The Birth

While we were waiting in line to get into The Red Wagon for their signature "Pull Pork Pancakes with Jack Daniel Maple Syrup" (in case you're wondering... yes, you can definitely taste the JD in it), we received a call from the obstetrician's office to inform us that my surgery was bumped up from its original 1pm to 9:30am the nest day. This less-than-16-hour notice totally threw us off because we'd planned for Kai to be at the daycare in the morning, but there was no way we could drop him off and make it to the hospital by 8am. Why do they do that to people, changing the surgery time, which was set for almost a month in advance? Don't they know we have a 2-and-a-half-year-old to consider? Kai would have to stay home with my mom and my aunt then.

We all got up bright and early. All the preparation and talks weeks before the big day finally paid off. Kai was calm and understanding when Bill and I were leaving the house (and through the most part of my hospital stay later on). Few minutes before 8, we arrived at the hospital, reported to Admission, and found ourselves sitting on a wooden bench outside of the Surgical Ward of Labour and Delivery. Waiting for someone to show us in.

It felt like we were going for a hair appointment.

The surgery went well. Aside from a few differences in the way things are done, it was pretty much as expected. I also participated in a research study on the effects anesthetic medicine have on a pregnant woman's respiratory system during C-section. Having to complete a series of breathing tests during the surgery helped take my mind off the angst and the annoying shivering caused by the spinal block and epidural I received. 

When they pulled the baby out, I felt a ton of weight lifted off of me and I could breathe again. My first thought when I saw the baby over the drape was that she was tiny (in comparison to Kai when he was born)!! After the initial check-up, they gave her to Bill for some skin-on-skin time, and that was when we were able to take a better look at her. Like her big brother, she came with a full head of black hair. And like her brother, she has perfectly-arched eyebrows, long eyelashes, chubby kissable cheeks, and juicy full lips. She's absolutely perfect! 

We were supposed to have a salpingectomy right after the C-section. While Bill and I were closely examining our newborn baby girl, Dr. Sanders told us he would not be removing the left Fallopian tube because of severe adhesion. Evidently my left ovary and Fallopian tube are stuck to my bowels and covered by scar tissues. Trying to separate them (in order to remove the tube) would require more extensive surgery. Instead, Dr. Sanders examined them by looking at them and by touch. As far as he could tell, he didn't see or feel any abnormality that should cause concerns. During one of our post-op conversations, the doctor said it was really rare that, given the condition of the left ovary and tube, we were able to get pregnant. He also reminded us to use birth control if we're not thinking about having another child. "You may very well get pregnant again if you want to. After all, you've done it TWICE with the same equipment. From the medical standpoint, it is truly remarkable considering what you have been through with the cancer treatment and the condition your only ovary and Fallopian tubes are in."

I can't even begin to think about everything that we've been through and the magnitude of having two perfect children without crying my eyes out. Like Bill said the other day, we've been so extremely lucky that he's quite certain we will never win the lottery. 

We've already won.