Recovery & Birth Story

Well, I'm slowly recovering. Wednesday I was doing really well, then yesterday my incision started hurting again. It feels as though it's ripping open, and even though it isn't, the sensation isn't fun. It only happens when I try to get out of bed, so I'm all right throughout the day. I drove two days after I got home (that would have been Tuesday,) and I've went all over town since then. I have no pain when I drive, and I can actually get in/out of the car easier than when I was pregnant (no crotch pain anymore.) I'm sure the pain meds have a lot to do with my comfort, but I've went from 2 every 4 hours to one every 8 hours. I'm on OxyContin; why, I have no idea. I'm also on prescription Motrin which amounts to one 600MG tablet. The OxyContin really threw me, though. Not to mention kicked my ass. So yeah, by this time next week I should be back to normal.

I had a job interview yesterday but it sucked. There were 8 other women being interviewed at the same time, for the same position (how tacky.) I had to wear jeans because, even though I've lost weight, my lower belly is still swelled from the c-section and none of my work clothes fit. I explained this to the interviewer over the phone, and again in person, but I'm sure I won't get the job. Most of the other candidates looked older, and were probably laid off from Diebold/Hoover/etc. I don't stand a chance.

I finally typed up a short birth story for Viktor's online photo nursery thing. It's below for everyone who didn't receive the access code to his online nursery (I'm not posting it for the world to see. If you'd like the code email me with who you are and I'll probably send it to you.)

I should get ready to leave. My Mom and I are going to Bath and Body Works and I have the 5th set of photos in two days to pick up from Wal-Mart. Yes, I'm one of those women now...

Viktor's Birth Story (The Abridged Version)
I was blessed with a c-section delivery. On Wednesday the 5th I had an appointment with the maternal fetal specialists to determine if Viktor's lungs were developed enough for delivery. The amnio results were 65 negative, and I was told I'd have to wait at least 4 or 5 days for him to be born. I went home, told Morgan and we decided to go to Summit Racing. While at Summit, I was sitting in the car eating and decided to check the answering machine messages. There was a message from Dr. Jagadeesan saying she consulted with Dr. Krew and he gave the OK for me to deliver the next day at 3PM! I freaked out and called Morgan while he was inside Summit Racing. How fitting he found out, while amongst car parts, when his son would be born! I called my Mom (who was at work) then called Brian, Stacey and Kendra so they could prepare for Viktor's arrival.

11AM Thursday Morgan and I arrived at Labor and Delivery. Some of my nurses were there, and were excited the time had finally come. I was stuck in a room, where Shawn (mean nurse) was my nurse. I had all of my favorite people there, which made me less nervous. Shawn started my IV while they monitored Viktor's heart rate. My Mom and Uncle Bob were there, Brian and Stacey arrived around 1PM and Kendra arrived around 1:30PM. At 3:10PM I was carted into the OR, and Morgan was stuck in an adjacent room to "suit up." I wish he could have been in the OR while I was being prepped (and getting the spinal) but he couldn't. The spinal was no big deal at all, and it was immediate (they weren't kidding!) My nurse anesthetist was so awesome and nice, he was great during the whole delivery. Morgan was finally allowed into the OR, and the delivery began. Viktor didn't want to be born, though, so Dr. Jag and Dr. Johnston had quite the time getting him out. It took a little longer than usual, but Viktor was finally born at 3:49PM. He scored a 7 on his one minute Apgar and a 9 on his five minute Apgar.Upon being thouroughly inspected by the nurses (they were rough, too!) he was pronounced healthy and Morgan could hold him and check him out. I'd performed the finger/toe check when they first took him out, and was relieved to see him wiggling around and to hear him crying. After I was stitched up, I was wheeled to the recovery room. I was in the OR roughly 2 hours, due to Viktor's stubborness.

I was in recovery for 6 hours because no beds were available in labor and delivery (9 babies were born from 3PM-9PM!) I remember my brother Kieth, Tricia and the girls visiting me in recovery, and I remember holding Viktor and Morgan being there. Other than that, I was pretty out of it (I was on magnesium to prevent seizures, and the AstroMorph from my spinal knocked me for a loop too.) Around 11PM I was moved to my labor and delivery room. At 3:30PM the next day I was moved to a "normal" room, and our friend Barb visited along with my brother Jeff, Julie and their kids.Dr. McDaniel and Carol visited me a couple times too, which I thought was really nice of them. Saturday and Sunday were spent with Viktor, visiting with family/friends and getting my butt in and out of bed. Morgan was there the whole time (he slept in a bed next to mine,) helping me and spending time with Viktor.

I made mention of Brian, Stacey and Kendra. Kendra is our adoption counselor, and Brian and Stacey are Viktor's adoptive parents. Morgan and I decided an open adoption was best for all of us, and Brian and Stacey were the perfect people to adopt Viktor, whom they named James Frederick. Viktor/James has two families to love him; what more could he want? Morgan and I couldn't take care of him as he should be taken care of, and even though we wanted to change our minds, we knew Brian and Stacey were better equipped to take care of Viktor. We'll see Viktor throughout the year, which is nice. Brian and Stacey will take excellent care of him, and we're so happy they adopted our son. He couldn't have better parents.

That is all.