11-11-11 Carson Eric Berry has arrived! (Hospital pictures)

We got a phone call from the hospital just after 7 am and was told that we could come a little earlier than planned.  They were running ahead of schedule!  So, we got our bags together, Eric bought some stock for Carson online (like he did for Lauren on the morning she was born) and drove to the hospital experiencing the "surreal" feelings that we did on 6-23-09 when we were about to meet our daughter.  Lauren woke up just before we left and I was able to fight back a few tears and kiss her good-bye.  "I'll see you in a little bit when Car Car comes out of my belly!" I said.  "Okay.  Love you." said Lauren.  

As we drove the 4 miles or so to Gulf Coast Medical Center we were both thinking "Are we really driving to the hospital to have a baby?  Today?  Right now?  So calmly!?!"  

We arrived at the Labor and Delivery floor and were put in a pre-op room, IV started, BP checked and good (for me), baby heart monitor hooked up and the sound of a strong little heartbeat pounding away, living will handed over...and then we waited!  We were so excited!  Calm.  But excited!   

Gigi, Pops, and Kaitlin drove Lauren to the hospital soon before 9am...iPad and baby in hand.  

"Hey mama!"  Lauren probably thought it was so strange to see my lying in bed.  

Nan came for a quick visit 

Grandma and Pa were there at 9am also

And we all visited for about 15 minutes before it was time for us to be wheeled to the OR!  

Waiting...but not for long!

Carson Eric Berry was born at 9:49 am weighing in at 7 pounds 8 ounces and measuring 20-3/4 inches long!  He had a strong cry from the very beginning and pee-pee'ed on Dr. Ramie as soon as he was delivered!  

The anesthesiologist, CRNA, nursing staff, and Michelle Lang (ARNP) were awesome.  The spinal that I received wasn't nearly as painful as the epidural with Lauren and everything seemed to happen so fast.  The CRNA said they were making the 1st incision before Eric was even in the room but brought him in at the right time (about 2 minutes before Carson was born).  Ramie told Eric to stand up and look over the drape to see Carson's head emerge and then his shoulders and then the big moment!

Our first introduction

Here we are!

While I went to recovery, Eric and Carson went out to meet everyone!  This was Lauren's first reaction when she saw him.  So sweet.  "Car Car..." Gigi, Pops, Kaitlin, Lauren, Grandma, Pa, and Miss Heather were all there!

And this was her first reaction when he cried.  "Car Car cry!"

In recovery and the first time I held him. 

He had his eyes open a lot from the very beginning.  I was so surprised to see how vivid and light blue they were! 

And, as any mommy would be, I thought he was the cutest little boy baby I've ever seen...

I got to nurse him in recovery but he had to return to the nursery for evaluation of a heart murmur.  He had an echocardiogram and chest x-ray done and was monitored for a little while (everything ended up being okay and it was virtually inaudible the next day). I spent about 1 hour in recovery and then was taken to our room to wait to see him again.  While he was away, he got a bath and time seemed to be dragging by.  But he soon (3 hours later) came to our room...after the hospital PR guy hurried things along for our TV interview.  WHAT?!?!  Yes.  

Goodness gracious.  A TV interview.  Just the thing we had been joking about that would happen by having a baby born on 11-11-11.  Except when we were kidding about it during the weeks leading up to D-Day, I said "absolutely not".  That would be like being on TV for a Tornado sighting.  Well, here's how it happened...  About 10 minutes after being wheeled into recovery after delivering a baby by a major abdominal surgery, the PR guy with the hospital came in.  "We would like to have Channel 7 News interview you for having a baby on 11-11-11!" (Like we had just won the lottery or something)  "I don't think that's something we would like to do, but thank you," I said.  "It would just be a short interview along with other families who had babies today" he said.  "With other familes?"  I asked.  "Yes" he was so sure of it.  "Well, I still think we'll pass.  This is a personal day for us and we really don't want to be on TV".  And then he said "so, you'll do it?!"  What?!!  was he not listening?  "No, but thank you."  "I'll give you time to think about it and I'll come to your room later."  

And he did just that.  He came to our room about an hour and a half later asking if we were ready to interview.  The camera crew was ready.  (It is from this moment on that I have very little recollection of anything said or asked because in the last 2 hours, I had been given Versed for anxiety--I kinda fell apart in the OR when I started feeling a heavy chest sensation coming on soon after Carson was delivered--, Dilaudid in the thigh, long-acting Morphine AND Lortab...all within 2 hours)

 "Can you get our baby out of the nursery any faster by having this interview?" asked Eric.  "Sure can." "Okay, we'll do it as long as other families are going to part of the piece."  

Long story short, I was filmed with my new family of 4, including a 2-1/2 year old and a 3 hour old newborn while on major drugs...AND I answered questions!  But I don't remember any of it!  On TV!  When I later watched the replay that night on the 10 o'clock news, I could have crawled under the bed.  I was speaking slow and distinct and WE WERE THE ONLY FAMILY IN THE 3 MINUTE PIECE!   The only family!  Anyway...moving on. 

Our official 1st family photo

"What dat, mama?"  My boo-boo.  It's okay. 

"What dat?" pointing to Carson's scratch on his face from his long finger nails. 

"What dat?"  pointing to the pulse oximeter. 

So sleepy during those first few hours. 

Lauren was immediately in love with Carson. "My Baby" she would say. 

His beautiful head of hair. 

The entire day seemed like a family reunion.  I loved it!  We had so many visitors from our immediate family to come from Chipley, Panama City, Niceville, and even Orlando and Indiana!  Mary, Mark, Ashlynn, Kaylee, Joey and Whitney all made the trip from Orlando and Tyler came from Fort Wayne, IN to meet our little Carson!  So special...

Gigi

A few of the men in Carson's life

Pa and Grandma

Kay

Grandaddy and Ganny

Nancy and Nan came for a short visit, too. 

Tyler

It was amazing to see how sensitive Carson's skin was to any harsh touching to his face.  Here you can see the skin tag/congenital glan on his left neck. 

Carson's two Great-Grandmothers: Mama Lee and Ganny

ha!

First time Eric got to hold Carson.  Daddy's little baby boy. 

Lance

Pa

3 generations of Berry Boys

Doting on Carson

Pops and Gigi

All of the grandparents

Gabe

Fresh little feet

All of the Aunts and Uncles

Sarah

Stacie

Aunt Mel and Gigi

Just hanging out!

"Oh Carson.  You're going to be so well-taken care of!"

Aunt Whitney and Uncle Joey after their late afternoon arrival from their drive to PC.  

We are so fortunate to have such loving friends to come for Carson's big day.  Unfortunately there are no pictures of The Ashy's (how did that happen!?!?!) but the six of us are so fortunate to have each other and share important events like this together.  And just think, this time next year, we'll have 7 children among our 3 families!  Yes, Mary and Mark are expecting their third in June 2012!  

Thank you, guys, for being here to welcome Carson into the world!  We have a lot to show him about life!

Resting after a long day

Late at night on 11-11-11.  Just the 3 of us.  Special moments. 

The next day, Tyler came to visit and say good-bye before going to the FSU-Miami game and then back to Indiana.  

And then it was time for Carson's photo shoot.

Gigi and Pops brought Lauren to visit mid-day.  

Lauren's 1st time holding Carson

Proud sister

Two very important ladies in my life: Mrs. Prichard and Julie

Laura Moore came to visit and bring Krispy Kreme doughnuts...at my request 2 weeks ago.  Can't believe she remembered!

Grandma enjoying her time with Carson

And so is Pa.  

Until his diaper leaked!  How did that happen?!

Game Day and he is Daddy's little buddy as a Gator today!

Kirsten McCord and Holly Melzer came to visit.  Holly holding Carson; she'll deliver Will in just 3 short weeks!

Kaitlin went to Dothan, AL on Saturday morning to represent Washington County in the Peanut Parade.  She then came right back to Panama City to be with us at the hospital.  We by-passed the hospital steak dinner and Eric went to get the 3 of us Bonefish.  We had a nice little dinner with Kaitlin and Carson that night and watched college football on TV while Lauren was at home with Gigi and Pops being well taken care of.

You would have never seen this happen after Lauren's delivery...I am so thankful and relieved that Carson has been born without incident, safely into this world, without his mama spending time in the ICU.  Having a c-section was the best decision we could have ever made with our doctors and I'm so thankful to feel healthy and ready to tackle the world as a mama of 2 babies!  

Being rolled out by my nurse, Karyl, and ready to go home after two nights in the hospital!  November 13, 2011

We had great nurses and staff while in the hospital and have nothing but good things to say about GCMC (except the TV interview thing, but that's okay...I'll get over it and hope that minimal people were watching the news that night.  By the way, there was a call to our hospital room on 11-12-11 asking us to do another interview with Ch. 13 News.  Seriously?  No way!!).  

Whitney and Joey came for a visit Sunday morning before we left for home.  So sad that we had to say good-bye but grateful for our friendship.  

Carson rode in his car seat in the suburban while I sat beside him.  So excited to go home and see Lauren and introduce Carson to our world!