Wordful Wednesday - Eleven Years Ago

It’s Wordful Wednesday over at Seven Clown Circus……Like I’ve said before and like most of you know already, I.am.wordful. So, thanks Angie for giving me a good excuse for gabbing!! In honor of Ethan’s birthday (this Friday), I am going to be wordy about his birth story.

This is me 11 years ago (actually I was about 18 weeks along—but you get the idea)


Wow, I can’t believe it has been that long….. Eleven years ago, my ex-husband and I had just recently bought our first home and had a toddler that we were chasing around. Eleven years ago I was sitting at my desk and got up to go to lunch. As I stood up my water broke…which was kind of scary because I was only 35 weeks and I knew he was probably still pretty small. I checked into the hospital and we waited to see if I would go into labor on my own. After a few hours they started pitocin and the fun began!! With CJ, I got an epidural right away, as soon as I started hurting I had them hook me up...but this time...well, this time I thought I'd tough it out and do natural. hmmmm, why did I want to do that?? Anyway, I have been blessed with very fast labors, so after about 2 1/2 hours, I was 7-8cm, but I could NOT take the pain anymore!! No way-- I wanted the epidural and wanted it right then. Luckily for me, my mom was an L&D nurse (and nurse manager) there for 20 years and was getting her midwifery degree at the time, so she knew everyone there really well...... so, she was able to get the anesthesiologist fast and give me some relief. Although being that far into labor and in that much pain, the epidural just took the edge off. Within 10 minutes of getting it, I was ready to push. I know what you're thinking---why didn't I just wait it out...I could've made it 10 more minutes, right...? Well, let me tell you this little fact about me: I don't have a high threshold for pain. And I feel like if the medicine is there to fix that pain, then why not use it (and I am NOT knocking anyone who does it med-free; more power to you, that's awesome!! But, not for me!!). Ok, so after 2 0r 3 pushes, my little braniac was born... 5 lbs 2 oz, 19". I had some very personal things going on in my life at the time (that's for another post), so this was a very emotional experience-- happy, sad, mad, hurt.... on a day that should have been ALL happy!! Oh well, I got my beautiful little boy out of it, and he has been a blessing ever since!!

Gosh, when I look at these newborn pictures of him, it really brings me back!! I love, love, love it when they're this little; I love how good it feels to hold a baby that small and listen to all their noises. And NO- I do not want anymore children (actually, I can't..but that's besides the point)... I am perfectly fine just looking at old pictures and reminiscing, or holding sombody else's baby that I can give back!! :)

Joseph developed a bit of jaundice; more than the doctor was comfortable with, but not enough to have to bring him back to the hospital. So, we had the home care people come out and bring us the "Suitcase". He had to lay under the lights all the time....he had to be in there with only his diaper and with his head behind the curtain to shade them from the light. Fortunately, this only lasted a couple of days and he has been great ever since!!

Stay tuned for Friday (his actual birthday--which he just pointed out), where my "Photo Story Friday" will be about watching him grow and all the fun experiences we've had.