My delivery story

I finally have a moment to tell you my birth story.

Many people knew this, but many did not. I developed what is medically known as PUPPS during my pregnancy. Although I hear it has a new name. Many have never heard of this. PUPPS is an abbreviation for a long Latin name I cannot even pronouce. What it is, basically is being allergic to being pregnant. I was allergic to the placenta. I noticed the beginning of week 35 that I developed a rash and an uncontrollable urge to itch. So after much research and medical confirmation, I developed this allergic reaction. By week 36 I was covered from head to toe with red bumps over my entire body, including between my toes and fingers. Fortunately, it never reached my face. I was miserable and the only way to stop the itch was to drape cold towels over my entire body. Nothing like that on a cold winter day. But it calmed me down enough to fall asleep. Nothing helped. I was even talking steroids that barely touched it. So by the time I was 36 weeks and 5 days, I went for my regular check up and the doctor noticed me crying. She asked what was wrong and I explained I could not take the itching any more, not to mention my gigantic stomach. I gained a total of 68 pounds of pregnancy weight. And it was all in my stomach. Everything else looked the same on me. But I could hardly move by this point.

So, they said off you go to the hospital! I was very scared because I really wanted to do what was best for the babies. But the doctor reminded me that I'm a part of this too.

I came home and informed Jonathon it was time! He was as nervous as I was. So we got to the hospital and they started prepping me. By 1:30 I was in the operating room. They did a spinal tap to prepare for the c-section. By the time they put the oxygen mask on my I was crying hysterically. Something about being sliced open while wide awake is just a little frightening!! Ok, a LOT. I cried during the entire operation. Jonathon had come in right before they were born. He was brave enough to peek over the tent at one point and he described it as looking like a pot roast had exploded inside of me. That's what it looked like to him.

I'll never forget as long as I live what happened next. I was still crying hyterically, and all of a sudden Dr. Watson lifted her up so I could see her over the tent. I just remember seeing the most beautiful baby in the world. She had her mouth open and her skin was bright red and her hair was gorgeous! Then I heard her cry. One minute later, Cameron was lifted so I could see him. Then my cry went from scary cry to a joyous cry. I was so happy!! Then I heard both of them crying and it was the greatest sound in the world. I remember hearing the operating team comment "these are good looking babies". It was an incredible moment.

Then they wheeled me to the recovery room and did the assessment and bathed the babies. I remember watching their eyes looking at light for the first time. I couldn't believe they were in my arms. I'd dreamed about that moment for 9 months.

My hospital stay was....well.....I don't remember much now looking back. I can only describe the pain I was in like this. The pain was greater than when I dislocated my shoulder in a class III+ river in a rock garden on the Clackamas river. Ok, you get the picture. Managing the pain became a major battle. There were a lot of people coming and going all day/night long. Checking the vitals, etc. Jonathon went home every night and opted not to sleep on the cot provided. I told him to go home and rest. I sent the babies to the nursery every night so I could rest. That turned out to be a good move so we could all rest. But one night I was hallucinating so bad I finally got brave and paged the nurse. It was weird. I kept thinking the hospital was being evacuated, then in an earthquake, then terrorist came. And all sorts of other horrible things were happening in this nightmare I was having. But I felt awake, so not sure what it was. The nurse said it was an anxiety attack. Anyway, I think it was because of the number of drugs I was taking.

I finally was released on Tuesday. The nurse discovered Cameron had a really long frenulum. It's the skin under the tongue that went to the tip of his tongue. That explained why he had trouble eating, so they snipped the skin and he's fine now. Time to pack up and go home. I was extremely glad about that. Mostly so I knew when the next pain pill was coming. I felt I could manage my pain better at home with a real schedule. And it worked.

As they were wheeling us out, I got all choked up inside and by the time I was in the car, I started crying again, because I was so happy!!!!

Enjoy the pictures and check back often!