Mother's Day 2007

It’s been a hell of a week.

The longest pregnancy ever finally ended at 12.48 am EST on May 8th. The labor was quick, but very painful as the baby was posterior. There were many dicey moments where I thought for sure I was going to get a C-section, but with the help of a vacuum the little (8 lbs. 13 oz., 20 inches long, and the biggest placenta my OB had ever seen) guy finally got out.

The days that followed are a blur. We got bad news. We got good news. We got more bad news. I endured some of the most intense pain of my life. I truly believe that birthing him was the hardest physical thing I’ve ever done.

After many emotional ups and downs, I finally got checked out of the hospital on Friday. We immediately went to the hospital Oz (his nickname) had been transferred to the day before. He needed to be in a level 3 NICU and the hospital I was in didn’t have one. We made 2 trips to visit him on Friday, so I could nurse him, and then went back on Saturday. He was finally discharged Saturday night at 8.30 pm.

In the past, Mother’s Day has always meant a well-deserved vacation from my kids. I usually spend Mother’s Day Eve (not an official holiday, but it should be since you can’t really do anything fun on Sunday) in the city with girl friends, shopping and going out to eat. Then on Mother's Day I expect Travis to be in charge of dinner, and take the kids out to the park or somewhere so I can take a nap. This year was so different.

I had only seen the big kids for a couple hours on Friday... the amazing Amy P. had been here all week long, caring for not only her 3 but my kids as well. She sent me a lunch every day, knowing my intolerance for hospital food, with treats like my favorite oatmeal cookies and cupcakes she made for our 11th anniversary. She and Ashley totally cleaned my house before I got home from the hospital. Then on Friday, anticipating we would need peace + quiet and would be gone most of the next day getting the baby, she took the kids to Brooklyn. So I was very much missing S and C by the time they finally got back late Saturday night.

All I wanted for Mother’s Day was to be home with my family. I wanted to hold the baby, play Rat a Tat Cat with S, and watch Teen Titans with C. I wanted to snuggle by Travis on the couch (while sitting on my plastic donut and heating pad!). I had the added bonus of my mom coming into town late Saturday night, so I also got to spend Mother’s Day with her. She’s been such a trooper... having to come out and basically take care of 4 people so Travis can get back to work. I don’t know what we’d do without her. By the time she goes home she’ll be ready to climb Mt. Everest, given the thousands of times she has to go up and down our stairs every day.

Our friends Ryan and Erin brought dinner to us, and we all ate together. It was such a great day, even though I was still in immense pain from the birth. Healing is going to take some time, but overall I feel so totally thankful. I’m so glad the baby is going to be okay. I’m so grateful for Travis; for all the stuff he did during the week. I leaned on him like never before, and held me up. He ran himself ragged, trying to take care of us all. I don’t know if I’ve ever felt closer to him. Too bad we can’t be intimate, since I’m never having sex again!

Overall, a really wonderful Mother’s Day. The icing on the cake was Trav gave me the wallet I’ve been dreaming of for months now. Also, minutes after the baby was born they asked what his name was. Without hesitation, Travis abandoned all his hopes for a son named Otto or Thunder or Utah and told them the name I wanted. I’m one lucky, lucky girl.