Welcome Alex
I'm typing this whole sitting next to the fourth most beautiful baby I've ever laid my eyes upon. Alex Michael Budesheim was born on Christmas Eve at 5:26am. He weighed 8 pounds 15.6 ounces (rounded up to 9 pounds by the computer) and was 20.5 inches long. After months of meticulous planning of days and vacation schedules for Greg and the infamous "I do not want to be in the hospital for Christmas" quote, that was uttered quite a few times by yours truly, my second December baby proved to be just like his big sister...headstrong with his own agenda.
Travel back in time with me, will you? It all started a week ago today.
Greg had contracted some sort of evil stomach bug. It was awful and I felt terrible for him. When I woke up that morning, I was immediately nauseated, but figured it was either a) a pregnancy thing, or b) all in my head, so I continued on with my morning. 8am, I stopped continuing on with my morning and started on my 12 hour run with the virus... I guess it wasn't option A or B. Great. What a miserable virus! Add being 39 weeks pregnant into the mix and you get a very miserable, very unhappy Lisa. I was unable to keep anything down and soon began to have contractions, strong ones, but there was no pattern and I couldn't really time them. So, I figured at some point I'd be able to get some water in me and they would stop. Ha. Foolish Lisa.
Unfortunately, the world didn't stop when we both got sick and we still had 3 kids to take care of. God bless them, they were complete angels that day. Thanks, guys. I guess the bright side of Greg getting sick early in the morning was the fact that he was that far ahead of me with being sick so he was already starting to feel better and was a bit more functional. So, we were able to get it done for a bit. My parents came and fed them dinner and got them ready for bed and kept them occupied for a bit (which did them both in a few days later) while Greg and I got some rest. It was at this point that I developed the worst body aches and a slight fever. The contractions were worse at this point, as I had nothing to drink all day. I started to think that this would be a huge problem if I didn't nip it, so I had some water and some coke. Not nearly enough to rehydrate, but I thought it was a good start.
After we put the kids to bed, I took a hot shower and felt better. So I took another. I took a total of 5 showers that night, the few minutes of temporary pain relief that they provided were wonderful. I tried in vain for hours to get comfortable, but the body aches were unbearable. I went into the family room to try and get comfortable and to try and ignore these body aches. When these body aches came and went every 5-7 minutes, I caught on. So, for about an hour, I debated on whether to call the doctor. I looked at the clock; 1am. It was Christmas Eve. Many a times during my pregnancy, I voiced not wanting to be in the hospital on Christmas... Many, many times. I knew for a fact that if I went in to the hospital, that my doctor would section me, for we had a conversation about this a week prior at my routine checkup. Having my section that day, meant missing Jack, Emma, and Sara open their presents. It meant missing my family, it meant that all of the planning that I put into this time of year would be kaput. And at that very moment; I didn't care. So, I woke Greg, took yet another shower, called my parents and waited while the events of the past 24 hours replayed in my head.
We got to the hospital around 2am. Upon hearing my virus story, I was immediately hooked to an IV. I was also hooked up to the monitor, my nemesis. For some reason, the monitor barely picks up my contractions and today was no exception. I recall coming down from a monster contraction and the nurse says, " looks like they are going away. Am I right?". I wanted to kill her. I was monitored for an hour and I felt no difference in my contractions, even with the, at this point, 3 bags of saline they pumped into me (yes, 3 bags in an hour... I was in bad shape), so the doc made the call. We were officially getting ready to have a Christmas Eve baby. At this point, had to finally use the restroom. I couldn't move. It hurt so bad to walk, it took me forever to move, first or of bed and then to the restroom. That is when I first heard the term "back labor". And boy, I want to NEVER hear it again. What a painful nightmare.
Surgery was imminent so I began to get prepped. Was wheeled into the OR, and given the spinal. Of course, there was a problem with it and they had to move it. Once placement was set, my BP dropped very low, so they had to give me meds. Well, my IV infiltrated and they had to quickly find a new vein. I have terrible veins AND was still dehydrated, so quickly didn't happen. They finally were ready to get started and I was just minutes away from seeing YOU, Alex Michael. Daddy walked in, and surgery began.
This was the toughest section yet. Partially because of terrible amounts of scar tissue, partially because the baby was so far back, so it was very uncomfortable for me. At one point, it felt like my doctor was standing on my chest. Good times. After a lot of pulling and pressure, Alex came into this world. I hate having to wait to see him. Everyone was commenting on his full head of hair and on his weight and there I was, just wanting to catch a glimpse. It felt like forever, and it was only a brief moment but I did get to lay my eyes on you and let me tell you, it never gets old. Seeing a new baby...my new baby for the first time. Never. Gets. Old.
The following few hours are a blur of nurses and doctors and itching and benedryl. I didn't really get a good look at you, Alex, until the next day when I was up comfortable holding you.
The three came to see you later that day and were enthralled and so in love. It was a cool thing to see my four kids together for the first time. 6 days later, is still pretty cool.
39 weeks, meticulous planning, a relatively easy pregnancy, a stomach bug that made it way more dramatic than it needed to be, and that is that. You are here and our family is wonderfully complete. Welcome Alex. Welcome to the family. I've waited 10 months to hold you and look into those beautiful eyes, and I don't plan on stopping any time soon. I love you, my fourth little bird.... Now, always and forever....
Travel back in time with me, will you? It all started a week ago today.
Greg had contracted some sort of evil stomach bug. It was awful and I felt terrible for him. When I woke up that morning, I was immediately nauseated, but figured it was either a) a pregnancy thing, or b) all in my head, so I continued on with my morning. 8am, I stopped continuing on with my morning and started on my 12 hour run with the virus... I guess it wasn't option A or B. Great. What a miserable virus! Add being 39 weeks pregnant into the mix and you get a very miserable, very unhappy Lisa. I was unable to keep anything down and soon began to have contractions, strong ones, but there was no pattern and I couldn't really time them. So, I figured at some point I'd be able to get some water in me and they would stop. Ha. Foolish Lisa.
Unfortunately, the world didn't stop when we both got sick and we still had 3 kids to take care of. God bless them, they were complete angels that day. Thanks, guys. I guess the bright side of Greg getting sick early in the morning was the fact that he was that far ahead of me with being sick so he was already starting to feel better and was a bit more functional. So, we were able to get it done for a bit. My parents came and fed them dinner and got them ready for bed and kept them occupied for a bit (which did them both in a few days later) while Greg and I got some rest. It was at this point that I developed the worst body aches and a slight fever. The contractions were worse at this point, as I had nothing to drink all day. I started to think that this would be a huge problem if I didn't nip it, so I had some water and some coke. Not nearly enough to rehydrate, but I thought it was a good start.
After we put the kids to bed, I took a hot shower and felt better. So I took another. I took a total of 5 showers that night, the few minutes of temporary pain relief that they provided were wonderful. I tried in vain for hours to get comfortable, but the body aches were unbearable. I went into the family room to try and get comfortable and to try and ignore these body aches. When these body aches came and went every 5-7 minutes, I caught on. So, for about an hour, I debated on whether to call the doctor. I looked at the clock; 1am. It was Christmas Eve. Many a times during my pregnancy, I voiced not wanting to be in the hospital on Christmas... Many, many times. I knew for a fact that if I went in to the hospital, that my doctor would section me, for we had a conversation about this a week prior at my routine checkup. Having my section that day, meant missing Jack, Emma, and Sara open their presents. It meant missing my family, it meant that all of the planning that I put into this time of year would be kaput. And at that very moment; I didn't care. So, I woke Greg, took yet another shower, called my parents and waited while the events of the past 24 hours replayed in my head.
We got to the hospital around 2am. Upon hearing my virus story, I was immediately hooked to an IV. I was also hooked up to the monitor, my nemesis. For some reason, the monitor barely picks up my contractions and today was no exception. I recall coming down from a monster contraction and the nurse says, " looks like they are going away. Am I right?". I wanted to kill her. I was monitored for an hour and I felt no difference in my contractions, even with the, at this point, 3 bags of saline they pumped into me (yes, 3 bags in an hour... I was in bad shape), so the doc made the call. We were officially getting ready to have a Christmas Eve baby. At this point, had to finally use the restroom. I couldn't move. It hurt so bad to walk, it took me forever to move, first or of bed and then to the restroom. That is when I first heard the term "back labor". And boy, I want to NEVER hear it again. What a painful nightmare.
Surgery was imminent so I began to get prepped. Was wheeled into the OR, and given the spinal. Of course, there was a problem with it and they had to move it. Once placement was set, my BP dropped very low, so they had to give me meds. Well, my IV infiltrated and they had to quickly find a new vein. I have terrible veins AND was still dehydrated, so quickly didn't happen. They finally were ready to get started and I was just minutes away from seeing YOU, Alex Michael. Daddy walked in, and surgery began.
This was the toughest section yet. Partially because of terrible amounts of scar tissue, partially because the baby was so far back, so it was very uncomfortable for me. At one point, it felt like my doctor was standing on my chest. Good times. After a lot of pulling and pressure, Alex came into this world. I hate having to wait to see him. Everyone was commenting on his full head of hair and on his weight and there I was, just wanting to catch a glimpse. It felt like forever, and it was only a brief moment but I did get to lay my eyes on you and let me tell you, it never gets old. Seeing a new baby...my new baby for the first time. Never. Gets. Old.
The following few hours are a blur of nurses and doctors and itching and benedryl. I didn't really get a good look at you, Alex, until the next day when I was up comfortable holding you.
The three came to see you later that day and were enthralled and so in love. It was a cool thing to see my four kids together for the first time. 6 days later, is still pretty cool.
39 weeks, meticulous planning, a relatively easy pregnancy, a stomach bug that made it way more dramatic than it needed to be, and that is that. You are here and our family is wonderfully complete. Welcome Alex. Welcome to the family. I've waited 10 months to hold you and look into those beautiful eyes, and I don't plan on stopping any time soon. I love you, my fourth little bird.... Now, always and forever....
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