Dylan's Birth

Tuesday, November 30, 2010 was one of the 3 best days of my life. Our day started at 5am. Eric and I had only gotten 3 hours of sleep that night. We were both tired, but excited, and I was trying very hard not to be nervous. We left our house at about 6:15am in order to be at the hospital by 8am. On our way, we fought some pretty horrrible traffic, but ended up arriving right on time.

We arrived at the admissions center only to find out that we were in the wrong place...we were supposed to check in at the women's center (which makes sense, but my OB's office specifically told me to check in with general admissions). So, we walk across the hospital to the women's center and check in with the ladies there. But, there was a problem there too. It seems that they couldn't find me in the system. After some searching, they did pull up my records, but under my maiden name! I don't quite know how this happened. I haven't been a Johnson for 5 years and even delivered Riley at Northside. Anyways, I signed some more paperwork and the pre-op nurse Kim led me back to my pre-op room. I changed into the hospital gown and got into bed. Kim hooked me up to the fetal monitor and then started my IV. When she was searching for an access site, I was looking right along with her (that's what nurses do) and I didn't agree with her choice. However, I kept quiet and let her do her job... I didn't want to be one of 'those' patients. But it did end up that the access site was no good and they finally had to call the IV team to come and start a new line after 3 failed attempts. The IV nurse got it on the first try and thankfully, that one stayed patent until they took it out 2½ days later.

Eric and I were trying to make the time go by as best as we could. He was playing music from his cell phone which did help to calm my nerves. We shared some very precious moments as just husband and wife, which even brings tears to my eyes now as i write this. I'll never forget that.

After 2 bags of fluid and pre-op antibiotics, I was ready for the anesthesiologist to start my epidural. I sat up on the bed, hunched over, and she began. I sat there completely silent as she tried to find the right location. Tears were streaming down my face as the first attempt didn't work, nor the second. It took her 3 sticks to place it correctly. As Eric sat and watched, he said tha he felt so helpless and as though his heart was being ripped out to see me in that much pain. After the 3rd attempt (successfully, thank goodness) to place the epidual was done, my blood pressure dropped. It took them quite a while to get it back up, and several different medications. After I was stable, it was time for the OR.

Eric was not allowed in while they were prepping me and that made me uneasy. I wanted him there with me. But they let him in just as they were about to start. He was right beside me and held my hand. A few minutes later, Dylan was here!

And here he is...

Happy Birthday, Dylan.

Our first picture as a family of 4!

My 3 favorite boys.

Mommy and Dylan.