He
arrived on January 12th, 1995, a spring-like day in Oklahoma.
I
felt that I had been waiting for him all my life. It was a miracle that he was
even born to me. Especially after all I had been through.
Starting
my “womanly” journey at age 11, I had terrible cramping and other gross things
happen that I won’t bore (or disgust) you with. No medication, no matter the
type or how much I took, helped. When I was an older teen, I finally was able
to take Naproxen (then called Anaprox) during that time of the month. It
helped, but it was still miserable.
Jim
and I were married in 1991, and in 1993, I was diagnosed with Endometriosis. I
opted for laser surgery and Lupron treatments for 6 months, and there still was
no guarantee I would ever be able to conceive.
All
I ever wanted was to be a wife and mother, and there was a possibility it would
never happen….
And
there I was, holding this little baby who was actually mine!
My
doctor sent me to the hospital directly after my weekly appointment on January
11th. My blood pressure was high, and it was the day before my due
date. I also had a very bad upper respiratory infection that had me coughing. The
time had finally come to see this little baby boy face-to-face.
I
called my parents to let them know. Mom, Dad, my sister and brother-in-law, and
my brother all headed to our city for the birth of my son; their first
grandchild, their first nephew.
Even
though I was prepped that night, nothing was going on. My family sat and talked
while I reclined in the bed I would “sleep” in for three nights. (Yeah, sleep,
right!)
Of
course, having an idealistic view, I thought I was trying to have my first baby
with no epidural. I have Scoliosis, too, so I was fearful about what might
happen with my back if I did it. While Jim slept in the cot in my room, and my
mother and sister tried to sleep in the waiting room, I sat in bed thinking
about the next day and meeting my son for the first time. I couldn’t sleep at
all. Dad, Darrin and Kendall went to our house for the night to sleep.
In
the wee hours of the morning, I spoke to the anesthesiologist about an epidural
and decided I was going to get one.
They
started Pitocin at 6:00am.
At
9:00am, my doctor broke my water.
The
contractions were coming faster and faster, and I was not progressing. The word
“misery” doesn’t even begin to describe what I felt. I had a little meltdown
around noon when my family was in the corner discussing where they were going
for lunch. I called Jim over to me, grabbed his shirt, and hissed, “Tell them
to get out!” Jim turned around and said, “You’ll have to leave now.”
Finally,
at 3:30pm, I received my epidural, and things got much better. However, I did
try to sweet talk Stan, “the drug man,” to give me more meds. He listened to
me, which was all I really wanted. At least, I think.
At
6:30, it was time to start pushing that baby out!
Everyone
got situated, and my sister got the camera set up.
But
he wasn’t coming quickly. It took me pushing for 2-1/2 hours straight for that
baby to be born. And when he did, I cried. So did my family. And so did that
little naked baby.
He was finally here! All 8 pounds 7 ounces of him. All 22 inches of him. He had beautiful hair, beautiful hands, beautiful feet, and beautiful eyes. He just was beautiful! (Even though he had a large swollen area on his head from the tool they used to move him along.)
And
I know it sounds crazy, but I know in my heart that the breath of God hovered
in my room while my son was born that night. 8:51pm.
I
felt Him there all day. He’s been watching out for me my whole life.
I
truly believe the Endometriosis was a blessing in disguise. I’m glad I never
had any children with my first husband who was abusive. I would have been tied
to him forever, and I’m grateful I’m not.
I
cherish all my memories about the days my kids were born. Even the painful
times when I wondered if it was going to be okay.
I
can’t believe we’ve been parents for 19 years now.
What
a great blessing.
Oh, and my sister, who had battled Endometriosis for years, too, had her first son six months after Noah was born.
What
a great life.
