Rose's Story

Nearly four years ago I welcomed my first child into the world and had the joy of sharing his birth story.  Knowing that I'd have a repeat c-section for any other children I would someday have I figured their birth stories would be, well, somewhat boring to share.  There's no dilating or laboring or pushing.  There's no wondering exactly when they'd arrive.  But each birth story is worth sharing.  And here's Rose's story....
I experienced a lot of contractions throughout the second half of my pregnancy with Rose.  They were always uncomfortable but never truly painful and they were never consistent... Until New Years Eve as we were sitting through Les Miserables with my sister and brother in law.  (What a story that would have been, right?  I joked that she's got theatre in her blood.  Or that Hugh Jackman was coaxing her out.  The girls just love him.)  Once the movie ended, I got a little more water in me, and started moving around the contractions subsided.  Fine by me since I didn't want a 36 weeker. 
The next three weeks passed in blur of work, baby and home preparations, quality time with Simon and Tony, and trying to relax and rest a bit.  Before I knew it January 21st was upon us...The day we'd selected and scheduled my repeat c section. 
Tony and I arrived at the hospital around seven am to check in.  Surgery was scheduled for nine.  We headed to the birthing unit where we settled in a bit before they hooked me up to the monitor, asked me a ton of questions, and started my IV.  My OB came by and chatted with me for a bit.  The anesthesiologist stopped in to introduce himself and talk to us about the spinal block he'd be giving me.  Before I knew it they were wheeling me down the hall and into the OR.
It's amazing how different of an experience a scheduled c section is.  The whole atmosphere seemed very relaxed.  Everyone was moving about their business and setting up the equipment.  My OB stood in front of me and chatted with me while the spinal was administered.  The most painful part of the whole experience was the shot of local anesthetic to my back.  After that it was a breeze.  They laid me back down, let Tony come into the room, put uop the partition to block our view of my lower half, and got started.
We could hear the doctors talking on the other side of the sheet.  Tony and I joked around a bit.  It was totally bizarre to feel my stomach and body moving but to not be able to feel anything actually touching me.  The surgery seemed to take longer than I thought it would.  Maybe because they were cutting through my old incision and it truly was taking longer.  Or maybe because my sense of time was just messed up. 
Then we heard her very first cries. I immediately teared up as Tony left my side to take her very first pictures while the nurse suctioned out her mouths and nose and wiped her down.  Within minutes, before they'd even wrapped her up, they placed her on my chest.  I couldn't stop smiling as I looked into the eyes of my sweet, baby girl.
Rose Tyler Grace was born at 925 on January 21st.  She was 8 lbs 1 oz and 19 1/2 inches long.  Ten fingers, ten toes, and crazy long eyelashes just like her big brother.  She's absolutely precious.
I'm completely amazed at how much I love this little girl.  It doesn't seem possible that I could fall so totally in love for a second time....But I have.