13 years ago

13 years ago - I was in Hinsdale Hospital having slight contractions and the Drs were trying to figure out how to stop them and keep me pregnant.  It was a little touch and go that week.  When we left the house on Thurs the 11th we were SO excited.  We were high fiving and calling everyone to tell them we were headed to the hospital because my water had broke. 

Later that morning Wilk came in with a very serious look on his face.  Things weren't as far as we thought.  Sal was early and they were scared she wouldn't be able to eat or breathe.  I'll never forget how very quickly the mood changed. 

So, they managed to keep me pregnant 3 more days and on Sunday when contractions started they decided maybe we should bring her out - c-section.  Well, there was something I didn't think would happen.  The only chapter of the book I hadn't read was the c-section part.  :-) 

As I look back I think I may have been in shock.  It seemed very out of body for me.   Things seemed to steamroll along that Sunday.  Surgery prep, epidural, extra IVs, being rolled here and there.  I remember a LOT of tugging on my tummy - I felt I was being moved down there and then all of a sudden the Wilk was holding up this bloody baby and Lannie was saying "2:10 and it's a girl and she's so pretty and she's POOPING!"   :-)   Being strapped down and not being able to hold her right away was a nightmare. 

They left with her.  Bill left.  The doctors all talked about the Bears game and about Disney - I think someone was going to go there soon.  They left.  A nurse came in and wheeled me to some room and put all kinds of warm blankets on me.  That felt so good but then the shaking started.  I shook like one of those bumble balls.  I'd try and talk myself down "relax, it's ok, stop, you're fine."  The shaking would stop and then the blood pressure bag on me would start up and the shaking would start all over again.  It was horrible. 

After a while someone came and got me and took me to my room.  They asked me to crawl from gurney to my bed.  Being all numb, it felt like I was crawling on a cloud.  At one point I even asked the nurse if I was moving at all.  It felt SO weird.  I made it through the night and kept looking at a Polaroid picture of the little girl.  The next day was awful - I felt like a truck hit me, but seeing Sal was GREAT.  Bill came and held her while I watched.  They laid her on my bed and I was able to feed her and to play with her.  She slept - A LOT.   We had to wake her every 3 hours to feed her.   3 days later we were both able to come home. 

13 years later and she's more than made up for that 5 pound start she had.  And she still wants to eat every 3 hours.  :-)

Sal woke this morning and announced to the house in her big outdoor voice, that it was her birthday and that we should all be wishing her a happy birthday!  We had cinnamon rolls for breakfast - with candle and sang to her.  She packed her goodies up in her back pack along with a note for everyone to join her at Culvers tonight.  Granpa and Granma called.  Aunt Lonnie called.  She was so happy to hear from them.  She has gotten mail all week and every piece is met with an expression as if it was the best one.  She's something.

Happy Birthday, my dear Sally.  May you always be as happy as you are now.