Baby Emma is Here!

Our C-Section was scheduled for 9:00 this morning, but we were the first ones there so they started about 8:30. There was some trouble getting my spinal block in, but once they did, everything else went smoothly. As soon as Emma was delivered at 8:42 AM, she hit the airwaves with some strong, healthy cries. What a beautiful noise it was. We were able to see her for a moment, and Russell was able to snap a few pictures there in the O.R. before they had to take Emma away to the NICU. After an hour or so in recovery, they were able to take Russell and I by the NICU to see Emma for a few minutes. Emma weighs 7 pounds 2 ounces and is 19 and 3/4 inches long. Turns out, she's a fiesty little girl as she pulled her first two IV's out. As a result, they had to put a PICC in her (basically a more stable IV in case you're like us and don't know what that is). She is sleeping on her tummy, and she has already been trying to lift her head!

We met with the neurosurgeon around noon before Emma's surgery and basically gathered that the lesion is low on her back, but the hydrocephalus was high and will require a shunt eventually (likely sooner rather than later). Both of these were things we expected, so no major shock there.

Emma's surgery began about 2:00 PM and lasted about 2 and 1/2 hours (we think). As soon as her surgery was over, apparently the neurosurgeon was pulled into some other emergency. As of Tuesday night, we had not spoken to the neurosurgeon to get a report on how things went exactly. What we do know that is that after the surgery she is doing well and resting per the NICU nurses. We were able to see her again at about 10:00 PM after I was able to get up for the first time. She has good movement in her legs but is definitely a tired little girl after a busy Day 1 of her life.

I personally am in some pain and just wish that I could be well so that I can gaze at my sweet little girl in the NICU. All in good time. Russell is pretty stoked about sleeping on the lovely recliner-turned-bed in our room. Other than that, he is so excited about being a daddy.

We can't thank our family, friends, church members, and so many others enough for all your thoughts and prayers. You have all been instrumental in our ability to make it through everything we have experienced - you all are blessings from above.

This is one of the pictures of her before surgery. Do you see the bandages on her little hand? That would be the aftermath of Emma vs. IV's.