A long time ago, in a not-so far away land...Part 2

So there's more the the story. The story that, if you recall, started here- http://whatthosearethat.blogspot.com/2010/09/long-time-ago-in-not-so-far-away-land.html. My body, once again, didn't want to expel the child that it had managed to carry past term. This time, though, after much discussion with my doctor, rabbi, husband and best friend/medical advisor, I made the decision to opt for a repeat C-section and not go through an induction that didn't seem promising by all medical evidence.

So we dropped off soon-to-be big brother Y at the babysitter's house, and went off to the hospital. Now, I don't advocate for having c-sections if you don't have to, but I'll tell ya, going in knowing you're about to have a c is about a bajillion times better than what I went through the first time. I had a wonderful nurse to get me started, and then when it was time to get the party started (so to speak), I had the best Labor and Delivery nurse in all of Evanston Hospital.

Thank G-d, the surgery was successful, very routine and resulted in a healthy, beautiful baby girl. It was such a pleasure (even through all the pain) to have a healthy baby, without complications, and be able to have her visit me in my room, to nurse and bond over our 5 days together (including shabbos in the hospital with Bubby). We were excitedly received at home on Sunday morning, although we had to be picked up by my MIL since both hubby and Y had STREP!!!!! I couldn't believe that I was dealing with a brand new baby and two people at home sick, and all Y wanted to do was lay all over me since he hadn't seen me in 5 days.

On this day (well, yesteray by the time I'm posting this), I was so excited to have a daughter to add to our family, and her big brother has been amazing over the past year and it has been a challenging and fun-filled year.

I am so grateful for my wonderful, beautiful family. I love you Baby H!!!!! I'm so excited to get to know the vibrant, beautiful and charismatic girl you are on the road to becoming! XOXOXOXOXO!

A long time ago, in a not-so far away land...

There lived a woman. A very very pregnant woman. About 98798742583903457 months pregnant (ok, maybe exaggerating a little, but definitely overdue). And her body, while it was able to get pregnant, stay pregnant and carry a baby to term, was not getting the message that it had to expel this child from her body. (OK, it was me)


And then, I was induced. More than a week overdue and borderline low amniotic fluid the doctor said it was time, even though my body wasn't wanting to go in to later, I called my husband at work and told him that I needed to be induced, although the hospital didn't have beds available yet. And then my car wouldn't start in the parking lot of Glenbrook Hospital, far away from home. So I called AAA and they came and the tow truck driver asked me to please not go into labor in the cab of his truck. Hubby picked me up at the mechanic's and when we called the hospital to check in again, labor and delivery was still full. So we waited. We went to Dairy Star for ice cream, the video store for movies to watch during the long waiting parts of labor, and picked up chinese food for dinner.


We went home and I showered, packed my bag, and ate dinner. And waited some more. Finally, around 10 pm, we went to the hospital and checked in. The pitocin started, and continued. Progress was slow, procedures were invasive and uncomfortable- my body just wasn't getting the message. This was Tuesday night. I had contractions (pitocin-induced, mostly) all day Wednesday, and by Wednesday afternoon, I had only gotten to 3 cm, and was praying desperately for this baby to come already. Around 10 PM Wednesday night, when the (non-constructive) contractions were bad enough that I couldn't get a sentence out between them, I asked for my epidural. Once the epidural was in, I finally got some sleep.


And then, at 1 am (Thursday, now) the doctor came in, and wokeus both up, and informed me that things weren't going so well. I had developed an infection and a fever, and the baby's heart rate was dropping after each contraction- they couldn't wait any more for my body to do its job, they were going to have to do a c-section. I was really upset, but both the baby's health and my health were more important than wanting to have a vaginal birth.


At 2:30 AM, he arrived. It was September 20th, three years ago today. He spent 10 days in the NICU for some complications (B"H nothing serious or with any lasting effects), and then he came home.


It's been three long, amazing, beautiful, wonderful and challenging years. I can't believe that my baby boy is so big! He's smart, talkative, friendly and so so special.


I love you Y!! I can't wait to continue seeing you grow up and hear the funny things you'll say!