The Life of Savages

In spite of the day having a name that hits a little too close to home right now, Labor Day turned out nice for us this year. Even though it took us TWICE as long as expected to get ourselves together, and even though we took enough stuff to make it look like we would be traveling for a week, and Brian decided to try a new way which ended with us taking a million detours, we decided to laugh it all off and follow through with our day trip to Lake Galena.  We have been there many times and it is always nice to get out of the city for awhile.

This year Brian and Lily went sailing with a friend while Susannah and I hung out on a blanket by the lake.  Lily had the time of her life and I am sure Brian was in 7th heaven as well.  Susannah and I. . .well. . . we hung in there but not matter how great I feel after just having had a baby, I still just had a baby.  I forget that when I am sitting on my couch feeling normal.  After sitting in a Crazy Creek chair for a few hours, my body was saying, “Go Home!”  I did get to read some more Brothers K which was nice and I did enjoy the weather, but by the time we made it home I was beat!

And today my house looks like a tornado came through. . .A face like this makes it all worth it, though!

I was reading Lee’s blog today and realized that on her links it said it had been 4 weeks since I last posted.  That went fast!  I thought a quickie post was in order.  It has been just over a week since our little Susannah was born.  Throughout my pregnancy I enjoyed all the stories of how delivery of second babies is so much easier and labor is so much shorter.  I was so geared up for this wonderful thing!  Unfortunately, I did not get one of those easy experiences.  Labor was much longer this time and delivery was very tough.  The short synopsis goes like this.

I was in labor for 18+ hours – 14 of those were in the hospital.  I arrived at 8cm pretty quickly and then stalled there ALL NIGHT LONG as the baby would not come down enough to finish the job.  Whenever I would sit my contractions would space out so I walked all night. . .and every time I got checked – no progress.  I cannot tell you how demoralizing this was.  When I came to 8cm so quickly my midwife was so encouraging that the baby would be out in no time so even she was a little baffled by what was happening.  Also, I chose once again to go drug free and so I was in A LOT of pain – stalling out at 8cm, right on the cusp of the major, crazy pain was so hard.  By morning I began to doubt myself because I was so tired.  At 10:30 am the next day, I told the midwife to get me into a regular delivery room so I get an I.V. and some pitocin.  I just needed it to be over and I knew (since I had pitocin with Lily) that a little pit (as much as I hate it) would get me over the hump.  Sure enough an hour after getting hooked up to pitocin, I was feeling the urge to push.

Now, I remember pushing with Lily.  It was a very painful 45 minutes, but I was well rested and confident in myself.  This time I went into this phase exhausted and scared.  I pushed for 30 minutes, but the whole time I didn’t know if I could make it through.  I had crazy tailbone pain this time (found out why later) and at one point, as I relaxed in between contractions, I just decided that I had to push her out the next time – and I did.  Her head crowned and came out.  I waited for the big *bloop* of the body but it did not come – just more burning – shoulders were stuck and the midwife was doing some fierce tugging to help me out!  Finally, she came out and they put her right on me.

This is where the story takes a marked turn.  When Lily came out she was all bloody and slippery and screaming her head off.  When I looked at her I had no idea who she was – I say this honestly.  I did not recognize her.  It was all such a new experience and I didn’t know how to process it.  They took Lily right away to clean her up and check her out.  All I heard was screaming and screaming from across the room as all this hustle and bustle of nurses scurried around doing their jobs.  This time I was clear that I wanted no separation at anytime and that I only wanted one nurse and one midwife in the room.  When Susannah came out she was warm and quiet.  We rubbed on her to get her to make some noise and she did but quickly quieted and just looked around.  From minute number one, I recognized her – I knew her.  She was very familiar to me.  I don’t know if it had to do with looks or just less frenzy so I was able to really absorb the moment or what but having her there was just what I had envisioned.

She was nursing within 5 minutes of being born and we all were speculating about. . . her weight!!!  She came out looking so. . . hmmm. . . well – ROBUST!  Finally after I nursed her, I asked them to weigh her to satisfy my curiosity – a whopping 9 pounds 6.7 oz!!!!  ”No wonder she had trouble coming down your little pelvis” exclaimed the midwife.

Those of you that read my blog have read about some of the challenges that Lily has thrown my way.  I will say that she was (as much as we adore her) a difficult, “high maintenance” baby.  I fell completely in love with her, but I was working hard too!  I mentioned that I am glad it went that way because it grounded me about what it means to be a parent but this time. . . I wouldn’t mind a little romance – a little bit of those warm fuzzies with my newborn.

After nine days with Susannah, I can say that I am enjoying my peaceful, easy to soothe, quiet, super-nursing baby.  She has yet to cry for more than two minutes at a time!  Thank you Lord for a little baby romance.  It feels good not to be frazzled!