Happy One Week Birthday Piper!!

It's hard to believe that Piper is one week old today. Has it really been a week?!? It seems like just yesterday Sean, Dillen, Roxy and I were making the 7AM drive up to Orange County's Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo.

Upon our arrival, my dad and stepmom drove into the hospital parking lot to meet us and to take Dillen and Roxy for the day. Luckily, Roxy only faked shy for about a minute (she was a chatterbox the entire 45 minute drive up to the hospital, talking about her excitement to spend the day with Grandma and Grandpa). By the time we did the car seat swap and had the girls buckled in, they were all smiles and screaming "Bye mom! Bye dad!" from the open window as they drove away.

Sean and I made a small trek around the large amount of construction at the hospital entrance and walked through the all too familiar front doors, into the elevator and up to Labor and Delivery. Within moments of arrival, with cookies and brownies in hand (always a good thing to bribe the hospital staff into liking you before check-in) I was hooked up to an IV and dressed in my ever-so-fasionable, open-in-the-back, gown. I was hooked up to a heart monitor for Piper and what I thought was Piper stretching turned out to be contractions! I had felt them throughout the night but really only thought it was Piper letting me know she was in there. It turns out that within the hour I was plugged in at the hospital, the contractions progressed from every 10 minutes to every 3! We probably would have been making an emergency drive up to the hospital that morning had we not been scheduled for a c section.

My mom and stepdad arrived shortly after being hooked up which was comforting. My mom was there for Dillen's birth but had to miss Roxy's altogether because she was sick. To this day, she is upset about that. So, it was nice to have her presence in the room with us. Sean, of course, had begun snapping away - documenting moments I don't even recall having happened.

I wasn't feeling nervous - mostly just excitement - until Dr. Cvar walked in the room with a big smile on her face... showing she was awake, ready and excited to bring Piper into our world. Seeing Dr. Cvar was the first reality check moment. No turning back now. Not that I wanted to, but it just hit home that we were full-force moving ahead... our family of 4 was about to become A WHOLE HAND FAMILY (as my dad so smartly put it).

The anesthesiologist came in to go over the protocol which, even having gone through it twice before, was a relief hearing. He put my concerns at ease and I knew I was in good hands.

Then the nurse returned and said, "Ok! Let's go have a baby!" Sean, my mom and stepdad followed us out as I made the final walk to the surgical room. My mom and stepdad were dropped off at the family waiting room and Sean was taken into another "holding room" while he went through final clothing preparations (he looks so good in his hospital blue's). I was taken in and asked to climb on a tall, sterile bed. The room was chilly and bright. The buzz was on high speed as everyone around me had obvious jobs to attend to. I made my way (VERY large belly and all) up onto the table wondering how anyone shorter then me could make it up. I was told by the anesthesiologist to sit on my bottom with my legs dangling over and to hunch forward as far as possible. I tried to criss-cross my legs (remembering that is what I was asked to do last time) but he quickly advised me to keep my legs down - that he promised little pain at injection. And he was right. I did feel the pinch, a little bit of a sting and pulses of medication flowing. But within less then a minute, he was in and I was going numb from my waist down. They quickly had me lay on my back and prepped my belly. Dr. Cvar entered with her assistant - both fully prepped and ready to go.

It's interesting. Once things got started, they moved pretty quickly. I had no idea Sean was even in the room until I looked to the right of me and there he was - sitting with two cameras (one still and one video) and an obvious smile underneath his surgical mask. Dr. Cvar asked if I wanted her to go through the same scar as the one from Dillen and Roxy... umm... sure? I wasn't sure why this was a question for me to answer so I just said, "Whatever you think is best!" Did I turn down a possible free tummy tuck? Hmm.

It took a while to get through the scar tissue and I believe my bladder was nicked causing a bit of a bleed. But the doctors had it taken care of pretty quickly and worked diligently to get to Piper. Once they were in, Dr. Cvar asked me how much I thought she would weigh. I, guessing safely, said 6 lbs. something... I mean, we were taking her out 14 days before her due date. But once Piper was out, Dr. Cvar said "Oh, she's much bigger then 6 lbs.!" And, sure enough, it turns out we had an 8 lb. (even) baby! Can you imagine what she would have weighed if she went full term? Yikes! All I can say is thank goodness for c sections. ;)

After Piper came out, she started wailing. And I mean WAILING. Even the nurse in attendance said, "I haven't heard a baby cry like that in a VERY long time." So, Piper has some pipes! :)

I was in for another 45 minutes of surgery to repair a full abdominal hernia so Sean went with Piper for her first bath and measurements. After I was done with surgery and stapled up, I was wheeled into the recovery room where there was a beautiful sight to see - Sean sitting in a semi dark room holding Piper, all bundled in a blanket, close to his chest. I imagine this long amount of time had to be a bonding moment for both of them. Sean looked so at peace and so content. Within 5 minutes, I had Piper at my breast and she (just like her older sisters) latched on immediately with no problem. She was obviously hungry and ready to fill her belly. Her latch was quick and her suck was strong. This was a relief for me as I have heard so many stories of difficult nursers. How I lucked out with three easy eaters is beyond me... but truly appreciated.

My mom was called in not long after and, since Sean was eating lunch (brought to him by a very kind nurse) and I couldn't keep my eyes open for the life of me (my mind was wide awake but my eyes were heavier then lead), she had a wonderful bonding moment of her own.

After I could move my feet a little bit, such a strange sensation, I was wheeled into my room - but not before pushing the button on the wall that sounds the lullaby throughout the hospital signifying the birth of a baby. I love that...

When I was taken to my room, I was completely floored by the beauty. I felt like I was in a resort hotel. I remembered the last time I was in the hospital giving birth to Roxy all of the pounding and jack hammering from the internal changes being made. It was nice to reap the benefits this time around. The mirror above the sink was large, oval and glamorous. The faucet was high end and the counter tops granite. The room was the largest on the maternity floor (HOW did I luck out?? Could it have been the cookies/brownies we brought?!?) and even had a long built in couch bed next to the window. It felt more like a vacation then a hospital stay and I am so glad I took advantage of all 5 days. Even the food was delicious and there was a hotel-style menu to choose from. And the staff was as friendly and competent as my memories from my first two stays (not including one clueless night-nurse). My favorite nurse during my stay was Pam - what a hoot she was!

Later that day, we had several family visitors but, of course, the most anticipated for Sean and I was the arrival of Dillen and Roxy. We couldn't wait for them to meet their baby sister. When they walked in the room I think they were a little overwhelmed by all of the people but both immediately took to my bed to meet Piper who was in my arms. Roxy, surprisingly, was the one who couldn't get enough. Dillen spent about 2 minutes doting over her new baby sister but then wanted to say hello to her family members in the room. But Roxy didn't want to get down. She wanted to hold Piper, see her feet and hands, give her kisses and hugs and talk to her - welcoming her. It was priceless.

My dad and stepmom spent an amazing day with Dillen and Roxy - first fixing them an A+ breakfast; then picking blueberries in their yard; then decorating a cake to bring to the hospital; then taking them to a pumpkin patch for some good time fun and a picnic lunch. I was told that when they were getting into the car to come to the hospital, Roxy begged her Grandma to be sure to wake her up when they got to the hospital... knowing she was going to probably nap on the way. Turns out both girls napped on the way and my dad has proof on his camera phone.

We sang Happy Birthday to Piper with a "0" candle propped right in the middle. Our singing visitors in attendance besides me, Sean and Piper were: Dillen, Roxy, Grandma and Grandpa Russell, Grandma Jane, Grandpa Jim, Grandma Barbara, Aunt Julie and cousins Liz and Sam, and Uncle Scott and his girlfriend Valerie. It was chaotically perfect and I wouldn't have changed a thing. The room was filled to the brim with love. We also were visited by my friends Danielle, Kristina and her son Cole and my friend Sarah. What a great day... Other visitors in the hospital throughout the week included Jill, Val, Gina, Lynda and Alan.

My time in the hospital with Piper was incredibly peaceful and there are no words to describe my immediate love for her. Just like with Dillen and Roxy, my heart only grew bigger - filling my soul with an abundance of love.

I can't seem to put her down either. I love holding her. Like I said in the last post - she is the missing link to my arms. She is the completion of our WHOLE HAND FAMILY. She is so small; so beautiful; so sweet; so squeaky... I had no idea nine months ago how much I needed her in my life. And I can see that Sean, Dillen and Roxy feel the same way.

Since coming home we are definitely in the babymoon phase. Dillen and Roxy have shown no signs of jealousy - only great love for their baby sister. In fact, the two of them have been playing amazingly well since Piper and I came home. We have hunkered down in our house and I thought they would be going stir crazy by now. But it's been quite the opposite. For hours upon hours, they are playing together - coming up with new games and imaginary play stories with rare interventions from me or Sean.

Piper and I have settled into our new surroundings and I am now beginning to cope with the residual pain and swelling from major surgery. I am slowly trying to wean myself from the Vicodin and Ibuprofin prescribed to me but it hasn't been easy. Sean encourages me to stay on them. I just don't like being drug-dependent but this is the most difficult of the three in regards to recovery. I suppose that has something to do with the additional work done this time.

And as I finish this post, I eagerly look forward to picking up little Piper who is beginning to coo in the "nurses station" I have set up next to me in the living room: Another snuggle; another whiff of the baby scent that puts a smile on my face; another rush of love surging through my heart.

I am home.