Mason is here....

When I was 35 weeks pregnant I went in for my weekly doctors appointment, and my blood pressure was really high. It was running about 160/110. I was shocked, because I was actually feeling really good. I had been going to a chiropractor, the baby had turned head down, my joints were feeling good, and I was trying to savor the last of my last pregnancy.

The doctor told me to go home and limit my activities, and if I had any other signs of preeclampsia to call the office. That night I went to bed with an annoying headache, and I knew in my heart that I for sure had preeclampsia again. I had it with Bud, and I was very sick.

When I woke up the next morning and still had the headache I called the Dr., and she said to go to the hospital to be evaluated. Sure enough...they admitted me, and I had full blown preeclampsia, and we needed to deliver. She did a quick sono, and just as I had suspected Mason had flipped again, and was now breech. The Dr. said that we could do a c-section that night at 11:00pm. I was becoming uneasy, and told her I needed to wait until the next day. That way Casey could get the kids day started, and my mom could fly in. Little Casey stayed home with Trin that day, and they had fun together waiting for their brother to be born.

The next day I was scared the entire time before the c-section. I was scared for me, I was scared for Mason. I was scared for my family if something happened t either of us.

About 11:30 the nurses came in to get me prepped for surgery and in the last minute changed out my IV because it was in the wrong spot.

Things were becoming a little hectic. The anesthesiologist came in and in no time my hospital room was full of people getting me ready. I know at this point my blood pressure was really high, because I could feel my heart pounding. When it was time for me to go into surgery my doctor came in to the room and said that their was a fly in the operating room so before we went into surgery they needed to find it. About 15 minutes later my doctor came back in and said "we've looked to hell and high water for that fly and we can't find it.", so we are opening up a new operating room! Thank goodness!! I didn't want a fly landing on my open tummy. Talk about gross.

A few minutes later I was wheeled into surgery, plopped up on the operating table, and was given my spinal. The spinal wasn't too bad, but before I could even lay down I felt so sick to my stomach. I told the anesthesiologist, and within seconds the nausea went away. I had told him beforehand I get really nauseated and sick, so have something ready. Oh....something else I just remembered. When all the nurses were in my room telling me what was going to happen, one nurse said. "Ok, during the surgery we're going to tell you you're about to feel a little pressure, and it's going to feel like I'm standing on your chest. This is normal." I was a little taken back, because this was a big lady. She was super tall, and had large bones. This scared the daylights out of me, because no way could I take the feeling of this lady standing on my chest.

The anesthesiologist put on my oxygen, and I began to breathe. Casey walked in, and I knew he was scared. He kept talking to me like nothing was happening, and I was concentrating on my breathing. As long as I could take deep breaths I knew I would be ok. I think me not talking back to him, but taking deep breaths scared him even more. He kept asking if I was ok. I told him I was I just needed to breathe.

After about 10 minutes, I got that "you're going to feel pressure" line, and the pressure really wasn't that bad at all, and after just a few minutes we heard that most beautiful sound at birth. The baby's cry. It was not like my other preemies cry. This cry was strong. Casey and I locked eyes, and we knew he would be ok. The doctor started to laugh and say "look at him" to the nurses, "he won't let go of Mama". I'm not sure what she meant, but it sounded like he was grabbing me and not letting go. She also said multiple times "he has two knots in his cord", "he has two true knots". She told me she had never seen two knots, and that we were so lucky that he was delivered by c-section, because otherwise the outcome could have been very different.

Mason did go to the NICU very soon after delivery. His blood sugar was very low, but his breathing was fine. I didn't get to see him until 28 hours after he was born, and it broke my heart. I just longed to see him, and make sure he was ok. I wanted to see that sweet boy that I had really only had a chance to glance at. I wanted to see this birth mark on his leg that everyone was telling me was so cool, and those salmon patches on his forehead. I wanted to kiss them, and tell him I love him. I wanted to smell him, I wanted to breathe him.

Mason stayed in the NICU for 9 long days. The kids didn't get to meet him until he came home from the hospital because of age restrictions. They were so ready to meet him. He just turned three weeks old last Friday. He has fit in beautifully with our family. The transition has been so smooth, that you would think that he had been here the whole time. The kids love him, and we are so thankful that he is healthy, and perfect, and ours.

Here is our....

Mason Cade

4/8/11

4lbs 15 oz 18 in

12:58 pm

I took this picture when Mason was 12 days old. The red spot on his cheek is from the tape of his feeding tube. And if you were wondering, he is just as sweet as this picture.

I think the anesthesiologist really wanted to be a photographer. He jumped right in and took a lot of pictures. This one was my favorite.

Before Mason, I always felt like our family was missing someone, but now we just feel complete.

A picture of Mason at 2 weeks old. His eyes are beautiful. We are just starting to see them more. When he first came home he only slept. I had to wake him every three hours to eat, and during his feedings his eyes would soon close again.

I'm trying really hard to savor and cherish every moment of Mason, and our new family.