I've thought about sitting down and writing Evan's birth story almost a million times but every time prior to this I would sit down to actually write and just end up crying. Thank you, post partum hormones. They certainly weren't sad tears though, they were some of the happiest tears I've ever shed. Part of me also felt reluctant to write because we had a c-section. Our story doesn't include hours of natural labor or the joy of immediate skin to skin contact with me, but in the end it's still just as special to us, and so I wrote.......
Wednesday September 17th, 2014 started out like any other day minus the fact that it was supposed to be the day before Evan's birthday, not his actual birthday. We had grand plans of going to breakfast, seeing a movie and enjoying the last day of just "us", of course those plans changed. Aaron and I woke up around 6:15 and wandered out onto our front patio to check on the landscaping we had just planted the day before. Since I knew we wouldn't be going to breakfast right away I headed back into the house to eat some watermelon to hold me over. As I was opening the refrigerator I felt a strange pain and then realized I either peed myself, so glamorous, or my water had broke. Aaron was in the living room when I said something to the effect of, "Um, Aaron you need to come in here." In he walks and upon seeing the liquid on the floor looks up to the ceiling, where our plumbing is, thinking our pipes were leaking! (One of my favorite parts of our story)
Once what was happening sank in for us both we called the hospital, grabbed our bags and headed out the door. Naturally this put us on the road during rush hour so a drive that would have taken forty minutes ended up taking an hour and twenty minutes. We pulled into the parking garage at 8:19 and as we approached the hospital entrance I remember thinking, wow, this is really it.
We checked in at the front desk and then were immediately sent up to triage and hooked up to monitors. There was some concern regarding a dip in Evan's heart rate with each contraction and once it was determined that I was in fact in labor, and that Evan was infact still breech, things began to move very quickly. I signed a bunch of waivers for the surgery, met my surgeon, and up another floor we went to pre-op. In pre-op there were more forms to fill out, most of which Aaron did for me while I worked through contractions and got my IV. I'm not entirely sure how long we were in the pre-op room, I'd like to say maybe 15 minutes or so, when in barged the anesthesiologist who quickly began shouting about how the surgeons were ready, how they needed me in there now and why were things taking so long. I had to drink some really nasty liquid, Aaron was given scrubs to put on, and off we went to the OR.
Once we entered the hall where the operating rooms were it seemed very cold and the reality of what was about to happen, and how our son would be entering the world in a way that seemed somehow less "special" at the time, really hit me. Aaron and I were separated as I was wheeled into the OR and he was sent to wait in a hall across the way until surgery began. Upon entering the OR I was greeted by no less than ten faces, all of whom stopped and looked at me as the anesthesiologist announced who I was and why I was there.
"We have Katie Beucus here. 26 year old female with a primary Caesarian as a result of breech presentation, do we agree?" And in unison all faces staring at me said, "Yes, we agree" before returning to their tasks.
Before I knew it I was up on the table with a needle in my spine. I was so scared and all I kept thinking about was how I wish Aaron was there to hold my hand. Once I was numb I was laid down and Aaron was brought in to sit at my head. With tears building in my eyes I remember asking him to just talk to me about anything because I was scared and needed to be distracted, so talk to me he did, about what I can't remember.
The surgeon announced she was starting, and after a surprising amount of tugging, pushing and grunting, at 11:50 AM, all 6 pounds 4 ounces and 19.5 inches of Evan Ray Beucus was born and welcomed with a chorus of Happy Birthday from the medical staff.
I remember looking over at where Evan was and asking why he wasn't crying but as soon as the words left my mouth a scream left his. Aaron stepped away from my side for just a moment and retured with our son in arms. I'll never forget about Aaron telling me how he has hair and it's dark like it was in my dreams or about watching Aaron gaze at our son with such amazement. I'll never forget about seeing Evan's face for the first time or about Aaron bringing him in close so I could touch his cheeks and kiss his forehead. The remaining four days in the hospital were a complete blur and if I'm being entirely honest, these first weeks home have been too but in a good way.
Here's where this post gets all sentimental and mushy, something you know I rarely do, but Evan's story wouldn't be complete without it.
They say it takes a village to raise a child, a saying I can now fully appreciate.
I have been blessed with the most patient, caring and selfless individual for a husband. Recovering from a c-section with a newborn is not easy. Add to that an infection that caused me to have a 102* fever, not once but twice in our first four weeks home, and I'd be the first to admit our new life was down right hard. But Aaron was there, changing every diaper, rocking Evan to sleep in the middle of the night after every feeding, taking me to doctor appointments, cooking us meals, making sure I took my medications and supporting and encouraging me every single day.
Then there's our incredible friends and family. Those who brought us meals, did our grocery shopping, offered words of encouragement, mowed our lawn, swept our patio, insisted on watching Evan so we could celebrate our wedding anniversary out of the house and simply held Evan so I could do things like laundry. I am, and will forever be so grateful for our village.
Until next time friends.....
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