Simon Alexander Louis
December 17, 2011
It all started last Friday morning.
I woke up feeling kind of "thingy". I made Tom stick around til I came to the conclusion that I wasn't in labor and we both went about our days.
Painted my nails, packed our hospital bag (just in case), played with some friends at the park, ate Sonic for lunch, took a nap (thank goodness- didn't realize that this would be last sleep I would get for another 30 hours), and went to our Sunday school class Christmas party that evening.
While I was getting ready for bed, PatPat called to tell us that she and PawPaw were heading down for Austin for Tom's great uncle's memorial service... just case we needed them, we knew where they were.
Just in case, I called Tom's sister, Kate, and told her she was "on call" if I went into labor.
Tom hit the hay around 10. The next morning was going to be the 1st Saturday since the end of August that he was going to be able to sleep in and he wanted to get a head start.
I couldn't go to sleep.
Around 10:30, I started to have some decent contractions. I started timing them and realized they were about 10 minutes apart. Hmmm....
Started to have to "breathe" through them. I nudged Tom and asked him if he was ignoring me :)
Then he asked me if I had ever pre-registered at the hospital... ah, no.
So while he did that on the Internet, I cleaned up kitchen and put on some makeup :)
Called Kate and she sent Brent over to stay with the kids.
Set off for Dallas around 11:30, only having to turn around once to get the baby's hospital bag.
I called the on-call doctor and told her we were on our way.
Contractions were hurting and about 8 minutes apart.
Stopped in the parking garage for one last pregnancy picture.
We showed up the labor and delivery at 12:15ish am.
After answering a million questions so they could admit me, my nurse "checked" me and I was 6 cm dilated, 90% effaced.
They hooked me up to an IV... I needed to go through the whole bag of fluid before I could get an epidural. (Which can I say, epidurals don't really thrill me- make me pretty sick... but I was looking forward to it taking some pain away)
My water broke.
This scared me to death, cause I had heard that once your water breaks the contractions intensify 10000 Xs.
Where was my nurse?
Why does that IV bag look so full??
WOW. Got intense after that.
When I told my nurse that I needed to push, she reminded me that I was only a 6 when she checked me... really?!?!
After unsuccessfully trying not to push, we lost the baby's heartbeat.
Someone told me that "Cathy" was on her way. I said "I don't care who Cathy is. I just want to get this baby out!"
Somewhere along the way I lost my manners and filter on my language.
The resident came in and checked me. "Complete and complete... you can start pushing when you want to". Oh thank goodness.
Oh yeah, at that point "Cathy" the anesthesiologist came and they they offered me my epidural. I looked at them like they were crazy and went to business.
3 minutes later, at 1:26 am, she held up Baby.
Tom said "Boy!"
I said "Simon!!"
(we had never settled on a girl name.... I would have bet money that I was having a no-name girl... this made waiting to find out the sex well worth it!)
I then apologized to everyone for my behavior :) They reassured me that I did a great job :)
5 minutes later the on call doctor showed up- ha.
Such a hard life, Simon :)
Tom putting on Simon's first diaper.
Come on Tom, fix my hair :)
We were so smitten.
We didn't get into our postpartum room until 4:30.
Whoa- tired.
Spent most of the morning trying to get some sleep.
I closed my eyes, but I was too excited to fall asleep.
Simon got his 1st bath.
He hated getting wiped down.
Loved getting his hair washed.
All cleaned up.
Handsome fellow.
My parents arrived around 1:00.
MiMi holding her 7th grandchild.
Proud Papa
Tom's parents got there around 4.
PawPaw's 15th grandchild.
Simon is PatPat's 8th grandson... Mary Pat's Gwyneth, due in January, will made the 8th granddaughter- so we're keeping it even!
Around 6, Kate and Brent brought our kids and their family up to meet Simon.
The more kids we add, the harder it is to get a family photo.
I have a video of the kids meeting their little brother, but it wouldn't upload. :(
Margaret loves her baby brother.
Everyone went to the cafeteria for dinner and left some quiet for Simon and me.
And came back for some baby lovin'.
Ella
Love Thomas' grin
Alice was thrilled. She was very, very upset that they couldn't take Simon home with them.
We were able to get some better sleep that night.
The next day was a whirlwhind trying to get out of the hospital.
Simon had to have his boy procedure, hearing test, and get cleared to go home by the pediatrician.
I had to get cleared to go by my doc and meet with the lactation consultant, who happened to be the same one I had with Margaret... and her son just happened to go to our small college.
We were ready to go home.
Said goodbye to our sweet postpartum nurse, Elsie, and hit the road.
Simon did not enjoy the car ride at first.
Then slept peacefully.Home sweet home.
Simon sportin' his hat made by MiMi. Anyone remember these ??
Watching his 1st football game with Dad.
When I took him to see our pediatrician, the nurse asked me if Simon slept in a bassinet or crib. I said "neither... his car seat. He's our 3rd child."
Watching his 1st football game with Dad.
When I took him to see our pediatrician, the nurse asked me if Simon slept in a bassinet or crib. I said "neither... his car seat. He's our 3rd child." Crib just got reassembled tonight.
There are a million other pictures I could include, but I'll leave them for another post.
All this to say, we are thrilled to have Simon Alexander in our lives. What a blessing!
I was getting pretty anxious about the timing of his arrival... Tom schedule was about to get a little hairy, would I be able to get in touch with someone to watch my kids, would I be able to get to the hospital in time, and so on....
My Bible study lesson that week was about faith. Our leader made the statement that "we have faith so we can show God's glory."
I left that day confident that God would bring us our baby in His perfect timing.... I had to let go of wanting to be in control.
All glory goes to God, who brought precious Simon into our lives according to His perfect plan.
