~ Through the Years ~

       

I got home from work about 10:15 as I did every evening.  I was a bit hungry and fixed peanut butter on toast.  A craving I often had.  I ate it up as I watched a bit of TV.  Then it was off to bed.  I did fall asleep but within a couple of hours I was up again.  Indigestion from the peanut butter.  I drank some milk and curled up in my big chair hoping the 'pain' would go away.  It was a good hour and I was tired.  I went to the restroom and thought I'd go to bed and try to get some sleep.  It was then I realized it wasn't indigestion, but labor.  Panic set in.  I was 1500 miles from my family and there was no instruction manual.  I went into the bedroom and bent over Thom, 'can you come sit with me I am pretty sure I'm in labor.'  He moved a bit but did not respond.  I grabbed his shoulder and asked again.  He rolled with a start and replied 'No, I don't want to go to the beach!'  I could feel tears in my eyes as I shook him again, 'Thom'   He just mumbled no and rolled over.  I went back to the living room and sat in tears.  It seemed like an eternity, but it was only a few minutes and he appeared.  'What did you say?'  We both laughed, me through tears.  We timed the pain and they were pretty far apart.  I called the Dr and he stated when they get to 5 minutes apart call him back and get to the hospital he'd meet me there.  If not, he'd see me for my regularly scheduled appointment at 9.  We sat up a bit longer but nothing changed.  We tried to sleep but it wasn't coming.  As the sun started to come up I went and showered and dressed.  I called my Mom and gave her a heads up and let her know we'd call her back when all was said and done.  Off to the appointment we went.  My labor never got any closer. 

 

I got into see the Dr pretty quick and he did an exam I was dilated a bit, but nothing major.  What he was concerned with was my blood pressure.  It had sky rocketed.  He had me admitted immediately.  Off to the hospital we went.  Igot my room and was hooked up on several monitors.  They predicted it was going to be awhile before anything changed.  This is not about my x, but I will mention he left the hospital at this point.  I laid in the bed and my mind wandered.  I called everyone I knew.  Each time the Dr came in to talk to me the phone was to my ear.  It soon became a joke that he would surgically remove it while he delivered my baby.  He did understand I was scared, alone, and my family was all so far away.   The pain wasn't too bad, just a bit uncomfortable.

 

A good ten hours later I was moved to a 'waiting' area.  My pains were getting closer and I was dilating a bit quicker.  The nurse assured me she called Thom.  The pain increased and a nurse held my hand.  She asked me if she could get me a wet wash cloth and I agreed that would be nice.  As she went to leave, I asked her not to let go of my hand.  How was she to do both?  I have no idea but I didn't really care at that point.  The pain was horrible.  The Dr came to check in on me and I begged for a  C-section.  'Donna, this is not Denny's you don't come in and order'  I squirmed with pain and did my breathing.  It was a bit longer and they sent me for an x-ray.  They wanted to make sure my pelvic area would be able to handle the baby.  As I got off the gurney to get on the table my water broke.  I cried as water went all over.  It seemed to only take a minute and I was back upstairs.  Things moved rather quickly then.  I was told to push, and I did.  As hard as I could.  Release, relax, push again.  Then it was a whirlwind.  Monitors started to go off and I was being wheeled quickly into another room.  An oxygen mask was put on my face, a scream for the 'vacuum' and before I knew it there was such relief.  I heard him scream out.  I pulled the mask off and asked the Dr what happened, when could I see him.  I was told the cord wrapped around his neck and they had to cut me so they could get him out quickly.  They were testing him and then they'd bring him over.  When they finally did I had already gotten some pain medicine so they could stitch meback up.  I looked at him and he was precious.  Dark hair and curls.  They sped him off again and then I went back to my room.  I felt pretty good and called my Mom.  'Mom, he's gorgeous.  Dark hair and curls'  As I was on the phone I will give you one guess as to what happened.  Yeap the Dr came back in.  He let me know all was good.  My son was fine.  We talked about what the next steps were with me and what they'd do about my blood pressure.  It was dropping but they had to monitor me and give me shots in my ass every 4 hours.  OUCH!!!  

 

A few hours later he was brought to me.  He was bundled up and had a beanie on his head.  I undid all the wraps and checked each and every part of him out.  All fingers and toes, all his other important parts were there.  I pulled off the beanie and he was about bald.  I looked at the nurse and asked, 'what happened to all that hair?  The dark curls?'  She smiled and said some came off when they cleaned him better.  What I was seeing the first time was not his hair at all but most likely mucous.  I wrapped him, kissed him and held him close.  My life forever changed.  

 

I laugh now when I tell this story because I was such a baby.  I don't think the pain was that bad.  I don't think anything was that bad.  I was scared and that was about it.  Any time I pass a Denny's I chuckle.  How could I not?  I wouldn't change a thing.  My 'baby' turns 21 today and it seems like just yesterday, until all the memories come flooding back.  We've been through so much together and have been there for each through thick and thin, through the years.  Oh, and guess what?  His hair is dark and if it gets a little long it's curly.  LOL

 

    Happy Birthday Stephan!!  Love you with all my heart always and forever!

 

Hugs & Kisses

~Mom