Alexander was born on March 13 although he was supposed to come on the 12th. Actually, rewind, he wasn't really supposed to come until May. It was a difficult pregnancy and 2 months early I developed severe pre-eclampsia. I drove myself to the hospital blown up like crazy, thinking I was okay but deep down I knew what was going on. They admitted me and pretty quickly had me starting magnesium sulfate in one of the 5 delivery rooms at St Mary. (I was in a delivery room because the other option was to share a room and that was not a good idea. Magnesium shuts your body down so any light or noise really bothers...) I was in this beautiful 'coma" state for a few days. Lets just say that was miserable... I could only lay on my left or right side, wasn't allowed to get up at all to go pee (catheter thank you) or even sit up, and was in this horrific maternity bed with a bar because it breaks apart when it's time to deliver. Nice doesn't cover it... lol. I was miserable but doing what I had to.
By Wednesday I think it was I was stinking pretty badly and sulfur was coming out of my pours (ick). They gave me permission to shower but after looking at my signs said no, I was going to have to remain laying down and take a bath. I didn't care! The worst part was that hubby was at work so a nurse had to come help me, the whale at that point, take a bath. Nice... hello nice to meet you, let me get naked and have you help me. (I didn't look like myself so let's say it was pretty scary!) I was removed from the magnesium at that point and was feeling pretty happy, even got to sit up a little bit that day. I even got to use the bathroom that day, what a nice thing!
Apparently I over-did it though because Thursday evening I knew that time was going to be up soon. They kept talking as if my bed-rest was going to be permanent for a few more weeks but I just knew, the spirit told me the time was soon and my baby was going to be here. Ray and I actually had a nice quiet evening alone in my hospital room watching cheesy movies and eating bad hospital food that night. We needed that time alone together to talk about our baby and hold hands without medical people all over us. I was scared of course but Alex was alert the entire time. I kept being warned on magnesium that he'd be lethargic but nope, he was active the whole time, almost to let me know he was okay.
Thursday night was torture. My blood pressure started shooting up so the machine kept going off all the time, I started getting a scary bad migraine, and I was really starting to get uncomfortable. I think my body was starting to try to go into labor... don't remember. That night was miserable. The next day our dr comes in and said we'd be getting a c-section at 7 pm that night. All day I cried, reasoned, and then accepted that it was time. I was hurting and my migraine was flairing up so I was okay, I didn't get to eat all day. The doctor came back that night to tell me he was *going on vacation* and I had a new dr. She wanted to try inducing me... okay... so I finally ate something. lol.
That night was worse... I had a migraine but tylenol I kept throwing back up so I could get no relief. Honestly, worst headache ever. The next morning I was crying because I was in so much pain and only 2 cm to boot. They started pitocin but after an hour Alex's heart rate had dropped so off to the original c-section we went.
When he was born I am told that he was blue. I didn't get to see him and was so heavily medicated I don't know if I could have focused that far away. I was worried, I remember not hearing him cry. It took a good minute to get some whimpering... never the healthy cry I thought I'd get. They bundled him up and before they whisked him off to the NICU they showed me my baby, the only glimpse I'd get until a good 24 hours later. I remember saying his name and this sweet little bundle opened his eyes like "hey, I know that voice". We made eye contact and I knew at that moment he was going to be okay. They rushed him to the NICU after that and I fell asleep while I was carefully stitched back together. Don't we look lovely? roflol. Words can't explain how much it means to me to have this photo... and by the way look how *teeny* he is!
His NICU stay was a roller coaster of course but lasted 31 days. It was torture asking when he could come home, they never knew. He had no problems breathing but did have a problem eating. It took 3 weeks before they discovered a "hole in the roof of his mouth" (never were told our son had a CLEFT)!!! They found a bottle for him though. He also had jaundice and a stomach infection, that one was bad because we couldn't hold or touch him for the week he was on medicine for that. (Ugh). His first bath was in the NICU, everything really.(Our first time getting to hold our son... 36 hours after he was born)
When he finally came home we were of course elated! He had severe reflux, although it may just be he had an immature stomach. After a meal (which took 30 minutes to eat a bottle and he ate every 3 hours like clock-work) he'd vomit half of it up projectile... it wasn't pretty.
He was joined very quickly (much to doctors un-happiness) by Ariana a year later. Camden of course when Alex was 3.
Alex had his cleft surgery done at 2 years old and despite his 2 febrile seizures he's done really well. He's gone through physical therapy, occupational therapy, Speech (now going through it), an MRI on his spinal cord, and many other tests. Through it all Alex has had the happiest outlook. He never cried when he was poked with another needle, never screamed when he saw a doctor. He's taken it in stride and even as a newborn taught us so much about patience and a radiant spirit.
I've learned so much from him and feel blessed to be his mother. Words can not explain how special his spirit is. Someone said once to me that "kids who have been through struggles just have stronger spirits" and while I agree I know this just isn't Alex's case. He was strong long before he came and he will change lives in the future. He is amazing, every one of his therapists adores him. Even in the NICU they loved him. He is just a miracle, that sums it up.
So that's the "short" version of his birth. I only re-tell it once a year so I'm sorry if you have already heard it. :) I want to post a birthday post seperately.
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