.jpg)
(Pictures of his party are in the next post)
We woke up at 5am and went to the hospital. We checked in and put our stuff in our post delivery room. We were supposed to be the first C-section of the day (8am I believe) but we got pushed back. Koen was actually due on January 12th but with C-sections, they do it up to 10 days early which I felt best with. I was very uncomfortable with Braxton Hicks non stop and Gary was still home on holidays. Had Koen gone all the way to his due date, he would have probably been well over 10lbs!
Then, at 9am, they wheeled me down just outside of the operating room. Here, we waited. The anesthesiologist came to talk to us and let me know what would be happening. He was very nice.
Then, they wheeled me in. While they were giving me my spinal and prepping me, Gary had to wait outside. The needle in your back really doesn't hurt at all. I would say an IV hurts more. Last time, I was 10cm dilated, had been pushing for an hour and half, and got an epidural in while contracting. Try not moving while going through a contraction!
Didn't notice the catheter going in either. I was nice and numb. They prick your skin to see if you can feel it and you are pretty numb up to your chest.
Then, Gary was allowed in. This is where things got emotional! My baby was almost here and I couldn't believe it! Boy? Girl? Size? Healthy?
I was feeling sick so the anesthesiologist gave me some different meds until I felt better. It works instantaneously. It felt like just a few minutes had passed and then Gary was allowed to take pictures because our baby's head had emerged!
My first real look at my big, beautiful baby boy Koen. Koen Jacob Daniel Chapman. We had decided on his boy name VERY early on. We had also considered Logan (mix of Louise and Gary) but stuck with Koen.
Chubs. 9lbs 7oz. Check out the chubby thighs! He was so unflexible, his legs would not bend. His head was a lot smaller than Kai's 95th percentile head...I think Koen's was just in the 50th percentile. His chest was huge too. That was the part I felt when they took him out. It feels like you are having a major mass removed from your abdomen, well, because you are, but you can feel it. Not hurting, just pressure, tugging, and movement.
We were tired. He needed to be fed every 2 hours for his low blood sugar levels. He also needed his poor little heel pricked each time he fed. He had a hard time feeding being tongue tied and later we realized, having reflux. The first few days recovering from a C-section are not fun. Very painful. Very limited mobility. Didn't help that I was also sick and when I coughed I had to hold a pillow to my incision and somehow get a good enough cough in.
Because I was feeding him so often, on the 2nd day, my milk came in like crazy. Painfully crazy. I borrowed an electric pump from the hospital and pumped away. So much milk. Container after container. Once I got home, I remained engorged for over one week. I used cold packs in my shirt and a pump. I tried to feed him as often as possible, but feeding him was difficult. But, we persisted and after 2 months of painful, difficult feeding, all was well. Two months!
My dad with `Little Jack' as he calls him. It was pretty snowy out so it was difficult for people to make it to the hospital to see us all.
He slept okay in the hospital but we had to keep waking him up every 2 hours to monitor his blood sugar levels. Very frustrating.
When we got home, we realized after about a month that he had reflux. He was happiest upright, and not moving too much. He loved being held in the baby bjorn for hours and hours and hours. He slept best on his tummy. If he was on his back, he would vomit. He was a happy baby but he was in pain from the reflux. He would arch his back after each feed. Fortunately, we got through it and he started feeling better and better. Now, he has small little spit ups still, but usually its only if he has a lot to eat or drink and then is in a sitting position. He has not been the best sleeper throughout this year but it is getting better and better each and every day.
I would say he is a very healthy boy. He is very happy and easy going. He does love all people, but probably enjoys being with mommy the most. He is nearly done breastfeeding as he doesn't do it more than a minute or two. He loves being outside. He loves running around. He loves the stairs, garbage can, and fridge. He loves music and will stop crying if I start singing to him.
Here is a picture at 10am on his birthday...exactly a year old (although maybe he was born at 10:30am)!
We love our Kokinator so much. He makes us laugh and I think he is absolutely adorable. This year he has progressed so quickly through the sitting, crawling and then walking. He's a bundle of energy and he is so loved. Our 23.8lb ball of cuteness is now a one year old! Happy Birthday Koen!!
