Our miracle: Elle Catherine Sarah Korol

Muriel and I are thrilled to let this grand world know that we have a new member of our family: Elle Catherine Sarah Korol.  Our little miracle was born at 3:23 pm on 5/5/2015.  She and mom are resting comfortably (as I type this both are asleep, one in her hospital bed and one in my dad’s loving arms) She was born via C-section and came out at a robust 8 pounds and 21.5 inches long. 

The entire birth experience has been wonderful, with just a few moments of indecision and anxiety.  We had scheduled the C-section with a little trepidation because Elle was in breach (heads up) position for the entire pregnancy.   In hindsight, her breach position was probably due to her especially long frame.  So even though C-section was medically indicated, we wondered whether the procedure would be the best thing for the baby? For mom?  How would it all go???? 

Yesterday before the C-section, we had a nice morning, kind of lazing around Muriel’s sister’s house before heading to the hospital.  I even got in a run in the hills near their house, an odd juxtaposition of normalcy to the unique and fundamentally life changing events that were to come later in the day.   As we got close to Vandy’s Medical Center and drove by some nice outdoor cafes, Mu threw out the idea of stopping for brunch.  Maybe some other day.  Of course because of the scheduled surgery, she had been unable to eat or drink anything for about 12 hours, so maybe that was just a bit of the thirst and hunger pangs kicking in but that kind of was our vibe.   

Thus far, now after the C-section, our questions above have been answered strongly in the affirmative.  Mom is already walking about and Elle has been with us since her birth.   For me the actually procedure was surreal, after Mu was taken away for her back injection of anesthetic to start the process I waited for about 30-40 minutes in the recovery room.  Thankfully this room had a wonderful view of the Vandy campus over a leafy quad, reminding me of Duke and where Mu and I started our life together.  Still, the moments felt long but it was good to compose my thoughts about becoming a father and us becoming parents.

Then the nurse came and got me for the walk to the OR and we walked to the room where Mu was already deep into the C-section.  I was escorted to a chair right by the left side of her head and was struck by how clear her eyes were even though she couldn’t feel the incision and surgery below her chest.  You could sense there was a lot going on behind the blue paper thin screen that separated our heads from the procedure, but I was glad to have that barrier and we could focus on these last moments of anxiety and excitement.  Was our baby a boy or girl?  Please, oh please, let the baby be healthy.   What would the baby look like right after being born?

After a bit, I was told to get out my camera and then a little screen was opened in the sheet and the doctor held our baby girl up.  They asked “is it a boy or a girl?’  And Mu and I weren’t sure since a baby right out of the womb is a pretty surreal looking being.  Finally we cautiously proposed that she was a girl, and then Elle cried for the first time and we both started crying. 

Mu kept asking if she was healthy as the nurses and doctors cleaned her up and swaddled her for the first time.  Then she was placed in my arms for a delicious brief moment and then directly on Mu’s chest where she stayed happily, and tiredly cause being born is tough work, while Mu was put back together.  I loved looking at every inch of her beautiful face, her delicate little, but surprisingly developed, fingers with the most adorable fingernails and every little detail of our daughter. 

Once everything was done and we moved back to the original room time began to return to its more normal progression.  At least in my mind.  There were many tests and measurements for both daughter and mom and we were thrilled to share this special time with Muriel’s sister Catherine and my parents. 

Elle has been a delight, holding her is such a peak experience that even writing about it feels like a profound understatement.  Her skin is super soft, and she looks so cute with her little jumper and blue/pink skullcap.  We are so happy and in love.