Henry Hughs is Here!

Henry arrived via c-section on Monday, September 26, 2005 at 2:01 p.m. He’s a healthy 7lbs., 7 oz. and is 19 ¾” long. You can read the birth day play-by-play below, or go right to the photo gallery.>>>


Birth Day Play-By-Play
The c-section was scheduled for 2 p.m. Monday, so as you can imagine, the week prior was filled with anticipation, sleepless nights and lots of running around in an attempt to tie up loose ends. At work I had to train the new guy. Downloading six years of information in 8 hours is impossible. So is sleeping when you know your life is going to change completely in just a few days. Change in a good way. And not sleeping because I was excited, not worried or nervous. I guess that’s the best thing about having a c-section. I knew when it was going to happen and didn’t have to sit around tapping my foot wondering “is today the day?”

Well, the day finally arrived. I couldn’t eat or drink anything 8 hours prior, so I woke up at 4 a.m. and had breakfast, then slept until almost 10. We had to be at the hospital at noon and since I’d come in on Saturday prior for blood work and pre-admission, they took us back to my room almost immediately. For the next hour or so, they gave me a gown to wear, checked my vitals and called the anesthesiologist in. Everyone had told me the epidural hurts -- they stick a long, thick needle in your lower back. For me, it wasn’t that bad. I didn’t see the needle and I don’t remember it being really painful. I didn’t realize I’d be numb from the rib cage to my toes. I couldn’t even move my feet.

My OB’s schedule opened up so they wheeled me into the OR 15 minutes early and prepped me for surgery. Matt changed into his scrubs and they raised this curtain up so we couldn’t see anything – not that we’d want to see it. Instead I just listened to Matt chat with the anesthesiologist and nurses. Bananarama and Tom Petty songs were playing on the radio. Then I hear Henry screaming at the top of his lungs. Matt and I looked at each other…what do you say? We were totally speechless. The nurse handed Matt our little guy and he brought Henry right over to me. He was perfect. Nine months of questions were answered in the first few minutes. The docs sewed me up while we took pictures and Henry got cleaned, weighed and swaddled. I was in recovery for about 2 hours before they moved me into my room, which happen to have a great view of The Richards Group building. I stayed in the hospital until Friday.

Everyone says c-sections have a longer, more painful recovery. Maybe for some, but I was up walking around the very next morning. One nurse said I was getting around better than most of her “vag patients”. It was very painful when Matt made me belly laugh. I’d hold my stomach really tight and my eyes would just tear up. I kept telling him no more jokes! But you know Matt – that’s impossible. I’m lucky to have a husband that makes me laugh. It was just bad timing.

He's too sweet -- he gave me a heart-shaped sapphire/diamond necklace in the recovery room. I LOVE YOU HONEY!!!

Thanks to everyone that came to visit me, Matt and Henry in the hospital. Henry is already very social. We had almost 40 guests.

Note to those that did come:
As promised, here is Melinda's Chocolate Oreo Ball recipie.

Ingredients:
1 package of oreo cookies (not reduced fat)
1 package of cream cheese (not reduced fat)
1 package of Almond Bark Chocolate

Instructions:
Blend package of oreos in blender until fine grains. Hand mix cream cheese and oreos until blended. Melt 4-8 squares of almond bark chocolate in microwave. Put wax paper in rectangle dish. Make balls out of oreo and cream cheese mixture. (sometimes helps to put in freezer/fridge for couple minutes to help hold form) Roll oreo balls in chocolate and place on wax paper. Place oreo balls in freezer to form. Leave in Fridge or leave out to enjoy.