We're blessed!

I might miss a few details because I'm tired, but here's what I can think of now :)

 

I had my csection Monday morning (I had one small nervous breakdown as they did the spinal, but all went smoothly), and our littlest man was born at 7:57am.  His Apgars were 9/9 (great news), and he weighed in at 7lbs 5oz (huge for a baby nearly a month early), and 19 1/4 inches long.  His name is Brandon (ok it was Sebastian before he was born, but he doesn't look like a Sebastian..lol) Mateo (means "gift from God" in Spanish) Thomas (for my dad/brother/grandfather/uncle) and our last name. 

 

I was able to hold and attempt to nurse him in recovery, but he had to go to the nursery for his overall inspection.  I later went to my room, where my mom and Kaitlynne, as well as Kim (my best friend) and her twins, were waiting.  We all talked and goofed, and finally after a few hours I asked Alex to go to the nursery to see if he could get Brandon and bring him back up.  Alex came back empty-handed and said the nurse would call me.  My mouth (and heart) dropped.  Kim had to go to get her other kids and my mom and Kaitlynne said they'd come back a little later. 

 

About 10 minutes after they left, the neonatologist (sp?) came in and said Brandon was having trouble breathing on his own, and was being put on a vent and flown out to a hospital nearly an hour away.  I had no idea what to say, as I was sure he was fine..his apgars were so good, I heard him screaming...I just started bawling.  Alex, as always, was my rock...he cried as well.  "Why" and "Not fair" were said a lot.  They brought the baby up (already on a vent) so we could say goodbye.  We put a little blue teddy/blanket in with him that Kim had gotten him, and sent our son, whom we had only seen/held for 20 minutes, away.

 

My doctor came in the next dayand said he'd release me that day (24 hours post-section) if that's what we wanted (so we could go to the hospital).  As much as we wanted to be with him, I was NOT ready to be released.  So, we waited until today (and I had gotten up/moving around).  He released me (I'm doing pretty well, considering), and we headed straight to the hospital in the next town.  Brandon is off the oxygen (or was when we left him), tho the nurse said he might have to go back on a canula for a bit to help regulate his oxidation.  He has a feeding tube in his mouth (his respirations are so fast that he wouldn't be able to eat from the breast/bottle and digest it properly), but I've been pumping, so he's now eating mommy's goodies.  He's a bit jaundice today, so we were told to expect him to be under the bili-lights tomorrow.  He also has a line in his stomach so they can get his blood when needed w/out constantly sticking him...this is a great thing, but it prevented us from holding him.  We rubbed him, cried together (tho happy tears...so many other babies in there were so much worse)...Alex's brother came up to visit, and then Alex and I went back in.  At this time, the nurse had just finished her assessment of him and laid him on his belly.  He started crying...then louder, like in pain.  I cried so hard with him, feeling so helpless because I couldn't pick up my baby...hold him so he knew he wasn't alone.  The nurse came over, whispered "Screw this", and securely wrapped Brandon up with several blankets and taped all of his tubes to my leg, and I got to rock my son for the first time since his birth 2 days ago.  He fell asleep immediately, and his vitals were fantastic the entire time.  It was fabulous, for all 3 of us.  She took him and put him back in bed after 20 minutes or so, and we said we'd be back in the morning (I was hurting so badly by then and didn't want to hurt myself seriously by pushing it).

 

So that is where we're at now.  We were told that the line in his stomach should be removed (if all is well) in the next day or so.  Although no dates were mentioned at all, I think it won't be before next week until he comes home.  I'm good knowing he's close (the hospital was far from where I was, but close to our home), and that he's in perfect hands...I also feel good knowing that God is holding him close, his angel sister is caressing his hair, and hundreds pray for him daily.  He is loved beyond words, by many. 

 

I remember saying I was tired and this would be short...LOL!  I'll post a pic or two on my profile, tho I have quite a few pics already..lol.  Thank you to everyone!