Dear Graham,
Eight years ago you exploded into the world and turned me into something that I had always wanted to be but had never become until that point. Wait. Maybe I should backtrack. For, while you did eventually explode into the world, it wasn’t without a little bit of effort (and trauma) on my part. Maybe it’s time to document your birth story.
You were due on December 29th, 2002. I’d had a rather nauseous pregnancy and that, coupled with the fact that I felt I was finally “free” of the healthy eating I need to sustain in order to be fit, meant that I gained enough weight to be forty-eight inches in circumference. That’s FOUR FEET, sweetie.
I was told by our doctor that if you had not emerged by the Monday (the 30th), we would be induced. My blood sugar was borderline obscene (SHOCKING) and you were measuring quite large and you needed to get out.
On Saturday the 28th, your Dad played in his annual alumni basketball tournament. I made it through one game but sitting was uncomfortable and standing wasn’t much better and I headed home between games with his blessing to miss the second. He called me when that game was done and told me he would pick up a video on his way home. I got up and went to the bathroom and I’ll spare you the gory details but I discovered that I had “show.” I called Dad back and told him that he might want to skip the movie and then called the hospital to see what I should do because despite having read every book and taken a pre-natal class I was FREAKING THE HECK OUT.
The hospital told us to come in to get checked out and told us we’d probably be sent home. They were right. HOWEVER. Mere hours later, I awoke with contractions. I breathed through them and made my way downstairs to have some toast because if I knew anything at all, I knew that they don’t feed you in Labour and Delivery. Once the contractions became five minutes apart, around 5 a.m., I went upstairs to wake up your Dad.
He of the Sleepy Gene: “Are you SURE?”
We made it to the hospital soon after, with me breathing through contractions on the drive in. Once we were admitted, I was hooked up to the monitors and told that they’d be back in an hour. I felt contractions, but nothing unbearable, and wondered what the day would bring. The nurse returned, checked me and her eyes widened. “You’re a stretchy 6 cm.”
I said that I was sure that she’d tell me I was 3 cm and send me home. She said that she had expected the same thing.
Before we knew it I was at 8 cm and they had to give me the Strep B drip and I asked if the needle in my hand would hurt. My nurse laughed and said that people at 8 cm were not usually worried about a needle in their hand. (It turns out that I have a very high pain tolerance threshold.) I got stuck at 8 cm for awhile and nothing was happening for a couple of hours and so they gave me Pitocin to get me to 10 cm. Soon, I was, but YOU WERE NOT COMING OUT.
As it was a Sunday, and as they had to call the Anesthetist and Pediatrician to come into the hospital, I was told to keep pushing until they got there. THREE HOURS LATER.
I was trollied into another room and there was a team of ER Specialists (they thought it would be a C-Section) and Pediatricians and everyone else on duty that day because there were no other babies being born. I was the Sunday matinee! The anesthetist gave me a full spinal as they were sure I’d be in surgery and as soon as it kicked in I felt like I had returned to Earth. The nurses put my legs into stirrups and I told them how weird it was that I could see my legs moving but not feel them. Our doctor gave me an episiotomy and hooked up the suction extraction device and then FLEW BACKWARDS. TWICE.
She pulled out the forceps (See: large salad tongs) and told me to push and despite having no feeling “down there” I did what I could with my mind power and before I knew it you were OUT. You were then brought to the Pediatricians table (where your Dad counted your fingers and toes before they whisked you away). I remember sitting alone in the recovery room and calling our family and being so very thankful that your Daddy was watching over you.
Soon, you were returned to me. You were pretty beaten up and a little bit jaundiced and weighed in at NINE POUNDS, TWELVE OUNCES. You had also given me a FOURTH DEGREE TEAR as a result of being born. I’ll tell you what that means…probably never. I’ll let you Google it.
They kept us in the hospital for three nights due to the…damage (every new nurse on duty would wince when he checked me) but before I knew it we were home. And I was not on painkillers or sitting on a special pillow (See earlier reference re: high pain tolerance).
So there you go, dude. The basics of your birth story, to be embellished as you get older and as I need to make you squirm. It’s what parents DO.
You are a kid like none other, with a hilarious wit and an infectious laugh and a heart so big that I wonder how it doesn’t explode. You love your brother and sister and your Mom and your Dad and our (many) pets (including Chica, who is your birthday present). You love babies and games and Lego and books and life, itself.
You were the person that turned me into a Mom and I will be forever grateful to God that He gave me you. I often find myself looking at you and laughing with you and shaking my head at how awesome you are and I just hope that you know how much I love you. Because I do.
Here are some of my favorite photos of you:
(You’ve gone from a gummy-bear to a snaggle-toothed being and I love it all.)
I take so many photos of you and you humor me, which is awesome, because before we both know it you will be off doing your own thing out of the range of my lens. But for now, I’m going to keep snapping. I want to capture as much of you as I can before you are out of my reach.
Love, Mom.
(I miss you calling me Mommy, you know.)
Happy Birthday, Graham!! So, how does it feel to have an 8-year-old? It pretty much blew my mind. It’s a COOl age though. Love the photos … I feel like I’ve watched him grow up on your blog! Hope he has an awesome day.
.-= Hannah´s last blog ..Family of five =-.
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Happy Birthday…I was wincing reading the birth story. Hope it was a great celebration!
.-= Nolita Morgan´s last blog ..Constant Motion =-.
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Aww, a beautiful birthday post… Give your oldest an extra hug and “Happy Birthday!” wish from me! The sequence of pics are fantastic. So fun to see your kids grow up over the years. Kudos to you for capturing it all on film!
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Happy Birthday to Graham! I got married 3 years ago today, so we share this special day! And that birth story… ouch!
.-= Laura Radniecki´s last blog ..The Winter Blues =-.
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Happy Birthday Graham! This was wonderful Angella, I laughed through the entire thing, your humour was well placed
And no Mommy anymore? Boo! I guess I better count my lucky stars that Jack still calls me that!
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Happy birthday G! I can’t believe how big he’s gotten! He’s so old!
.-= Kristabella´s last blog ..Where Have I Been =-.
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Awwwwwwwwwwww!!!!
His birth sounds very similar to Kaylie’s … minus the fourth degree tear. And I have a LOW PAIN TOLERANCE.
Happy Birthday, Graham!!
.-= Mrs. Wilson´s last blog ..a Christmas surprise =-.
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Happy Birthday, Graham! Eight! Crazy! I love what a round, chubby baby he was. So stinkin’ cute.
.-= Amanda Brown´s last blog ..Blue to White =-.
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Love the birth story (minus the tearing, of course). Happy Birthday to Graham!
.-= Sharon´s last blog ..2010 in review =-.
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Aw – Happiest of Birthdays, Graham!!
Love that last pic. My heavens he is handsome! (I mean they are all very cute, but Graham at 8 – awesome!)
(I also have a high pain tolerance – I was at 7cm with no pain/feeling with both kids).
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“You’re a stretchy 6cm” made me laugh out loud. Oh, nurses.
Happiest! of birthdays to your oldest. I can’t wait to see where he goes next. (Also: Hug him for me, pretty please! A big bear-hug of the birthday variety.)
.-= Kerri Anne´s last blog ..I Wasn’t Dreaming Of A White Christmas- But Sister Trumps Snow =-.
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Happy birthday G!
Thanks for the story too. Amazing how many births take place in the world, all of them different, yet producing a miracle
.-= Lisa´s last blog ..Powder better live up to its reputation =-.
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRAHAM!!!!
You are just awesome (like your mommy says). Kayla, Megan and Lauren all wish you a very happy day!
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Happy birthday to Graham. My goodness, what a birth story- he was not a tiny baby! But he sure was a really cute one!
Isn’t it amazing how much we love our children so much that after the damage done from delivery we go right back and have more?
.-= Ninabi´s last blog ..Day 6 of 30 days Something I hope never to do =-.
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Happy Birthday, Graham! 8 is an awesome age and I hope you will enjoy every single day of it!
.-= ChrisB´s last blog ..Jingle Bells =-.
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Happy Birthday Graham!
Eight is an awesome year, dude.
.-= Sarah´s last blog ..Merry Christmas! =-.
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We are in SO much trouble.
Happy (almost late) Birthday!
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Happy Birthday to your adorable son! I didn’t like it at all when my son stopped calling us Mommy and Daddy.
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Brought a tear to my eye! Very touching, well done. And happy birthday Graham!
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Happy Birthday to your sweet, handsome boy!!
(and p.s., I had that same 4th degree thing with my 1st and every new nurse winced too and my husband just LOVES to share that tidbit! but… I WAS on painkillers and a special pillow because I do NOT have the same tolerance as you!)
.-= Elaine´s last blog ..Holiday Favorites – You Capture =-.
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Okay this totally made me wince. Sounds so familiar to Kaed’s (my first) birth, only I had forceps first them vacuum (and episiotomy and tearing) I’ll spare you the awfulness of what came after, but let’s just say when they put something up there to staunch the bleeding to sew me back up they FORGOT to pull it back out.
Anyway, I love how he’s 8 years old now, you have two other kids and you still remember his birth so well. I kind of hope by the time Kaed is 8 I can forget the bad stuff and only remember the moment I met him!
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