made it all the way to the night before our scheduled c-section at 39 weeks. That Sunday night we went to the Old Spaghetti Factory for dinner with Grammy, Grandpa, Auntie Kristi, and Tyler. Tyler saw a birthday cake arrive at the table behind his highchair and definitely wanted some…but he did a pretty good job keeping himself in check. No S’mores this time, and everybody went to bed around 9.
Since this was a planned procedure, we knew exactly when the last possible minute would be for Andrea to eat. Matt and Andrea got up bright and early at 6 AM for an early breakfast of scrambled eggs, sausage, and not-so-good muffins (apple & oats, pretty dry). We went back to bed around 7:15 to squeeze in just a little more sleep (since certainly there was a shortage ahead). Grammy, Grandpa, and Auntie Kristi got up with Ty and had breakfast before Matt and Andrea got up for good around 9:30. Auntie Kristi had some work to do remotely for Epic, so Grammy and Grandpa took Tyler to get his haircut.
Just after noon it was time to take Toby to daycare and head to Swedish on First Hill. We got to the hospital a bit early (around 1:30), so we had to wait in an itty bitty, sort of triangle-shaped waiting room. There were quite a few other families there and they were very busy at the hospital, so after about 45 minutes they moved Andrea to a triage room (familiar territory, since this is where we’d landed at 2 AM when Tyler arrived early). We met Elizabeth (not Ellie, not Liza, not Beth, she made this clear in a very friendly but awkward way) and Debbie who would help prepare Andrea for surgery. Andrea got poked quite a few times to place the IV (oops), but thankfully she has a much stronger stomach for such things than Matt (who quietly tried to pay as little attention as possible).
Next we got transferred to a birthing room, which was actually just around the corner from the waiting room we’d started in. We met Cathy (or Kathy, not sure), who would be with us through the whole process. Around 4:20 PM the anesthesiologist came in. That first introduction was pretty stiff and a bit short on info (not that we were concerned at this point), and very shortly afterwards around 4:30 we headed to the OR.
Andrea got another spinal injection for numbing. Matt asked for a chair right away, ’cause we just weren’t going to take any chances. The doctor held Andrea’s hand during the early epidural…the nurses preferred Matt just ride this one out before coming any closer. The numbing took a lot longer this time, and the medicine did not sit well with Andrea’s tummy. So it evacuated itself into a kidney bowl, held by Matt, now in for the duration. After that initial wave of nausea the anesthesiologist added anti-nausea medication and we settled in for major surgery.
Andrea very specifically wanted pictures of the procedure this time, and somewhat to Matt’s chagrin two things happened: the doctor said that would be fine, and no one in the OR would be able to take them except Matt. But this was important stuff, so Matt went around the curtain to capture Theodore’s arrival in real time (looking through the lens helped disconnect a bit…).
The anesthesiologist got really chatty at this point and kept Andrea talking during the delivery. Little Teddy cried right away and headed over to the warming table. The nurses took a little bit to ensure his oxygen levels were good, so Teddy thanked them by pooping on the scale. He weighed 7lbs. 14.4oz (without the poop) and was 20″ long. He was downright enormous compared to his older brother.
We were transferred back to the birthing room and Andrea had to hold Teddy on her chest on the journey, which was pretty awkward since she was still numb. Teddy cried for the first 2 hours of his life, with no end in sight. He seemed to be sensitive to light, but thankfully liked being tightly swaddled (thank you nurse Cathy/Kathy). First Tyler came in to meet his little brother, which was pretty uneventful since he wanted to get back and watch TV with his family in the waiting room (can’t expect much more from a 2 year old). Then our family came in to meet Teddy 2 at a time. Grammy and Grandpa, Kristi and Grandpa, Kennedy and Autumn, and finally Christina all came through to say hello.
Now we were transferred to the postpartum room (488, represent!!). Grandpa, Christina, Kennedy, and Autumn got Matt food from a Mexican place nearby. It was a gigantic burrito with green sauce (and heaven-sent, since he hadn’t eaten in many hours). Andrea would still have to wait a bit. Teddy latched on pretty quickly; much quicker than itty bitty Tyler could. So everybody got to eat except Mommy Andrea. But she’d get a chocolate shake later, so no worries.
After cuddling and introducing and feeding for many hours it was bedtime. Teddy went to the nursery that night (and every night we were in the hospital) since we’d learned how very precious that little bit of extra sleep would be.
matt & andrea 