What Not To Expect When You're Expecting

During the pregnancy, it was often asked of us if we had a birth plan. I initially loved the idea, but then had second thoughts. It seemed to me that the women who had the most specific wishes in their birth plans had the most unexpected experiences. It then made the most sense to me to follow Murphy's Law, and to be prepared for anything. Then we would most certainly have a low-key, uncomplicated experience.

Ha.

The adventure in numbers:

11: days spent in the hospital
2: days spent in labor before going in for C-section
3: hours spent at home with baby before turning back around to be re-admitted with a high fever
7: follow-up doctor appointments
2: epidurals placed
13: pokes for lab draws
2: arterial lines placed to monitor blood pressure via a catheter placed in my arteries
4: IVs placed
2: intrauterine fetal monitors placed
5: attempts it took to place the PICC line (a deep IV threaded from the arm to the heart)
7: room changes
1: night and day stay in the ICU
3: days without food or drink
2: days straight with a fever
4: days without a shower
104: degrees at highest fever
12: pounds of extra fluid gained and retained after surgery
5: days of being anemic before receiving
2: blood transfusions
25: staples needed to close my incision
1: long recovery

To equal one perfect baby boy, worth it all.