Right now I'm trying to get my 5 months old son, Simon, to take a nap...easier said than done...he's currently trying to put his toes in his mouth, at least that's what it looks like on our video monitor... I have his playskool rainforest mobile turning and Allison Krause singing "baby of mine" on the ipod...hoping that helps. I picked 'baby of mine' by her because of the lyrics. Well, actually I used to play it for my preschool kiddos during naptime and decided to sing it to him after he was born. I sang 'you are my sunshine' to my daughter and she still loves that song. But then after Simon was born, I couldn't remember all the words, so I looked the lyrics up online. It was so surreal, when I read them. I picked out this song prior to his birth, lines like: little one when you play, don't you mind what they say. Let those eyes sparkle and shine, never a tear, baby of mine. Simon was probably four or five days old when I actually read the lyrics. We were in limbo at this time wondering about his chromosome test. The NICU doctor told us she suspected Simon had Down Syndrome. God what a roller coaster that was. Simon was born on February 27, ten days early. He was my last baby...I have two older children, Ben 11 and Samantha 7. My husband has a daughter, Logan, who is 14. Simon was the first time I actually went into labor. My other two children I was induced. Not fun! But they were fast deliveries, 6 hrs and 3 hrs. Simon was 8hrs.
I began having contractions at about 3:45. I didn't wake up my husband because I wasn't sure if they were really the "real" ones. I had been having some minor ones the day before, but none that were regular. I tried to time them, but fell alseep in between and when I'd wake up with another one, I couldn't remember what time the last one started. The alarm finally went off at aobut 6:30. Markus, my husband, rolled over and opened his eyes sleepily, saying "good morning beautiful" (his nickname for me) I said, "I think I'm in labor...." He got up and called his mom to come watch the other two kids. (Logan was at her mom's) It was quite funny watching hi wander around amilessly...trying to get himself dressed. I asked him to get me some clothes...some underwear, a tshirt and some sweats...so of course he pulls out a thong with a boyish grin on his face...very funny sweetheart! um...no...I said...his face fell...instead I chose the maternity underwear, grey sweats and my "geek inside" t-shirt. Its amazing to me that a human body can actually do this...actually contract and get ready to push another human being out.
My contractions were about 5 min apart. They hurt! We made it to the hospital and got situated in the inte triage room...you know...the room where they check to make sure your body is serious about giving birth today. Oh yeah, mine was serious. 4 cm. dialted! whoo hoo! I'm being admitted! They wheel me over to my room. Try to get a vein to hook up the IV fluid ( I have to have two bags of fluid before they'll give me an epidural!) Blew out my vein in my left arm...had to stick it in my right arm by my elbow...not fun. Everytime they left the room, I'd up the flow of the IV fluid so I could get that epidural faster! Dang those contractions hurt...and all this w/o any meds to help labor...still amazes me that my body knows how to birth a child on it's own!
My dr showed up..."lets break your water!" "Oh no you're not!" See, with my last two kids, whenever my water broke, those babies were out within 30 min...I was haivng no water broken till I had my epidural. So he said ok and would be back later to check on me. Famous last words! I began saying phrases I never say...like "holy mother of GOD!" Where did that come from. Thank God I had Markus and my mom to help...and I nearly broke their hands. FINALLY the drug lady shows up...and isn't she arrogant! Epidural went great...but I'd waited so long that I moved from the pain to the pressure...so the epidural didn't numb me totally...bummer!
By the way...I just checked the video monitor...Allison Krause did it again! Sleep away baby Simon!!!
Shorty after the epidural...my water breaks...and my sweet baby boy has pooped! Yes, meconium everywhere! YUCK! So they have to call a NICU dr. down...this means that I won't get to hold him right after he's out...bummer!
I'm finally 10 cm...probably 11 or 12 by the time the dr. shows up! Where is he! I was holding it for like an hour waiting for him to get there! He runs in with his "catchers" hat on and delivers my 7lb 10 oz baby boy! I got to seem him come out too...thanks to the mirror I insisted on. I was so glad my mom was there too! Markus cut the cord and they wisked him off to suck out his lungs before they'd let him cry. I tell Mark to go over and check on him. I can see the NICU dr examining him...checking his neck, fingers, toes...boy is she thorough...listening to his heart for a quite a long time...hmmm...when can I hold him! I've not even gotten to look in his little eyes yet. I can see lots of red hair...and he's grabbing at the nurses! He doesn't like that stethescope thingy...she keeps listening to his heart...whats up with that? The hustle and bustle of putting the bed back together, delivering the placenta, a picture with the doc...finally it settles down....
The NICU dr, who is of asian descent so her accent is a little thick...comes over to my husband as he's holding the baby (we've not yet named him) and says words I'll never forget...
"Your son has some features consistent with Down Syndrome. Do you know what that is?"
What?
What did she say?
What do you mean...features?
I've not even looked at him...what?
hey, what's with the cliffhanger?? do I have to tune in Monday to find out what happened next?
ReplyDeletebtw, the time on my comment is Pacific I think.
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