It Ain't So Bad the Second Time Around...

My pregnancy with Joli was very similar to my pregnancy with Magnus...very laid back, easy breezy, and full of fantastic endorphins being released on a daily basis. However, when Magnus was born...that all came to an end. I focused and prepared myself so much for the labor and delivery itself that I had ZERO idea that after he arrived, I would not sleep for THREE months. Those three months were awful. Here was this new baby in our lives who was so demanding of our time, refusing to latch on correctly thus preventing me from breastfeeding, and he just would not sleep because he was too busy being hungry...every...single...hour. Also keep in mind that we were in the process of moving from Cincinnati back to Columbus (not what we originally wanted for ourselves) and I had to leave my job thus forcing me into a stay @ home position role. Don't get me wrong, I do not regret at all staying home with Magnus because I truly believe he is the sweetest, kindest, most well-behaved kid in his age range because I gave him tons of love and attention during those first two years of his life. If it sounds like I'm tooting my own horn then toot toot! I know he's a great kid and I'm not biased because there isn't anyone in this world who doesn't agree with me, especially his teachers. So amidst all of this chaos, I also ended up getting the shingles due to all the stress. Oh and mind-numbing, nauseating migraines too. AWESOME. 2008 was a scary year for me indeed.

Fast forward to the present and I'm thanking my lucky stars that I'm not going through those same emotions now that Joli is here. Phew!

As you all know, since I had a c-section with Magnus, I opted for a repeat c-section with Joli. After weighing the pros and cons, I felt that this was the safest way for both her and I to go through this together. Possiblity of uterine rupture? Ummm, no thanks! So scheduled c-section it is!

Let me just tell you, scheduling anything makes life a lot easier...as long as you go along with the schedule. I have a very Type A personality and need to know what's coming next at all times and am extremely organized with all aspects of my life. When I'm not, I get the shingles and migraines. Ha! I have to laugh about it now. So when Max, my mom, and I entered Riverside Methodist Hospital on Friday, September 3rd, I was very relaxed and knew exactly what to expect.

Waiting in the triage area before surgery.

The surgery was scheduled for 9:30am but didn't really get going until 10am. I had the best OR (operating room) staff that I could possibly ask for. The anesthesiologist even said that this was the most fun he's had at a c-section in a long time. I do aim to please, ya know! LOL!

There was very little discomfort and when I felt the most tugging, Max went into position and took the most amazing photograph of our daughter entering the world.

Of course me being the grand ol' weeper that I am, I immediately started crying as I heard her first cries and hear everyone exclaim how beautiful she is and how she literally has a head full of hair!

As the nurse showed her to me, I said, "Omigosh, she looks just like Magnus!"

Happy Birthday Joli Xen Juhasz! I love you more than you can ever imagine and I dedicate my life to making sure you get the best of everything you'll need because you deserve it.