Birth Story - Oliver Linnus Harker

January 20 - Wednesday

We meet Sara at the airport at 10:50am. It was so good to see her after not seeing her for over 2 years. While at the airport, I had a few menstrual like cramps then nothing. After the airport we went out for lunch, mid afternoon I had a few more cramps one after another. Then we went to the mall for a bit, and more cramping  happened. I wasn’t sure the cramps were braxton hicks or the real contractions as I hadn’t had any braxton hicks this pregnancy. The cramps would happen a few times, then not for 2 hrs-1 hours. For dinner we went to Japanese Village, which is a fun restaurant in Down town Calgary. Once we got back to RMD house (7:00pm), I got my bags ready for the hospital. I figured we might as well go to the hospital and get checked before bed, if I am in labour we need to get admitted fast. I'd hate to go to bed and wake up in the middle of the night and have everything rushed. We got to he hospital at 8:30pm, cramps are still random about every 30 mins with a few back to back. The hooked me to the monitors and I was defiantly having contractions and was 2 cms dilated. They weren't letting us leave. Good thing we came in when we did. They didn’t want to do the c-section yet as I ate at 5:00pm and they wanted my food to settle for 8 hours. When you go into a c-section if they have any complications, they will put you right out and if you have food in your system it causes you to puke/choke. We got to wait a painful wait till 2:30am. Contractions slowly got more painful and lasted longer. I was so ready for the c-section when it came, as we both got no sleep yet, how could we. As we were both excited and thinking about what was to come and all the unknowns. I got a nurse who stayed with me the whole surgery and recovery, which was so nice.

January 21- Thursday 

Our little baby man decided he couldn't wait till his scheduled c-section today at 9:00am and surprised us at 2:51am weighing 7lbs 9 oz. and 21 inches long.  The doctor showed Oliver quick to me then Oliver was taken to the heater tables to be assessed/ stabilized. The doctors had no concerns other then his Spina Bifida. We couldn't be more excited to meet our little man. He's perfect.  He’s a healthy baby boy! Around 3:15am I got to see him quick in the OR after they had wrapped his lesion on his back before he was taken to NICU ( I told Josh to say with him and that I'd be just fine) and I went to recovery. My c-section went well. They were able to get my placenta out with out me loosing a tone of blood, so glad as I was nervous from my past deliveries.

I was in the recovery room from 3:20-4:30am, the same nurse stayed with me (this was one of the differences then the Lethbridge hospital). On the way to my room on the maternity floor we were

 able to stop by the NICU for 20 minutes so I could see Oliver.

Oliver had pooped! Which was good news, as we weren't sure if he'd be able to on his own. At around 6:00am we got word that Oliver would be transferred within the hour. I insisted I got to see Oliver before he was transferred. My nurse said I couldn't go visit him until I could walk on my own. I still didn't have full felling in my legs at this point. Spinal taps take around 5 hours to wear off ( around 8am, meaning Oliver would be transferred by then). That's when I broke down and started to cry. I felt till this point I was holding myself together pretty good. I asked if I could go visit Oliver in a wheel chair, my nurse went to check to see if that was okay. At 6:45am Josh helped me get into a wheel chair so I could go visit Oliver. I was able to see him for about 30 minutes, then I needed to go back to my room as I was beginning to feel nauseous. Which is one of the side affects from the spinal tap and moving around so soon after my c-section. But I was determined to see my baby before he went to a different hospital, plus I didn't know when I'd see him next. Oliver got transferred to the Children's hospital at 7:30am for his spinal surgery that will be taking place today (time has not been determined yet). We waited all day for a surgery time but since Oliver was stable he kept getting pushed back.

Oliver's lesion, they were switching his wraps and wetting new ones down before he was transferred.

At 9:00 am the Neurosurgeon saw movement in Oliver's upper hips. The surgeon said he can't guarantee Oliver will  retain that movement as it all depends on how surgery goes.

I was able to text Josh all day to get updates and pictures on how Oliver was doing. Josh has been an amazing dad and has stayed by his side since I can't be there. When Josh talks to Oliver he opens his eyes.

My recovery is going well, at the Foothill's hospital they are really on pain management and getting you up and walking as soon as possible as it's suppose to help you recover faster.  I had an awesome day nurse and she told me once my IV and catheter is out and I’m not nauseous, I get a day pass to the Children's Hospital to see Oliver. She was so helpful and encouraging in making it possible for me to do so.  I couldn't have done it without her. I would have loved to have Josh by my side, but I way rather him be with Oliver. It was so hard being in a different hospital and not being able to hold Oliver but I know he was in good hands and where he needed to be. I spent the day trying to rest as much as possible, taking my meds, drinking lots of water and going on small walks. By 5:00pm I got my day pass! I was one happy mom to be able to go see my baby. Josh came and picked me up from the Foothill's hospital and took me over to the Children's hospital. I loved seeing Oliver, it’s hard not being able to hold him. Oliver isn’t allowed to eat till after his surgery, so he’s on IV till then. Oliver has his own room in the NICU at the Children's hospital with a pull out couch, and a lounger chair, so we can stay with him. It as nice to spend a few hours with my baby... My recovery with this c-section vs. Lincoln has been way better.

Lincoln and Lacey are pretty excited about their new baby brother. They love looking at all the pictures we send them and videos.

Oliver in his room at the Children's hospital in the Surgeical NICU.

Waiting for a surgery time.

It was so hard to leave Oliver and Josh that night. I was just hoping it wasn't to much longer till I would be released so that I could be with both of them. I just kept praying that I could remain strong and rest as much as I can till then. Josh spend the night with Oliver, where I wanted him to be. Plus the Foothlll's hospital has a policy that husbands can't stay the night with their wives. Which I thought was kinda weird. 

Being a NICU mom is hard as I was on the maternity floor without my baby, let alone a different hospital, I was sharing a room with another mom who had her baby with her in the room. So you hear her baby cry, see her get to snuggle her little one. Which made me miss my baby that much more. I tried to focus on resting and that it would be too much longer till I was with my little one.

Welcome Home Sara!

Welcome Home Sara! Sara just finished serving a 18 month mission in North Colorado. It was so fun to be able to welcome her home at the airport, since we were already in Calgary.  It's crazy to think we hadn't seen her for over 2 years. Since the last time we saw her, was when she came to visit our family in St Maarten in December of 2013. Then she left for her mission the following July of 2014. What a great example she was for serving the Lord and focusing on what matters most. Glad to have you back, Sara!

Counting Down The Days Till It All Begins

On Monday we attended a c-section class at the Foothills Hospital that our doctor wanted us to attend, even though I've already had a c-section before. Most of the things that were discuss we already knew but it was still helpful. Attending the class made it all feel that much more real and that my c-section is a lot closer then I thought.

On Tuesday I had my last OB-GYN and ultrasound. Crazy to think! Baby estimated weight is 7lbs. 14 oz. He seems good other then the ventricles in his brain are getting bigger, so his poor brain is getting squished, meaning he will need a shunt after he's born and after he has his spinal surgery. But everything is looking good as it can.

Crazy to think that it's two days till we get to meet our little one in person. I can't wait, I'm so excited and so ready to meet him. I enjoy being pregnant but Im ready for the next adventure to begin. I'm still very nervous for the c-section and for all the unknowns that lie ahead of us with a baby with Spina Bifida.  Just trying to have faith, that all things will work out.

Lincoln and Lacey's Second Week

It was hard saying by to Lincoln and Lacey, but it helped that Nana-moto had a fun minion day home party planed for the Monday. So that helped them keep them stay busy and have lots of fun with their day home friends. Plus Nana planed a busy week with them and kept them very busy from baking to going to the library.

We told Lacey only 5 sleeps till then you can see mom and dad again, she told us 5 sleeps is to long. Poor girl! I love having Lacey by my side each day. She holds a special place in my heart.

Thanks Nana & Papa Thomas for driving Lincoln to school and picking him up each day.

Party Day!

Baking with Nana Thomas

Snow fun with Nana-motos day home kids.

Weekend Visit

Lacey was able to come visit us Saturday morning till Sunday afternoon and Lincoln joined us Sunday morning for the day. We loved having them come visit this weekend, as it has been a long hard week without them. I knew it would be hard not seeing them but not this hard. This week just waiting for my scheduled c-section, I feel like I could be at home. But I know it's safer for the baby to be close to the specialists, just in case he decides to surprise us early.  It was so good to see them. We had a great time just being together and visiting the Calgary Science Center. Thank you Nana Yamamoto for bring them up for a visit. Good-byes were hard. I knew they would be. I tried so hard to hold back the tears, but once Lacey started crying. I couldn't hold it back any longer.

Playing games with Lacey. She loved the kids version of ' Guess who?', Hungry Hippo and Connect Four.

Calgary Science Center Newspaper creations - Sword and headband.

Lincoln loved playing the water table fun.

Lacey is a girl that loves her music, she loved playing this piano and watching the bubbles rise up the tubes.

Lincoln and Lacey creating 'magic'. They loved watching the air blow these foam balls up into the air. 

Lacey-Lincoln- Dad shadow monster.

Playing with magnets

Domino's

Crawling through the tunnel.

The Science Center was a lot of fun.

Lincoln and Lacey's First Week

For our first week in Calgary, Lincoln and Lacey got to spend it with Nana & Papa Harker at our place. They all seemed to have a good/busy week with all the change. It helped them to be in their own surroundings and normal routine. Nana made sure to have lots planed, to keep Lincoln and Lacey stay busy.  From visiting the car wash to attending kid activities around town. 

Lincoln did great, as he still was in his normal routine and attended school in the afternoons. He seems to understand what's happening, and knows we are gone and staying in Calgary so he's brother can be born. Close to good doctor who, then can help his brother with his back surgery. But he still misses us.

Lacey did pretty good this week too. Having the Day Home still going, I feel helped keep Lacey stay in her normal routine. But Lacey has felt the change more.

Here's a few picture of Lincoln and Lacey's week:

 Lincoln and Lacey got to go bowling and have pizza for Uncle Scott's Birthday on Monday night.

Lincoln and Lacey both really liked bowling.

 Lincoln and Lacey had a great time at the Family Center with Nana & Papa Harker.

.

Lacey taking Papa Harker's order at the pretend restaurant.

 Lacey and Lincoln showing their art work they made.

 On Friday night they had a 'Camping Night Adventure' in the living room with Abigail.

They had hotdogs, chips and smores. Set up a tent in the basement. They told ghost stories with flashlights. Uncles Scott was a bear and chased them around.

Then they all laid down in front of the fire (on the TV) and went to sleep.

Friday night after Lacey was asleep, after their camping night adventures. Nana Yamamoto came and picked Lacey up, so Nana could bring her up to visit us Saturday and Sunday. As Nana Yamamoto had to come up to Calgary Saturday to get their vehicle repaired. Lincoln would of come up Saturday too, but he had his first school friend birthday party on Saturday, that he was really looking forward to attending. So Nana Yamamoto brought him up Sunday for the day instead. Lincoln seemed to really enjoy Cohen's Lego birthday party.

 After the party, Lincoln got to attend the Wild Life Festivals at the exhibition grounds. We heard the reptile exhibit was pretty cool!

 Lincoln's favorite animal was the baby alligator.

Thanks Nana &  Papa Harker for all you did to help this week.

It's greatly appricated!

38 Weeks

How far along:

- 38 weeks

Symptoms:
- A lot of pelvic pain
- Really nervous about the c-section but I know I can get through it. I'm willing to go through another c-section for this little one. My last experience with a c-section was with Lincoln and it was a emergency c-section after 14 plus hours of labour and 2 hour of pushing. So it wasn't the best experience. I've heard scheduled c-sections are better as your aren't exhausted going into surgery, usually making recovery a bit better.
- Nesting is something I never really experience this pregnancy. With pelvic pain starting at 32.5 weeks, working all day, being a mom to two kids, by the end of the day I was ready for bed, so there was much energy left for nesting like I would have liked. I just did the things that needed to be done.

Looking forward to:
- Meeting our little guy in less then 1 week.

Cravings:
- I really haven't have any specific cravings this pregnancy. I still enjoy mandarin oranges but don't crave them. It's more like I just don't feel like certain things at certain times.