Welcoming Wyatt

Wyatt Clark
born Wednesday, October 12 at 11:47 a.m.
6 lbs 10 oz, 18.5 inches

I'm going to write this ALL out right now with probably a million sleep-deprived typos and post all of these un-edited pictures, because I'm afraid if I don't, I'll get busy and never will...

I was having contractions on and off all of Tuesday afternoon and night, but they were never really convincing labor-like contractions, so I went to bed and mostly slept through them. Wednesday morning, as Davis was rushing to get the kids off to school, I got out of bed to realize I was bleeding heavily. While panicking and trying to sound like I was totally not panicking, I mentioned to Davis that they were going to drop me off at the hospital (which is luckily just a few minutes from our house AND directly on the way to the kids' school). An ultrasound revealed that a bunch of baby's umbilical cord plus his placenta were between his head and my cervix. So

and less than hour later he was born! It was so crazy fast, I couldn't believe it. I had told Davis to go ahead and put Henry down for a nap while I was waiting for the doctor to show up, just to have my friend call him back a short while later as they were getting ready to send me to the OR, telling him to hurry up and get back to the hospital.

This picture was taken right before they told us no pictures until baby was out and cleaned off - boo!

Having a c-section was by far one of the freakiest experiences of my life. It was just a WEIRD feeling. He didn't want to come out and I actually felt him retreat up into my chest right as they were getting ready to get him out - it got a little scary for a couple of minutes (which felt like forever) as they were trying to get him - the doctor and nurse pushed on my chest while telling me to take really deep breaths to try to push him down, then the doctor ended up cutting some more and using the vacuum to get him out. His cord was wrapped tightly several times around his neck, and he came out pale and limp and not crying - I'm glad I didn't see that part. Thankfully they were able to stimulate him really quickly, and he scored 8 and 9 on his APGARS - good boy!

Getting foot-printed

I was so thankful to have him out and healthy after all the scariness of this pregnancy. I told the doctor when he said c-section that I was so done being scared, I didn't care what they did! I just laid there while they were sewing me up, listening to Wyatt's very healthy sounding wailing and thanked God over and over again.

Once we got back to the room, the hardest thing was not getting to hold Wyatt or even see him up close. My blood pressure was too low and they kept me laying really flat while they finished getting him cleaned up... or something. I don't really know what they were doing, it just took forever! Then Daddy got him

Our precious and wonderful friends finally got to come in after waiting in the waiting room, and we prayed over Wyatt and again I was so thankful and happy. And is there anything better than being a new mom and hearing a constant stream of people telling you how perfect and beautiful your baby is? I don't think so :)

Let me just say, though, I was a huge grouch about being in the hospital. I just really hated it - nurses and other hospital people were constantly bugging me. I mean CONSTANTLY day and night. And I was hooked up to a ridiculous number of tubes. I got no sleep - if it wasn't someone poking me or waking me up for something, it was the helicopter taking off outside my window or my IV beeping. Sure, I could tell the recovery from a c-section was going to be harder than my vaginal births, but I was totally asking the doctor if I could go home the next day... he said no, though we did make it out at just over 48 hours.

I did have a sweet view from my bed

and when Wyatt woke up, it was this

which is just as sweet - love that sound! Even in the middle of the night.

After school on Wednesday, some very excited kids came to see us! First, this big guy walked in with his big brother button, suddenly looking so, so much older to me

Until he climbed up a chair and into the bassinet and did this

Sweet, sweet baby boy.

I actually have a TON more pictures that my friend Paula took - and she got amazing pictures from when the big kids met Wyatt (as well as everything else) so I'll post those when I get them from her.

The girls were in love!

Sophia sat on my bed and did homework like this on Thursday

Her first grade class made us a card - how sweet is that??

Following the advice of some c-section veterans, I got out of bed as soon as I could Thursday morning and started walking. By Thursday afternoon I had my epidural out and was walking around the unit with Wyatt, who was wide awake and looking around

I actually felt really good. The only time I would really hurt is when I'd stay in bed too long and then move. Well, that and afterpains with baby #4 - they really do get worse every time! Getting up and walking and being off the heavy duty pain meds I think helped convince my doctor that I could go home on day 2 - yay!!

That picture cracks me up, but it's one of the very few ones I have on my camera that proves I was actually present during all of this! I know Paula got a bunch more.

Henry is such a great big brother already, I love it. I can't wait to see the relationship between these two brothers as they get older

The girls pretty much spent the rest of today fighting over who got to hold Henry

Sophia even learned how to burp him

Our friend Carla brought dinner (and happy birthday cupcakes!) while Wyatt took his first nap in his bassinet

When I got home, I set up a little nest for myself on the bed, so I couldn't have to get up in the middle of the night.

I probably spent way too much time on my feet this afternoon, uh, straightening up the house and getting everything from the hospital put away (no lifting though, so I didn't break any rules!) so I'm sure I'll be sore in the morning. But I feel good and am so SOOOOO happy to be sleeping in my own bed tonight, after taking a real shower. As soon as I hit publish, I am going to snoooooooze until I hear that sweet baby sound!