The Cat-Fish Chronicles : A Little Surprise

Celebrating our son's birth.

We'd known about Nick's trip to Florida for months. And for months I had been teasing (half scared of it actually happening) that I would have the baby while he was gone. "You're not going to have him while I'm gone," Nick would say. "Oh, I bet I will," I always said back.

And funny enough......that's just what happened.

For my regular NST check on Wednesday, they noticed he was having some heart rate decelerations, monitored me for an extra hour and a half, said he was recovering well enough to let me go home. However, they wanted me to come back on Friday and two times the following week as well. When I told Nick about it, he said, I bet they are going to just take him on Friday. Of course I told him that was silly, but in the back of my mind, I was thinking the same thing.

Partially in denial, partially thinking I was going to have a baby this week, I dedicated Thursday to cleaning and preparing my house. I guess you could call it nesting, but it was more like, if my parents have to come stay at my house, I don't want them to think I am a slob. So I got all of the laundry, dishes and vacuuming done, scooped the cat box, cleaned the kitchen, and made sure all the animals were watered and fed. Then Tristan and I just played with his toys until bedtime, when I konked out.

Friday morning was normal, went to my regular prenatal visit with Shelly, she said everything looked great, but we talked about what had happened on Wednesday. She said she hoped she didn't have to see me again that afternoon, but that everything would turn out fine if she did. Then, Tristan and I went to the hospital for my repeat NST. We stopped at the cafeteria first, and still in denial, I got myself a milk and Tristan some potato chips. They were super full and backed up because of a bunch of add-ons, so we ended up pushing the stroller around the hospital grounds for 45 minutes while we waited. I figured it would make Tristan tired enough to want to just sit in his stroller and watch George while I had my test. And luckily, I was right.

Everything was going just fine, until I had a contraction. Baby's heart rate dropped below 90 for a full two minutes. With my next contraction, he did something similar. The doctor came in and said, we can't let you go home, we need to send you upstairs and deliver your baby. Of course, my heart starts racing and I start freaking out, sorting out in my mind who to call first. Nick of course, then my dad to come get Tristan, and my mom to come help as well. I almost started blubbering on the phone with Nick, but kept my composure because of the nurses around. He said he would try and switch his flight to get back as soon as possible, but to not wait for him. My dad luckily works in Orem, so he came right down to get Tristan, and my mom, working in Riverton area was there about 45 minutes later.

We had to wait 3 hours to do the C-section because I had drunk milk, stupid me, but it went by super fast. Nick talked to me for a lot of it, and my parents wrangled Tristan, so that was nice. But when they came in for my epidural, I was all by myself. I didn't want my parents there for that, they didn't need to see how awful it was, besides, they also put in the catheter right after. Don't worry, I was a brave girl, squeezed the living daylights out of that pillow while the anesthesiologist drove a railroad spike into my back. Then my favorite part, the numbness. I think I've said it before, but my least least least favorite thing ever, that causes me the most anxiety, is being numb. Probably why getting my teeth worked on freaks me out so much.

Nick called to let me know he had been able to change his flight, but he still wouldn't get there until around 1 PM the next day. It was sad he wouldn't be there, but at least I knew he was coming. He said we could talk as much as we needed until he got there, and I could call him as much as I wanted, and he wanted to know every detail about what was going on.

Shelly came to check on me before they wheeled me to the OR, asked if I was doing ok, and I was like, I honestly don't know, too much in shock. But, Nick had asked my dad to be with me in the OR, and he thankfully obliged My mom couldn't handle that part, so she stayed with Tristan. It went by it seemed like in slow mo, taking soooo much longer than it had with Tristan. Of course it didn't really, it just felt like it. But I had asked the anesthesiologist to video the baby being pulled out, and he did that for me, so I got to watch it later (it was dang awesome!) He came out screaming, which made me feel pretty good, and I waited as they stitched me up for the nurses to bring him back for me to see.

When they did, he was bubbling at his mouth and kind of struggling to breath. As they explained that to me, I said, don't worry about it, just take him up to the NICU. So they whisked him away, and I asked my dad to go with them. Then, I waited for a million years as they finished sewing my gaping hole back up. I was wide awake for my recovery, which was nice, Tristan and my mom were waiting for me, and I was sooooo happy to see them. Tristan gave me a nice big hug, which come on, is the best medicine any mommy can ask for. My dad took my phone when he wen to the NICU, I had asked him to call Nick and let him know what was going on. An hour later, once I was all "recovered", the nurse wheeled me to the NICU, and I got to see my little man.

Aramis Declan Davis. 6 pounds 3 ounces, 18 inches long. A tiny little peanut. He was hooked up to a CPAP to help him breathe, and according to the doctor, he was doing much better. They were going to keep him for another couple hours to make sure he was really okay, and assured me they would get him down to me as soon as they could. Then I was taken down to mother/baby to wait. An hour later, the doctor came to see me. He said they had done an xray to see why his breathing hadn't improved, and discovered a pnuemothorax, air leaking into his chest cavity.

PANIC! I called Nick to let him know.

I asked if they could tell if it was from a structural abnormality, and the doctor said no. A lot of near-term babies have the same problem, from trying so hard to breathe, they force air out of their lungs. The problem with that is that it makes it super hard to inflate their lungs, so it's pretty counter productive. He said they were going to go ahead and tap the air out, and would let me know how that went. An hour later, I still hadn't heard anything, so I called. They had gotten 22 cc of air out of his little chest, but as a result, he was finally breathing on his own. I called Nick to let him know everything was fine. An hour later, they brought Aramis down to me. And I got to hold him for the first time. It was amazing.

The next day, I waited anxiously for Nick to get there, sending him pictures and updates. And then, he got to hold his little boy for the first time as well. I'm very sad for him that he didn't get to be there, but everything thankfully turned out perfectly. Thank goodness my parents live here now, the took care of Tristan the whole time, and happily too. They all had a great time together, and Tristan was pretty darn upset when we came home and they left. I only stayed 3 days, I needed to go home. Wasn't too happy about my face and feet swelling from all the pitocin they pumped me full of either. But hey, I bet you I am one of their only patients that can get through a Csection with nothing but ibuprofen and tylenol! (ok ok, and the IV meds they start you with)

So here we are, a family of four, home, healthy and happy. Not going to lie, that was one of the most terrifying things I have ever been through, but I discovered just how strong a woman I am! I hurt like crazy, but holding this perfect little Tristan clone, it's all worth it.

Welcome to the world Aramis! We love you sooo much, even if you couldn't wait just two weeks!!!