Chapter 12
Twelve
TANNER
I t’s been two days of monitoring her and the baby, and still no progress. She contracts regularly, but her cervix isn’t cooperating. I’m frustrated, and watching the exhaustion take over my wife is making my anger simmer.
As Wryan takes another catnap, I step out into the hallway while her mother sits with her. Dr. Harker and the OB/GYN are standing nearby, deep in conversation.
“Something has to give. I’m tired of watching her body slip further into exhaustion.” I interrupt them.
“Dr. Bleacher, I completely agree. So does Dr. Jones. We’ve decided to perform a C-section. I know Wryan doesn’t want that, but we have little choice here. The problem with connective tissue disorders is that the connective tissues don’t always cooperate with what we want. A cervix is that, a connective tissue, as you know. It’s not dilating the way it should. She’s been sitting at two centimeters for a couple of days. I don’t want to break her water and have her go through that. It has to be a C-section.”
“I agree.” I sigh loudly and return to the room.
The doctors follow me in and explain the situation to her. As the nurses come in moments later to prep her for surgery, she begins to cry.
I take her hand in mine. “Kitten, it will be okay. This is the best thing for you both. Neither of you can handle going through contractions with nothing happening to your cervix much longer.”
“Can you come with me?” she asks.
I look up at the nurse, and she nods.
“Yes, kitten. I can.”
“Good. I love you.” She leans up for a kiss when another contraction tears through her body. She sits up and doubles over her stomach.
“Breathe through it, sweetheart.”
The anesthesiologist enters the room and waits for the contraction to pass before putting the pain block in. She’ll be awake during the procedure. I’m familiar with every step of the process, but seeing my own wife go through it makes me nervous.
When we are finally moved to the surgical suite and I’m in scrubs, I sit at her head. I lean over and kiss her forehead. She sighs like she always does when I do that.
The doctor and nurse walk us through everything they are doing. They end up having to administer her some anti-nausea meds. I don’t take my eyes off my wife until I hear a hearty cry. I look up to see my daughter in the doctor’s hands, screaming and clearly upset over being removed from her safe haven. Her body is covered in amniotic fluid, and her plump little cheeks scrunch up in distress.
As the nurse takes her, I kiss Wryan one more time before moving to be with Noelle. I watch as they wrap her up, and she quiets. The nurse carries her over to Wryan, who is crying as she gazes at our daughter. Noelle has a full head of dark hair, and I can make out curls at her tiny ears.
“We’ll clean her up and then bring her to you to nurse,” the nurse says to Wryan.
“Tanner, go with her.”
“I will.” I lean down and kiss her. “I love you. She’s beautiful.”
“I love you too.”
I leave with our daughter and watch over her.
Wryan
I’m exhausted and want to sleep, but I need to see my baby again. When the nurse and Tanner finally step through the doorway, I smile big and hold my arms out to take Noelle. The nurse helps me get settled in with the Boppy pillow Tanner got me, ensuring Noelle won’t rest directly on my incision.
I look down into her beautiful blue eyes as she looks back up at me. With Tanner and the nurse’s help, I get Noelle situated, and she latches on. I feel the moment my milk starts to flow, and I sigh as I coo at her.
“Mommy’s little Noelle is so beautiful.”
Tanner slides into the bed next to me, and we both watch as she nurses away until she falls asleep. Tanner takes her and burps her, and then I switch her to the other breast. Our family and friends will be coming in soon, but I’m enjoying this time when it’s just us three.
Finally, I lean back as Tanner rocks Noelle in his arms, and my parents step into the room. They mention that J.D. is on shift and will come by in the morning to see Noelle. I drift in and out of sleep as everyone talks around me. When I open my eyes again, it’s just Tanner, Noelle, and me in the room.
Tanner is in the rocking chair with his eyes closed as he holds Noelle in his arms. Seeing them together causes my heart to clench in a good way. I’m feeling blessed and happy with where I am and what’s going to happen with my life.