My Son

Micah Lawrence Rijk Duprey was born March 28th at 4am. He was 7 lbs, 14 oz and 20 inches long, with a full head of dark hair and his daddy's long toes.

After 14 hours of early stage labour (easy contractions) we went into my OB for my scheduled appointment. I shocked the receptionist when I told her that I was in labour, apparently I was the first. lol. The doctor stripped my membranes, told me Micah was low, and then I should probably go to the hospital. I wanted to try going home, so I did... and got back-to-back contractions everytime I stood up. Apparently the hospital was a good idea. A quick shower, a quick drive, and I was sitting in labour and delivery having them tell me my contractions were too far apart (of course, I was sitting down, doofus!) and that I should go home.

yeah right.

I got up, had a contraction. Walked to the door, had another contraction. Lyndele and Phil agreed that we should stay at the hospital and walk for a while, then try again. We dropped our stuff at the Information desk, and did just that, walking the halls for 45 minutes, until I threw up just past the elevators, and was left unable to talk with back-to-back contractions for over 5 minutes. This time they kept us in L&D. I remember feeling proud that I'd proven to them I was actually having contractions. lol. I was like "the puke on the floor, that's proof, right?" I'm sure Lyndele was laughing as she humored me and said yes.

I knew I was getting tired by then, because I was finding it harder and harder to crack lame jokes. I managed a few between contractions when the nurses were asking me questions, but my endurance was basically gone, and I realized that the loss of my ridiculous sense of humour was an indication of that.

I asked for an epidural at that point, 20 hours and counting, and I was spent. The Dr was busy in a C section, so he couldn't approve it, then they took the wrong bloodwork so they had to redo it, and 2 hours later I got my epidural. Phil and Lyndele were exhausted as well, and I don't blame them! My heroes.

Lyndele was there for every contraction, holding my hands and supporting me, talking me through it. Laughing at my lame jokes, and even making a couple of her own.

Phil had spent the day at home with me, and he cleaned the house and raked the yard, talked with me and reassured me that he didn't mind missing work.

they were amazing.

We all slept for 4 hours, then I felt some increased pressure, and we decided it was time to push. Phil was woken up halfway through (I was getting irritated that he was allowed to snore while I was working so hard, lol!) and the two of us found that we were better at this stuff than we'd thought! I am apparently quite good at pushing, (I've always been pushy...) and Phil was actually fascinated by the process of birth, and even took some cringe-worthy pictures that I would have killed him for, if I was aware at the time.

They had me do some precision pushing while waiting for the dr. to get there, one of the nurses protested that she was not ready to catch my baby! lol, and then out he came, no problem. It actually took only a little urging from the dr. and Phil cut the chord! I was able to have my boy on my chest immediately after he was born, and he actually nursed within 10 minutes as well! it was awesome... such a contrast from my last experience. Such a miracle.

Some observations that made me smile:

- I laboured for 25 hours, with one hour of pushing. Total of 26, but I get to involve my favorite number, 25.

- Micah was born on the 28th, Rosie on the 18th... maybe that means we won't have a third ourselves, cuz there is no 38th. lol.

- Micah is exactly one lb heavier than Rosie, but the same length.

- I only gained 13 pounds this pregnancy.

As for taking my little guy home, unfortunately the first night was maybe the worst experience it could have been. If not for Phil's parents, we couldn't have gotten through it. Rosie was coughing and struggling to breath and she threw up all over and had a strong fever.... the fever broke around 3am and she finally settled around 4:40. Phil's parents did most of the work early in the night, while I was settling Micah, and then I did some up and downs.... I was sitting on the floor in the bathroom around 3:00am changing a screaming newborn and listening to my 2yr old terrorizing her nana upstairs and I looked in the mirror at my pale, slightly green face and wondered idly if I was going to collapse....

but other than that morbidly fatalistic moment, we got through the night. I slept for around 3 1/2 hours, then another couple in the morning after I was sure Rosie was OK. I'm still feeling really really crappy, which makes sense, and Rosie is refusing to nap, so I don't want to either... I feel I owe her and Nana as much of my time as I can, the last few days haven't been easy on them... and I wanted to get this done... Micah's been an angel though, sleeping lots and eating lots and pooping lots, just like he should be.

Here's to new beginnings, and to them starting tomorrow. I think we'll just scratch out last night.