Snoring Snoring Snoring

I would be in bed asleep right now but Lee is snoring up a storm. Jackson has croup I think and is congested and is breathing heavy too. Lee though is soooo loud. It reminds me of the last night in the hospital after I had Jackson. Now during the labor I wanted all of the drugs possible but after the birth I didn't want any drugs or sleep aids. The last night there the nurse comes in and asks me if I want something to help me sleep. I decline and tell her I'll be fine. My lovely and devoted husband goes to sleep on the bed next to me and before I know it he is in this wonderful deep sleep. So deep he is snoring and it can be heard outside of our room. Seriously, I'm not kidding.

I get up from the bed and walk down to the nurses station. I ask them nicely for something to help me sleep. I told her that if my husband wasn't in the room snoring and sleeping by a baby then I'd be fine but he was hindering my sleep. Then of course the women started talking about their husbands and the snoring. It's amazing how well he slept all 3 nights at the hospital. I just couldn't sleep.

I don't know if I have ever posted Jackson's birth story. Well on my baby board I use to be apart of. I think I did and I tried to save it but who knows where it is now. Jackson came the earliest of the two. Oh no, my insomnia from the snoring is going to get me typing and telling a story. Y'all watch out!!!

I had a rough pregnancy with Mackenzie. I think it was just horrific how my ankels and legs swelled and my hands, etc. My blood pressure was extremely high with both of the pregnancies and Jackson wasn't any different. I had an incompetent Dr. in Ft Walton and he knew of my past pre-elampsia w/ Mackenzie and he knew that my BP wasn't being controlled even with meds but it's like he didn't take it too seriously. Finally halfway through the pregnancy he sends me to a specialist in Pensacola to check on the baby. It was really neat because they did a 2-d u/s and it was so detailed and thankfully Jackson was okay even though my BP was crazy high.

When I saw that Dr. there (and he was wacko I tell you) I asked him if he could refer me to another Dr. He referred me to Dr. Lyle who was across the hall from his office. This is the best thing that could have happened. The first time I saw him I fell in love with him. He has good bedside manner, he listens and is just a nice man. He's not strange like some Dr.'s are. Lee and I both loved him. Because of my problems he monitored me very closely and thank goodness he did.

Starting at 32 weeks I had an u/s every week when I went. They checked the babies activity, the fluid level, the heart beat and something else (I can't remember) and I had to obtain at least a score of 6 and every week I got an 8.

Well Sat. Dec 18th was Lee's 31st B'day and b/c I had been put on bedrest mom and dad had taken Mackenzie back to their house with them after her Christmas program and she was going to stay with them until I had Jackson or something. We were all unsure. I was only 36 weeks along. Well I felt so sick during Lee's b'day dinner at Olive Garden. Even though I wasn't having labor pains my stomach just didn't feel right. Man was I huge! The entire night I was so uncomfortable.

Sun. the 19th Jana came over and I cooked a huge meal. This was odd because during my pregnancies I never feel like eating much. I cooked my BBQ bacon wrapped chicken, mac 'n cheese (homemade), greenbean cassarole and dessert. I remember eating and just stuffing my face. It was soooo good. I had a Dr.'s appt. the next morning at 8 and since it was in P'cola we had to leave the house by 6:45.

That entire night I could sleep. I was practicing my talk w/ Dr. Lile on all of the reasons why he should induce me the following Monday. It would be the 27th and after Christmas and I'd be 37 weeks so all would be fine in the wonderful world of Dr.'s. I seriously didn't go to sleep until 3 or 4. When you're pregnant you have a hard time sleeping anyway but I just kept going over in my mind what I'd say to him.

The next morning we get up and let me tell you I was starving. I think it's because whenever I eat a big meal at night for some reason the next morning I'm always super hungry. We didn't have time to eat and I told Lee after the Dr.'s appt I'd get something to eat at the hospital since they had a lot of choices. My whole thing was that starting that next Monday I'd take my hospital bags w/ me just incase I got induced. Since it's a long drive and all it would be smart. I was joking around w/ Lee that just b/c I didn't bring a bag I'd be induced, etc. All knowing that it'd hopefully be that next Monday and I was so excited.

We get to the Dr. and the girl who always did the u/s did it was usual but she was really quiet. I remember the entire time I was starving and my stomach was growling. This is around 8:15. I asked her if everything was okay and if he was still a boy. She told me she'd be back with us. She took her print outs and left. It was a tad odd b/c she's always super friendly and talkative. Lee and I go into a room and wait for the Dr. She comes in and tells us that there is someone shadowing Dr. Lile and learning and if it was okay for him to come in. I tell her that as long as he doesn't see me naked. That was so stupid b/c after being pregnant and having to bare yourself for every nurse and Dr. it shouldn't matter that much.

So Dr. Lile and the other guy comes in. I just remember Dr. Lile looking at us and telling us that Jackson's fluid levels were really low and that we'd be having a baby today or tomorrow. That we needed to go straight over to the maternity ward. I remember this wave of nervousness coming over me. I know I started to tear up. It was because I was excited to have the time come but nervous about him being born so early. Lee started panicing and started asking Dr. Lile all sorts of questions about his lungs, etc. Dr. Lile told him there was some risk but at this point the benefits outweighed the risk.

Last year I was looking over my medical records from the pregnancy (I had requested them b/c of insurance issues) and looked at my fluid levels from that day at the hospital. I looked them up to see what they meant. I had appx. 5% fluid. I guess I had been leaking it all week. It is a good thing that I was being monitored so closely because other wise he might now be here today.

So I ask Dr. Lile if I could get a muffin before going to the maternity ward. He tells me no and go straight over there b/c they are waiting on me. I was sooooo disappointed. The girl at checkout tells me not to stop and eat too. We walk outside of the office into the hallway. We are so excited but scared. The time had come. What we had waited for for the past 8 months was ready to come.

I remember he called his mom and I called mine. I called Jana at work. Marlana answered the phones. We had been practicing when this day would come. I said "Marlana, it's time. It's for real this time. Please go and get Jana". I said it just as calm as could be. She pulled Jana out of a meeting. I tell Jana what's going on and that she needed to sit tight b/c he might not even come until tomorrow.

We get to the nurses station and get checked in. Lee had to call his work and tell them that it was time and we was a having a baby! He was able to take the week off and it was so nice. He then had to go back to our house and pack up our stuff for the stay. It could be 3-4 days. He leaves and the nurse comes in and starts my Magnesium drip for the HBP and then comes back to put in my catheter. Okay, when I was preggers w/ Kenzie I told the girls at work I'd never let them give me a catheter. Well w/ her I had one but was knocked out when they gave it to me so I had no idea. Oh no. I was wide awake for this one. No drugs no nothing. I kept saying "no no no" and she'd stop. She told me if I said no then she couldn't do it. I told her my no's meant yes and she said it didn't matter. I couldn't bring myself to say "yes yes yes" for the catheter. It was awful. I don't recommend having one.

I was in the room by myself for a long time. Lee was gone for hours and hours. I was starving and couldn't have any food or water. Nothing. I talked to Jana and my mom throughout the day. It seemed that Lee kept calling my mom and Jana frantically to see what he needed to pack for the hospital. He was packing for both of us and didn't want to forget anything. Both of them were laughing about it to me but not in a mean way b/c it was just so cute and funny him worrying so much.

He finally got back in the afternoon and I can't remember much going on. The nurse had given me cervadil in my cervix to help thin it out and prepare me for the induction which would begin the next morning. The cervadil also tends to make ppl go in to labor so that was an option too. I remember getting contractions throughout the evening and the monitor wasn't picking them up. The nurse would come in and adjust the belt but couldn't find anything and I knew I felt contractions. Jana decided not to come up that night and would come early in the morning unless I went into full labor.

Lee went to sleep in the chair in the room. It made into a nice little sleeping thingy and he was comfy. His snoring confirmed that. I kept feeling more and more contractions throughout the night. I swear the nurses thought I was crazy b/c nothing was picking up. I was getting restless and was beginning to take pain meds (but not in the Anna Nicole Smith way, God Rest her Soul). Lee finally woke up around 5ish and I remember Jana got there early. By this time my contractions hurt sooooooo bad. Dr. Lile came in around 6 and decided to break my water. Can I just say that it makes the contractions 10 times as worse?

I guess I was basing my experience w/ Mackenzie and the HBP and assumed that they would keep me in a sedated type state as to not have my BP go up. With Mackenzie I only felt the first hour of contractions and only remember the last 1 1/2 of the labor which I felt nothing. This was not the case though with Jackson.

The contractions kept getting worse and worse. I think it was when Dr. Lile came in to break my water and I was holding on the to hand rails I asked if he'd take Lee in the next room and give him a vasectomy. I'd get pain meds every 1 1/2 hours but it didn't make a dent. I had to be 3 cms before they'd give me my epi. It took forever to get to 3cms. During every contractions I'd hold the hand rails so hard. My knuckels would turn so white. Lee would get so nervous and hate to see me in pain so he'd continue to talk non-stop throughout every contraction. All I wanted was silence. I know I yelled at him to shut up more than once. Jana was great walking me through the contractions and telling me when they'd be wrapping up.

Finally around 11am the nurse comes in and she says I'm almost 3cms but she'll go ahead and order my epi. The epi Dr. comes in and is an arrogant jerk and tells her he can't give me the epi b/c I haven't had recent lab work to check my liver enzymes b/c of the BP. What the heck??? I'd had all of that the day before. Lee is furious! I have never seen him so mad before in my life. He goes out into the hallway to find Dr. Lile after they told him it'd be at least an hour to get the lab results back.

A girl came in and took my blood and my Jana stayed w/ me while Lee was raising hell in the hallway. Dr. Lile was on the phone w/ the lab and I swear within 3 mins the results were back and the epi Dr. was back. He had me lie on my side for the epi and it was a good position. I was scared. I'm not going to lie. I hate needles. I was so out of it during the epi w/ Kenzie that I remember it hurting b/c I was sitting up in the middle of a contraction but couldn't remember the needle pain. It wasn't bad at all. I guess it's only b/c he did it in the middle of a contraction and with that pain nothing would hurt.

After 15 mins or so the epi kicked in and I think at that time all of the pain meds decided to kick in. I was very loopy. Lee and Jana decided to get something to eat while I was resting. As they were getting ready to and were leaving I was singing a song from American Idol and swinging my fingers in the air to the song. I know. I'm odd.

I passed out. The next thing I remember is waking up and no one is in the room. I can hardly move my head and I feel something baring down on me. I can tell Jackson is ready to come. I passed back out but I have no idea for how long. I woke back up and remember thinking I can't even move or think to push the nurses button. Thank goodness Lee and Jana walk in the room. I tell them I think it's time. Yeah, they go to lunch and I'm at 3 and they come back and we're ready for a baby.

It took a few mins for me to decide for them to get a nurse. Lee goes and gets our favorite nurse and she take a look/feel and says I'm at 9 almost there. The other mean nurse that we all (especially Lee and he had a good reason) and she said there is no way she's ready and cops a feel and yeah it's time. It all happened so quickly. They have someone rush and call the Dr. and they're throwing the bed together to make it into the birthing thingy.

I keep feeling this urge to good potty (yes, number 2) and they tell me not to push. I couldn't help it. I couldn't do anything but push. The mean nurse is sitting on the stool because the Dr. isn't there yet and Jackson was a coming. Dr. Lile literally came running in and sat on the stool. Maybe 1 contraction later Jackson's head came through but not out completely. Lee is at the end of the bed staring in complete and utter fascination. Jana took a peek and she exclaims "he's got hair".

She reclaims her side by me and I just push so hard and I feel his head come completely out and Dr. Lile tells me to stop pushing. Do you know how hard it is to stop in the middle of pushing something out of you? It's like stopping your pee or diareah (sp?) midstream. Then I felt this pain. I had to stop pushing b/c Dr. Lile was freeing Jackson's shoulders so he could finish plopping out.

I get the okay to push and then there was this beautiful baby born. They immediately placed him on me and as it was with Mackenzie (due to the Magniesium they were giving me) I couldn't hold him or do much. My muscle were relaxed and couldn't hardly move around. He was beautiful and he was okay. He was breathing. His lungs were perfect.

They had 2 NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) nurses on standby in our room and they immediately took him off of me and into the small room off the back of the room. Jana stayed with me while Lee went with Jackson. I remember asking the Dr. if I ripped and he said no that everything was perfect. I had to give birth to the afterbirth (yummy I know) and Jana was shown what the placenta looked like. I have to say it was really cool. It was just like a huge blood clot but that was perfectly round and had an opening where Jackson was.

The nurses were giving Jackson oxygen with a mask to just make sure he was okay. They handed that job over to Lee and it was funny b/c he was so excited and couldn't concentrate that he'd have it halfway over him or off and it was cute. They weighed him and he was 5lbs 15oz and the nurse said he would've been an even 6lbs if he hadn't of peed right before she weighed him. He was 19 inches long and perfect.

They took him to the NICU for the Dr. to check out and Lee went with him. Jana stayed with me. Oh and someone brought me a 2ltr of Sprite and 2 1/2 gallon Gatorades. Remember I haven't eaten in almost 48hrs (since Sunday night) and had a drink either. I was so thirsty. The nurses weren't thrilled on me drinking but I did anyway. I had to stay on the Mag. for 24 hrs after his birth to ensure my BP didn't go out of control. Thus the catheter remained.

I am not kidding. I drank the entire 2ltr Sprite and 1 of the Gatorades within an hour. I drank the 2nd Gatorade by 6pm or so. The nurses had to check my urine every 2 hrs to make sure I still didn't have protein in it. Our favorite nurse on the night shift said my drinking diluted my pee so they couldn't tell if I did have protein in it but I told her I was probably just flushing it all out. :-)

Jana went home at 6 and they finally brought Jackson to us at 8pm. He was beautiful and perfect. He was tiny and wonderful. Lee got to change his first diaper since I was so frail from the meds. He even fed him too. I drifted off to sleep and Lee went back to the nursery w/ Jackson. He went because he wanted lessons on how to swaddle him in a blanket. He would go to the nursery when I would rest or sleep at night and get lessons on diapering, feeding and swaddling from the nurses. It was so adorable. I found him the last night there in a dark room in the nursery singing to Jackson.

It's hard to believe 2 years has past and our baby is talking up a storm. He is a wonderful boy as is Mackenzie (well, a wonderful girl). I love my babies. I know this was a long story but I enjoyed typing it. I started it on Friday night and just finished it Sunday morning. It took a little longer to type than I expected.