The Story of George's Birthday

We were headed into a doctor's appointment Monday knowing very well that we'd likely deliver George that day. So, Jeff went to work Monday morning to tie up some loose ends. I spent the morning doing some work around the house, trying to straighten up and get ready for our week away and our return with little George.

Per doctor's orders, I had been on bed rest all week due to elevated blood pressure. My "work" on Monday morning was sure to get those numbers back up there so we'd have a good excuse to meet George.

Jeff got home from work around 11 am. We had packed our hospital bags over the weekend, so we loaded the car and headed out. The doctor had already advised me of some pre-surgery instructions just in case. For example, I didn't take my blood thinner that morning and I also had a very early, very light lunch - just one egg on one slice of toast.

At the doctors office we waited a little while to be seen. Once in the room, my blood pressure indeed proved to be high. I was 150 over 90, which is enough to cause concern. They sent us to the hospital for observation and our doctor said she'd likely see us later that afternoon for our delivery.

Upon arrival at Saint Joseph hospital we were admitted into an observation room. The labor & delivery area was fairly busy, so we couldn't even check into a room. They monitored my blood pressure and did some lab work. After about an hour or two of waiting & watching, we got the news that we were indeed going to have a baby! We made a few phone calls. Jeff went to move the car to a more permanent lot and bring up our bags. This was happening!

Around 5 pm our doctor arrived and we got into an operating room. Jeff put on scrubs and grabbed our camera. He was so cute. I will spare you the details here, but the important details - I got a spinal block. They got it started. At 5:38 pm Denver time, George Vincent Kegg popped out! He had been breech the whole time and we knew that. What we didn't know was that he was wedged up in between my ribs, so it took some maneuvering to get him out.

They cleaned him up, gave him a little supplemental oxygen to get the color they wanted out of him, and then they passed him to Jeff. The nice thing about that hospital and our staff - we had George the rest of the time! They didn't whisk him away for anything. Jeff carried George into the recovery room across the hall. In that room they gave George his first bath, weighed George, and we started nursing. It was a beautiful beautiful thing.

Judi (JuJu) was waiting outside recovery, so she got to come in and meet George right away. I think she likes him. ;) We called the other grandparents and some family and just spent the time staring at George and taking some pictures. He has very light hair, very light eyelashes and very light eyebrows. His eyes - when he decided to show them - appeared to be a very dark blue.

After about an hour or two in recovery we moved into our more permanent room for the week, in the Mother Baby Unit at Saint Joseph's - room 201. We got to our room around 8:30 pm on Monday night. George spent the first night in our room with us. After having nothing to eat most of the day, I got some apple juice around 10 pm I think. It was delicious! George was very quiet - clearly the boy had been through a lot. Jeff and I didn't sleep great that night. We jumped every time George squeaked or moved. There was no crying though.

He is amazing. He is perfect. He is worth the very long and stressful wait. He is our first child, our son. He is gorgeous. He is very kissable. He is a dream come true. He is all I could have hoped for.

Welcome to the world George.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

XOX
Mom