Boy Meets Another Baby

Chapter 10

I was rolled back into the OR. I saw Dr. Jones and a bunch of other people. Most I didn't know. I was feeling extremely nervous at that point. This is my first C-Section, so I didn't know what to expect. There was a large tarp up covering from below my chest on down. 

I saw Dr. Jones peep his head over and say, "Alrighty Topanga, it's almost go time."

At that moment I really got scared. I was worried about the baby. Was he okay? Will he be okay? I just want him out as safe as possible.

After what felt like three hours, in reality, was only a few minutes, Cory came in and sat right by me. I was so happy to see him and have him sit right by me. 

Cory grabbed my hand as Dr. Jones said, "We are going to get started now."

I looked up at Cory with a smile and said, "This is real."

Cory said, "We are about to have a baby."

Within a few minutes, Dr. Jones said, "And he's here!"

I looked up at Cory with a smile and tears coming out of my eyes. I can't believe that he is actually here. They held our son up so I could see over the tarp for a few seconds before they had to get his weight and length and send him to the NICU. 

Cory walked over to where he was being weighed and took a few pictures. I laid there all alone while they stitched me up. 

Cory came and sat by me again and said, "He weighs three pounds and sixteen inches long."

I knew that he was going to be small, but wasn't expecting him to be that small. 

I said, "Oh."

Cory said, "But they told me that he is larger for him being born at 30 weeks though."

I said, "Well that makes me feel better."

A nurse said, "We are going to take him up to NICU now. Cory, you can come with us if you would like."

Cory looked at me right away and I said, "Go be with our son. I will be okay."

We shared a kiss and he hurried off with the nurse. I hated being alone, but I knew that Cory should be with the baby. 

Once I was all stitched up, I was rolled back into the recovery room by a few nurses. As they were pushing my bed into the room, I saw someone in there. I kind of freaked out for a minute thinking that I was rolled into the wrong room. 

Once I got a closer look, I realized it was my sister. 

I said sounding shocked, "Nebula!"

She looked at me smiling and said, "Topanga! How are you feeling?"

I said, "I'm okay. How did you know I was here?"

She said, "Mom called me and told me. She had me rush over here to be with you since she is watching the kids."

I said, "Oh. Well, I am glad you are here so I'm not in here alone."

She asked, "Where's Cory at?"

I said, "He's in the NICU with the baby."

She asked, "When do you get to see him?"

I said, "They think I can go up in a few hours."

As I was laying in the bed, Cory came walking in. 

I said, "Hey!"

He said, "Hey", and we shared a kiss.

I asked, "How is he doing?"

He said, "They said that he is doing okay for his size. His main issue is that he isn't breathing on his own right now."

Tears filled my eyes as he told me. It is scary and sad to think about. 

He continued, "They want to know about a name for him because right now he is Baby Boy Matthews number two."

I questioned, "Number two? There's another Baby Boy Matthews?"

He said, "Yeah. He was born about three minutes earlier."

I said, "That's crazy."

I sat there and thought for a few minutes and said, "His name will be Carter James."

Nebula said, "I love that name."

I said, "I just wish I could hold him right now."

Cory gave me a side hug and kissed me on top of my head. He also said, "They will probably let you go see him in a few hours. They are getting him adjusted to the NICU right now."

I heard the door open. I didn't know who it could be. Cory is already in here and so is Nebula. Maybe it is a nurse coming to check on me. To my surprise, it was Cory's mom and Cory's dad, Amy, and Alan.

Amy came in and said in a soft, calming tone, "Hi guys!"

Cory said, "Hi Mom! Hi Dad", and gave each of them a hug. 

Amy came over, sat by me, grabbed my hand, and asked, "How are you feeling Topanga?"

I said, "I'm okay."

Alan asked, "How did the delivery go?"

I said, "It was very fast. It felt like there was no time to even take in what was going on. It was like one minute I was being rolled back to the OR and then he was here."

Amy asked, "Did you guys get to see him yet?"

Cory said, "Topanga saw him only for a few seconds. I was with him up in the NICU while they were getting him examined and admitted."

I said, "I'm trying to get my nurse to let me go up and see him."

Alan asked, "What was his weight?"

Cory said, "He is three pounds even and sixteen inches long."

I could tell that they were all shocked about his size. Everyone's eyes got wide and no one was talking. 

I said, "But for only being thirty weeks, they said he was a good size."

Amy said placing her hand on her heart, "That is a positive to hear."

A nurse walked in with a wheelchair and said, "Alrighty Topanga, Dr. Jones has given me permission to take you up to the NICU to see your baby if you would like to."

I said, "I would love that right now."

Cory and the nurse helped me off the bed and into the wheelchair. They placed a blanket over my lap and we started walking towards the door. 

The nurse stopped, looked towards Nebula and my in-laws, and said, "We will take you guys up to see him shortly. We just want to give them time to be with him alone." 

We walked down the hall and to the elevator to go up to the NICU. I didn't know what to expect. This is my first baby that has ever been in the NICU. I was so ready to see my baby though.