Sophia's Early Arrival-Chapter Two

While we were waiting for the nurse to come get me, Mark and I decided on the name Sophia Kate. We'd been vacillating between the names Sophia and Natalie but were completely undecided, and hadn't even discussed a middle name, but we simply looked at each other, said, "Sophia?" agreed, and then Mark asked, "What about a middle name?". I suggested Kate since she was going to be born on the 21st and I was born on the 21st (my middle name is Kate as well). Mark quickly agreed and then admitted that for a long time he had been thinking her middle name should be Kate. And so it was decided~we would meet Miss Sophia Kate momentarily.

I was all prepped for surgery and Mark was given a pair of scrubs. He was snapping photos like crazy (NONE of which are flattering), and I was wheeled to the O.R. Even though I knew what to expect this time around, I still found myself to be very nervous. I was not looking forward to another spinal, but amazingly enough I had the same anesthesiologist as I had with Jake. In fact, except for the two nurses the entire staff in the O.R. was the same.

My heart was pounding and I was doubting that I would be able to survive all of this again, but once I was wheeled in and saw the same O.R. that Jake was delivered in, a feeling of peace came over me. I was suddenly calm. The staff was friendly, jovial in fact, the spinal was given, my body went numb, and still, I was relaxed. The team started my operation, Mark was brought in and clasped my hand the whole time, I felt a lot of rooting around in my middle, the anesthesiologist whispered they were going to take the baby, and then, we heard.... nothing. I panicked for a moment. I knew they had taken her, but why wasn't she crying? Jake cried instantly! Was something wrong with my little girl? I swear it was a full minute before she actually cried out, but it couldn't have been. Soon we heard her shrill scream. It was different than Jake's; it was our baby girl's first cry and it was beautiful.

We both cried. Mark told me over and over how well I had done and kissed me repeatedly. They brought Sophia around on the right side of us so we could see her. My first impression was that she was certainly a compact little thing. They cleaned her up, handed her to Mark, and then sent Mark and Sophia out of the room while they stitched me up and tied my tubes.

I was much more coherent throughout this delivery. Even in the recovery room I was more alert to what was going on. I'm not sure what the difference was, but I remember quite a bit more about Sophia's birth than Jake's birth.

Ahh. Finally. She was here. She was healthy. She was 7lbs. 3oz. and 18 inches long. She was absolutely perfect, and she has completed our family. Little Sophia Kate, we love you more than you will ever know!