Wow! Catching Up...

Aaron Michael

So the word is out, but I feel the need to blog it nonetheless....Aaron Michael has arrived! Actually, he will be one month old this Friday (!). As is now usual, February was a whirlwind of doctors appointments, abrupt work stoppage and bedrest, delivery dates scheduled and rearranged, and ultimately, the birth of our healthy baby boy. In a nutshell, the day after the Superbowl, I was put on bedrest- thus I had to immediately stop working. In anticipation of such an event, I had cleaned out my office at work the week prior (my practice was moving to a new location while I would be out and I wanted to be in control of moving my own belongings, so I just brought everything home for now). Nonetheless, my office seemed a little surprised that I was out so suddenly (despite the fact that I had been warning them for months that this is how things go down when I am pregnant). No harm done. I'm actually thinking of going back to work, at least part time, sooner than later. I adore being home with Aaron, but I have realized while I've been out, that I really, really like my job. And going into a recession, I'm not sure that I should just throw the job away. But that's a discussion for another post.

Anyway, I was on bedrest for one week (not as delightful as you might think- I cannot stand not being independent, and I was very sad that I had to basically "drop out" of Jake and Noah's daily life, save for hanging out on the couch and reading books- I dig the day to day doings of being their Mommy). Anyway, on 2/11/08, I had another doctors appointment at which they decided that they were too nervous about waiting out my blood pressure and pre-eclampsia (that was developing steadily), so they sent me to the hospital for delivery. While at the hospital, after more tests were conducted, we determined that my situation was stable, although I had already been put on the schedule for surgery, so they were moving forward anyway. Paul and I quickly put the kibosh on that, as the whole point of my stint with the nutritionist, etc, etc, was to avoid a repeat of Noah's troubles by letting this little guy cook as long as possible. Long story short, we discussed our concerns with my awesome doc, and he said that we could wait a few days (assuring us that even extra days help), but said that I was not allowed to go home, and would be admitted to the hospital for monitoring. So I was admitted to the high-risk perinatal unit, where I shared a room with a non-English speaker (thank goodness- I really wasn't in the mood to be making new friends) and I suffered through the most incredible boredom that I'd ever experienced, with horrible hospital television and no internet. I also experienced the most intense homesickness ever- crying every evening when Paul and the boys left to go home. Coupled with anxiety-induced insomnia (did you know that pregnant women can take Ambien? I learned this on day 2 of my stay), I was quite miserable, but tried to remember that I was doing this for the health of my baby. By day 3, my blood pressure was rising despite near constant bedrest, so we made a plan for delivery. Our doctor suggested 2/15 (2 days later), but as that is Noah's birthday, we counter-suggested 2/14- and our doctor was relieved. Apparently, my condition was making them very nervous! So we planned to deliver our new baby the following day, on Valentine's day. The evening of 2/13, Paul brought the boys to visit. I helped them write their Valentine's cards for their friends, and we exchanged cards, gifts, and candy (and I gave Paul his new iPod!). In retrospect, it was a very special evening- and my last with my "2" boys.

Hanging with Jake and Noah for the last time until there are "3"...

On Valentine's Day, we were scheduled for a 10:45a c-section. Paul arrived at the hospital early, and soon after his arrival, we were called by daycare to learn that Noah was vomiting. Of course he was! We diverted Louise, who was en route to the hospital, and Heather picked up Noah and brought him to our house where Louise watched him. Meanwhile, our surgery was delayed for hours d/t a complicated procedure prior to mine. We finally were taken back to the OR around 2:20pm. Aaron Michael was born at 3:04p. He was strong, healthy, and a pound larger than either of my boys! Best of all, for the first time, I got to hold my child after they were born (usually, they were being rushed off to the NICU). Funny thing- I learned that you are in no condition to hold your child immediately following a c-section! I was drugged and nauseated, and was numb up to my hands, so instead of examining Aaron's little fingers and toes like Id imagined a million times, I could only look at his tiny face peeking out of the swaddled bundle that had been laid upon me. But that was okay!

Mommy and baby...

Aaron did end up visiting the NICU for a few hours that evening- his lungs were pretty wet from the c-section, but he was brought to me at 11:45 that evening in good health! After 3 more days in the hospital, we were both sent home!