Happy Birthday to You!

Fifteen years ago, at 11:30pm on 8/20, my labor began with Hammer.  My mucous plug dislodged (don't ask, those who know, know...), and I had some mild contractions. 

Hubby and I ran over to the hospital, after we spoke to the OB doc on the phone, and they checked to be sure my water didn't break, also.  It didn't.  Back home we went and at 4 am on the 21st, I was trying to sleep.  We both had to be at my OB docs office for a non-stress test at 9:30am, so the sleep was too short, and my last.

Up at 8:30am, and my mild contractions had stopped!  The non stress test was fine, and I was sent back home, assured by my OB doc, that my labor would restart again real soon. 

For those not familiar with a non-stress test, they strap you up to a monitor that checks for contractions, movements of the baby, and the baby's heart rate, and then have you drink a bunch of sweet stuff.  If the baby is good, the heart rate will go up and movements increase.  If that doesn't happen, it is an indication that something isn't right.

Hubby and I went out to breakfast at the diner, and then went to my parents house.  Hubby immediately fell asleep on the floor.  I tried to nap, but spent most of the day chit chatting with my dad. 

At 4pm, I had a contraction again.  Mild, no big deal.  Hubby just woke up, and he wrote it down in his note pad.  Another one at 4:20, another around a half hour later, and then back to 20 minutes.  It seems that this was it, labor is back!

We went to a local restaurant, the Crow's Nest, and began a tradition of the place to eat before having a baby.  The meal was great, and would end up being my last until sometime on Sunday! 

After dinner we headed over to my Aunt Mae's & Uncle Joe's house, and every 15 - 20 minutes, I had a cute, mild contraction and Hubby dutifully wrote it down.  Everyone at my Aunt's did a pool of when the baby would be born, Saturday or Sunday and how much would the baby weigh.  I remember we watched America's Most Wanted, and I believe a Yankees game, back and forth.

Hubby and I were home alone in our apartment by 11pm, and trying to get some sleep.

I couldn't sleep.  Hubby was in snore-ville.  I took over writing the contractions down, which were now more intense and at 10 minutes apart.  I wanted to sleep but just couldn't.  I also had to run to the bathroom a lot as my body cleansed itself.  The fun was starting to wear off, and the contractions, not so cute.

By 3am they were about 5 minutes apart, but occasionally I would go back up to 8 or 10 minutes.  I soldiered on alone.

At 5am, I woke hubby with a punch.  I know not nice, but I was in pain, and I yelled at him 'Here is your notebook, I am tired of doing this alone!'   I remember his eyes getting wide and seeing him wake up the fastest ever, as he took in the way I looked, stooped over and in pain, and seeing the numbers in the notebook at 5 minutes apart. 

At 7am, we decided to go to my parents house, as they are less than 1/2 mile from the hospital.  I remember Hubby helping me get out of the car, and having to stop half way to the door for a contraction.  After we got settled, since my contractions were about 3 minutes on average apart for the last 2 hours, at 8am, I called the doc.  And, to the hospital we went.

At this point I will compress the rest of the story for you. 

Unfortunately, even though my contractions were very strong, in the 100 plus range on the monitor, I was not dilating very much.  Stalled at just 2 cms, which I was before labor.  They broke my water and gave me pitocin.  That just made me throw up, and the pain worse. 

Finally, although it took from 8:30am until 6pm, I was dilated enough for them to giveme an epidural.  I could smile again, talk and laugh.  I was totally ready to go!!! 

Unfortunately, my body was not.  They maxed me out at the top pitocin dosage, but I only barely dilated to 5cm's.   Time for a c-section. 

Hammer was born 9:53pm, on Saturday, August 22, 1992.  He was 8lbs and 8 3/4oz.  He was 21 1/2 inches long. 

I will never forget his face when Hubby held him for the first time, while I was still on the OR table.  His eyes were so big and blue, and he just looked at me, with a sweet smile!  Once they dressed him, and put him in the blanket in Hubby's arms, he didn't cry at all!

Hammer was soooo alert, and he looked from Hubby to me, and we both felt like he was just taking it all in, 'Yup, this is my mom and dad!' 

His poor head, which was (is) huge, was coned on one side and bruised from where it had been smashing into my pelvis for the last twodays!  They feared a skull fracture, and had to xray his head right away!  Thankfully, there was none, but it did take almost 3 months for his head to take its normal shape. 

And, that was the amazing story, of Hammer's first birth day.  And, the birth of my first, eldest child.

These stories become legend for our kids, and there is so much more.  Like how during the 14 plus hour wait for my parents, which was shared by my Aunt Mae and Uncle Joe, the dining room table fell apart as they sat at it.  

Or how, Kathy was left home alone, and how Leslie snuck in to see him and I early in the morning before visiting hours because she worked at the ER! 

Dearest Hammer, you are my first, my eldest,  and I cannot believe it has been 15 years since you were held, first in your father's arms, and then mine.  The time has flown, yesterday you were a sweet baby, today a young man.  I am so proud of the person you are and are becoming, each and every passing day. 

I wouldn't have thought it possible on that day, but I do love you more now, than I ever could then. 

Happy Birthday, Hammer.

be well,
Dawn

  Tags: happy birthday, son, eldest, kid, love, family