Meet Zoë Maxine Seaman!

Zoë arrived at VMC this morning at 7:59am by c-section!  She weighed 2 lbs 12 oz.  :)

Zoë needed a little light protection for her eyes.

Dad with Zoë for the first time.

We got the green go-ahead at about two minutes to 7am, so it was a pretty quick turn-around from laying in bed with high platelets and a lower liver functions level to being opened up on an operating table.

Sparing you many of the details of my first major surgery, it went very well.  In fact, it went better than any doctor thought it would.  We didn't need any of the blood standing by in case I lost a whole bunch, didn't have any problems getting her outta there in a good amount of time, etc.  When they got her out, we heard her squeek, the doctor held her up over the blue curtain so I could see her briefly and then she was whisked away to the NICU.  A few moments later, the staff in the operating room told Chris to stand up and go walk over to the window she had been handed through to hear the set of lungs she had on her.  I guess it was pretty impressive!

Mom with Zoë for the first time.

Daddy gets to touch Zoë...so gentle.

We're doing well now!  Chris got to go up about two hours after she was delivered, took some video and pictures, and then came back down to share them with me and the waiting grandparents.  This afternoon, my fabulous nurses wheeled me and my entire bed which comes with my magnesium drip contraption and pump up to the NICU to meet Zoë myself.  She looks like a baby!  I don't know if any of you have experienced having a preemie like this before, but I guess I just didn't know what to expect.  Sure, she is small, but she still LOOKS like a baby and she's really strong!  We just got an update from the NICU doctor who came and visited us in our room to tell us she was already off the ventilator (seriously?!  Can you say "gifted program?") and onto a CPAP machine.  Hopefully, with the results of my most recent labs that were sent off to the lab just moments ago, the night nurse will be able to wheel me up into the NICU again so that I can see her again tonight before I go to bed.  If not, Chris will have to deliver the latest installment of pumped colostrum on his own and report back with pictures!

Over the next few days, I will stay in the hospital and be able to see Zoë whenever I want to!  It's weird to have a routine now that does not involve the watch of the hospital staff like it did the past three and a half days.  It's definitely quieter and more relaxing and Chris and I have a lot of time to ourselves.  So if you'd like to stop by to say hi for a small amount of time, please do so, but know that you just won't get to see Zoë yet.  :(  That's why I'll keep updating this blog so you at least get good pictures.  Let us know if you are coming and we'll make sure it's a good time.

Zoë has lots of work to do to continue to develop properly, but she's on the right pathway to recovery.  We'll keep you in the loop!

Love,
Chris, Emily, and Zoë