Ellie loves being right and it's been wonderful for her that she's been the only one right.
She said Ian would be a boy, Bob and I said we didn't know. Lauren voted girl. Shannon said a puppy.
Ellie was the only one right. She comes up and whispers that to Ian now.
I envision her telling him that when she is 74 and he's 70.
Showing posts with label pregnancy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pregnancy. Show all posts
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Friday, February 5, 2010
The exciting arrival of Ian Lawrence
I had previously had a C-section in 2005. I had a successful VBAC in 2007 and I was ready to have another VBAC. I had moved from the area where I had Shannon in 2007. It was much harder to have a VBAC where I live now. I lost track of doctors who wanted to do a repeat C-section despite my VBAC. I found one practice that would take me on as a patient.
I had gone to the doctor on Friday and we made a tentative plan for Wednesday to go in have my water broken as a last ditch attempt to bring on labor. No one knew if it would work but I wanted to know that I did everything I could to avoid a repeat C-section. My doctor was supportive of my plan.
I had woken up at 3:30am and was having mild contractions but I was 41 weeks pregnant and had been having contractions for weeks. I went to the doctor's at 9:30 on Monday. I was 4 cm dialated and the baby was reactive and perfect at the NST. I was also contracting about every 5 minutes. I wouldn't have known if I hadn't been on the monitors. My doctor made some comment about stirring things up my examining me and then said "I'll see you on Wednesday".
I left and went back to work after getting lunch. I got back at 11:30 and had a conversation with my supervisor about how I was going to be pregnant forever. I told her the plan for Wednesday and new I only had to work two more days.
Bob called me at 12:30 and we talked about his mom coming to watch the girls on Tuesday. I agreed to it. I tried to call some of my claimants and at 1:00 I realized I couldn't leave one a message because I was contracting so much. I called Bob at 1:15 and said that I was going to come home at 1:30 because I was having contractions. I remember telling him that I thought I was in early labor.
At 1:30, I leave. I input some leave and print off my timehseet. I'm still having contractions. My supervisor is at a meeting so I need to find a new supervisor. I reject going to some of the guys by me because I thought they would flip out and would want to call 911.
I find Beth and hand her my timesheet. I told her to tell my supervisor I was leaving and I wasn't coming back. She said "Oh, you won't be back today?" And I said "No, I don't think I'm coming back for awhile".
I couldn't find my ID. When you don't have your ID, you have to walk all around the building. I decided I couldn't do this when I came back from my appointment and I remember thinking "I dare someone to say something to me". I have to walk up front and stop in the bathroom. My mucus plug falls out. I leave the bathroom and call Bob and tell him that I don't think I can drive home, why don't you come pick me up. He asks me if I should go to the hospital and I say no.
I walk up the hallway and I'm still having contractions. I call Bob again and tell him that he should still come pick me up but I think we should go to the hospital. He later told me that he had aleady decided we were going to the hospital. He said he'd meet me there.
I go out to my car and sit there and have contractions every 4-5 minutes. I eventually see Bob show up and park behind me. He beeped and I know he might have thought that I didn't see him. I did see him but I couldn't walk out there while having a contraction.
I eventually get in the car and off we go to the hospital. He starts calling the schools telling them Natalie would pick up the girls. I'm still contracting every 4-5 minutes and moaning through them. I make some comment about wondering if they'll keep me. He says they will but I'm not so sure.
We arrive in the hospital parking lot. It is 2:09. We had never gone on the tour so we go to the ER. I was actually further away from L&D. We see his friend walking in the parking lot. He stops and gives her some directions. I take off and get in the door and start asking where L&D is. Someone tells me it is on the 2nd floor. I have to walk down a hallway. At this point, I have to stop every minute and have a contraction.
I keep passing people and Bob joins me. Everyone I pass makes it their mission in life to get me into a wheelchair. I keep declining. I get almost to the lobby and someone tells me it is hospital policy and I need to get into the wheelchair. It's a triple wide wheelchair. I think Bob and I could have ridden in it together. Bob starts pushing me and crashes me into the elevator. I get out and yell "I told you I don't need the stupid wheelchair". I push 2 and I can hear Bob yell "Kris wait" It's too late so I go off by myself.
I still don't know where I'm going so I pass triage and no one is there. I look up and see 4 nurses walking or almost running towards me. I remember one asked me what number baby this was and I said "4". I found out later that someone had called ahead for me.
I get to a room and at some point Bob shows up. I immediately start stripping off my clothes and my shoes. I get on the monitors and decide to shout out some relevant information "2003 vaginal delivery, 2005 C-section, 2007 VBAC, yes I want another VBAC" I'm now 6 cm dilated. I try to crouch down because it helped so much when I had Shannon. It didn't help that time. All I want to do is lay down and hold onto a bar.
They attempt an IV and bloodwork. It never happens. Someone asks me if I want an epidural and I say "No". Five minutes later I change my mind. I'm now 8 cm dilated. I know it's too late but I keep demanindg an epidural and then a c-section.
People keep running in and I loose track of how many people there are. A staff midwife comes in and then later an attending doctor comes in because it's a VBAC.
My doctor's partner comes in. She breaks my water and it's filled with thick meconium. People from the NICU come down for the delivery. Someone tells me what will happen when the baby is born but I can't take it in.
At some point, I'm almost complete but the baby is no longer tolerating labor well. He starts having some decels and someone tosses some oxgyen on me. I think I'm still asking about my epidural. I have to flip to my left side which seems like the hardest thing ever. I do this for about one minute and then I'm in stirrups.
I push once and the head comes out. The doctor told me later that she realized that he's a big baby. I push again and the rest of his body comes flying out. I start asking "What is it?" And I hear Bob yell "it's a boy, Oh, My it's a boy" I briefly think that he must have siad the wrong word but then realize that we had a boy.
He's taken over and assesed by the NICU. He's cleaned off and suctioned again. He never inhaled meconium.
He's weighed and he is 9lbs 12oz and is 22 inches long. He was born at 3:04pm, 55 minutes after we got to the parking lot and one hour and thirty four minutes after I left work. I think I might have set a record. He's the biggest baby born that day.
He's ours and he's beatiful.
I had gone to the doctor on Friday and we made a tentative plan for Wednesday to go in have my water broken as a last ditch attempt to bring on labor. No one knew if it would work but I wanted to know that I did everything I could to avoid a repeat C-section. My doctor was supportive of my plan.
I had woken up at 3:30am and was having mild contractions but I was 41 weeks pregnant and had been having contractions for weeks. I went to the doctor's at 9:30 on Monday. I was 4 cm dialated and the baby was reactive and perfect at the NST. I was also contracting about every 5 minutes. I wouldn't have known if I hadn't been on the monitors. My doctor made some comment about stirring things up my examining me and then said "I'll see you on Wednesday".
I left and went back to work after getting lunch. I got back at 11:30 and had a conversation with my supervisor about how I was going to be pregnant forever. I told her the plan for Wednesday and new I only had to work two more days.
Bob called me at 12:30 and we talked about his mom coming to watch the girls on Tuesday. I agreed to it. I tried to call some of my claimants and at 1:00 I realized I couldn't leave one a message because I was contracting so much. I called Bob at 1:15 and said that I was going to come home at 1:30 because I was having contractions. I remember telling him that I thought I was in early labor.
At 1:30, I leave. I input some leave and print off my timehseet. I'm still having contractions. My supervisor is at a meeting so I need to find a new supervisor. I reject going to some of the guys by me because I thought they would flip out and would want to call 911.
I find Beth and hand her my timesheet. I told her to tell my supervisor I was leaving and I wasn't coming back. She said "Oh, you won't be back today?" And I said "No, I don't think I'm coming back for awhile".
I couldn't find my ID. When you don't have your ID, you have to walk all around the building. I decided I couldn't do this when I came back from my appointment and I remember thinking "I dare someone to say something to me". I have to walk up front and stop in the bathroom. My mucus plug falls out. I leave the bathroom and call Bob and tell him that I don't think I can drive home, why don't you come pick me up. He asks me if I should go to the hospital and I say no.
I walk up the hallway and I'm still having contractions. I call Bob again and tell him that he should still come pick me up but I think we should go to the hospital. He later told me that he had aleady decided we were going to the hospital. He said he'd meet me there.
I go out to my car and sit there and have contractions every 4-5 minutes. I eventually see Bob show up and park behind me. He beeped and I know he might have thought that I didn't see him. I did see him but I couldn't walk out there while having a contraction.
I eventually get in the car and off we go to the hospital. He starts calling the schools telling them Natalie would pick up the girls. I'm still contracting every 4-5 minutes and moaning through them. I make some comment about wondering if they'll keep me. He says they will but I'm not so sure.
We arrive in the hospital parking lot. It is 2:09. We had never gone on the tour so we go to the ER. I was actually further away from L&D. We see his friend walking in the parking lot. He stops and gives her some directions. I take off and get in the door and start asking where L&D is. Someone tells me it is on the 2nd floor. I have to walk down a hallway. At this point, I have to stop every minute and have a contraction.
I keep passing people and Bob joins me. Everyone I pass makes it their mission in life to get me into a wheelchair. I keep declining. I get almost to the lobby and someone tells me it is hospital policy and I need to get into the wheelchair. It's a triple wide wheelchair. I think Bob and I could have ridden in it together. Bob starts pushing me and crashes me into the elevator. I get out and yell "I told you I don't need the stupid wheelchair". I push 2 and I can hear Bob yell "Kris wait" It's too late so I go off by myself.
I still don't know where I'm going so I pass triage and no one is there. I look up and see 4 nurses walking or almost running towards me. I remember one asked me what number baby this was and I said "4". I found out later that someone had called ahead for me.
I get to a room and at some point Bob shows up. I immediately start stripping off my clothes and my shoes. I get on the monitors and decide to shout out some relevant information "2003 vaginal delivery, 2005 C-section, 2007 VBAC, yes I want another VBAC" I'm now 6 cm dilated. I try to crouch down because it helped so much when I had Shannon. It didn't help that time. All I want to do is lay down and hold onto a bar.
They attempt an IV and bloodwork. It never happens. Someone asks me if I want an epidural and I say "No". Five minutes later I change my mind. I'm now 8 cm dilated. I know it's too late but I keep demanindg an epidural and then a c-section.
People keep running in and I loose track of how many people there are. A staff midwife comes in and then later an attending doctor comes in because it's a VBAC.
My doctor's partner comes in. She breaks my water and it's filled with thick meconium. People from the NICU come down for the delivery. Someone tells me what will happen when the baby is born but I can't take it in.
At some point, I'm almost complete but the baby is no longer tolerating labor well. He starts having some decels and someone tosses some oxgyen on me. I think I'm still asking about my epidural. I have to flip to my left side which seems like the hardest thing ever. I do this for about one minute and then I'm in stirrups.
I push once and the head comes out. The doctor told me later that she realized that he's a big baby. I push again and the rest of his body comes flying out. I start asking "What is it?" And I hear Bob yell "it's a boy, Oh, My it's a boy" I briefly think that he must have siad the wrong word but then realize that we had a boy.
He's taken over and assesed by the NICU. He's cleaned off and suctioned again. He never inhaled meconium.
He's weighed and he is 9lbs 12oz and is 22 inches long. He was born at 3:04pm, 55 minutes after we got to the parking lot and one hour and thirty four minutes after I left work. I think I might have set a record. He's the biggest baby born that day.
He's ours and he's beatiful.
Monday, February 1, 2010
Name change is a 'coming
This can no longer be Kristin and the Girly Girls.
Ian Lawrence was born on 2/1/10 at 3:04pm weighing in at 9lbs 12oz and 22 inches long. It was a quick labor as I left work at 1:30pm.
He's definetely a cutie!
Ian Lawrence was born on 2/1/10 at 3:04pm weighing in at 9lbs 12oz and 22 inches long. It was a quick labor as I left work at 1:30pm.
He's definetely a cutie!
Friday, January 29, 2010
I'm a unique creature
I'm four days past my due date. I'm feeling Ok and Omega looks great on the monitors. I had an unnecessary C-section in 2005 so I'm not a canidate for an induction. The only thing I could do at this point is schedule a repeat C-section and I'm not willing to do that. I hated my C-section and would do anything to avoid that at this point.
I have a tentative plan to have my water broken next Wednesday and which point I will be 41 weeks and 2 days. I'm hoping it doesn't come to that but I never thought I'd be four days past my due date either.
The best part of this is when people ask me when my due date is and I tell them last Monday. Ninety-nine percent of the time their mouths drop open in shock. I think I may be the only person they've ever met who has gone past their due date. I just laugh. Omega will come when they are ready and their is nothing I can do to speed that up.
Not the most flattering picture of me but here I am on my due date.
I have a tentative plan to have my water broken next Wednesday and which point I will be 41 weeks and 2 days. I'm hoping it doesn't come to that but I never thought I'd be four days past my due date either.
The best part of this is when people ask me when my due date is and I tell them last Monday. Ninety-nine percent of the time their mouths drop open in shock. I think I may be the only person they've ever met who has gone past their due date. I just laugh. Omega will come when they are ready and their is nothing I can do to speed that up.
Not the most flattering picture of me but here I am on my due date.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Funny Story from Bob
Bob called me at work on Wednesday and we had the following conversation.
Bob: "Hey, Kris are you off on Monday? The kids are off and so am I.
Me: "Yes, I'm off why?"
Bob: "Oh, because I saw a flyer at Ellie's school which said there was going to be skating on Monday. Wouldn't that be fun?"
Me: "Yes, it would. Are you taking both of them? Neither of them have skated and I didn't know you could skate!"
Bob "Well, I figured we could all go."
Me: "And exactly how could I do that? I'm going to be 39 weeks pregnant on Monday!"
Bob "Oh, I forgot! I guess we should go."
It made me laugh a lot. Bob kept saying it was becuase he couldn't see me. He is so not a women. A women would never forget she was 39 weeks pregnant.
Bob: "Hey, Kris are you off on Monday? The kids are off and so am I.
Me: "Yes, I'm off why?"
Bob: "Oh, because I saw a flyer at Ellie's school which said there was going to be skating on Monday. Wouldn't that be fun?"
Me: "Yes, it would. Are you taking both of them? Neither of them have skated and I didn't know you could skate!"
Bob "Well, I figured we could all go."
Me: "And exactly how could I do that? I'm going to be 39 weeks pregnant on Monday!"
Bob "Oh, I forgot! I guess we should go."
It made me laugh a lot. Bob kept saying it was becuase he couldn't see me. He is so not a women. A women would never forget she was 39 weeks pregnant.
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Some Lasts
I will be 39 weeks pregnant on Monday. This will be our last child. There is a thought of completition and also a thought of relief that I never have to do this again.
But in some ways I'm approaching some lasts. This is the last time I will give birth to a baby. It is the last time I will hear someone say "it's ___" and have it pertain to my child. It's the last time I will hold a brand spanking new baby.
It's the last time we will bring home a new baby. It's the last time our children will meet there sibling. It's the last time I will feel a baby kick in my belly.
There are so many lasts that will occur in the week ahead. I'm not sad at all. I'm just acknowledging there are some lasts coming up and I'm trying to savor each and every moment.
My lasts are very little sad endings but more they signal a happy beginning of something new and better.
My friend Joy has experienced some real lasts and it is much different.
But in some ways I'm approaching some lasts. This is the last time I will give birth to a baby. It is the last time I will hear someone say "it's ___" and have it pertain to my child. It's the last time I will hold a brand spanking new baby.
It's the last time we will bring home a new baby. It's the last time our children will meet there sibling. It's the last time I will feel a baby kick in my belly.
There are so many lasts that will occur in the week ahead. I'm not sad at all. I'm just acknowledging there are some lasts coming up and I'm trying to savor each and every moment.
My lasts are very little sad endings but more they signal a happy beginning of something new and better.
My friend Joy has experienced some real lasts and it is much different.
Monday, January 11, 2010
38 weeks pregnant
Here I am with two of my girly girls. The 3rd girly girl was the photographer.
My littlest girl is kind of possessive of me.
My littlest girl is kind of possessive of me.
It's not fair
I just found out a girl I work with and who was due one day before me went and had her baby already.
Don't you know that hearing that someone had their baby at 36 weeks and I'm still looking like a whale at 38 weeks does nothing to help me?
Well, it's not like I really expect to have a baby early. I just hope for on time at this point. My history does not lend itself to early babies.
Lauren was born on her due date, not induced or anything. It does happen.
Ellie was born two days after her due date.
Shannon was born two days before her due date.
I guess I should give my self until 1/23 until I get antsy.
Don't you know that hearing that someone had their baby at 36 weeks and I'm still looking like a whale at 38 weeks does nothing to help me?
Well, it's not like I really expect to have a baby early. I just hope for on time at this point. My history does not lend itself to early babies.
Lauren was born on her due date, not induced or anything. It does happen.
Ellie was born two days after her due date.
Shannon was born two days before her due date.
I guess I should give my self until 1/23 until I get antsy.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Family Poll
We took a poll tonight to see what Omega is. Here is the breakdown.
1 vote for girl (that would be Lauren)
1 vote for boy (that would be Ellie)
2 votes for undecided (that would be Kristin and Bob)
1 vote for a puppy (that would be Shannon and I can say with 100% certainty that she's wrong)
Shannon also likes to say that "we going to have a baby. Then, we going to buy a puppy" I have no idea where she came up with that but it is entirely UNTRUE. There will be no puppies in this house for a very long time.
1 vote for girl (that would be Lauren)
1 vote for boy (that would be Ellie)
2 votes for undecided (that would be Kristin and Bob)
1 vote for a puppy (that would be Shannon and I can say with 100% certainty that she's wrong)
Shannon also likes to say that "we going to have a baby. Then, we going to buy a puppy" I have no idea where she came up with that but it is entirely UNTRUE. There will be no puppies in this house for a very long time.
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Shocking
I was walking in the lobby of my work and someone asked me when I was due and I replied with the standard end of January. They asked the next standard question "what are you having?" Thankfully it wasn't followed by the "OMG, are you sure it's not twins remark"
But when I replied and said "I don't know, we'll find out in January" she was absolutely shocked. She said "they let you do that?" It's not the first time and I'm sure it won't be the last. It always makes me laugh. People think that it must be against the law to not know and to chose to find out at delivery. Contrary to popular belief, you are allowed to not know and your doctor doesn't pin you down screaming "it's a" at the ultrasound.
Less than 7 weeks to go and I am ready!
But when I replied and said "I don't know, we'll find out in January" she was absolutely shocked. She said "they let you do that?" It's not the first time and I'm sure it won't be the last. It always makes me laugh. People think that it must be against the law to not know and to chose to find out at delivery. Contrary to popular belief, you are allowed to not know and your doctor doesn't pin you down screaming "it's a" at the ultrasound.
Less than 7 weeks to go and I am ready!
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Sigh.............!
Don't tell a pregnant woman how she's become giantic in the last week. No good can come of that!
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
30 Weeks Yesterday
I am 30 weeks pregnant as of yesterday. It means several things to me such as I only have 10 more weeks of being pregnant. I am always pregnant until the end (or the bitter end as I often refer to it as.
However, more importantly I feel more relaxed as of 30 weeks. The cusp of viability has been pushed to almost 23 weeks. I've reviewed many claims of 23 week micropreemies. I always stand in amazement at the fragility and preserverence of life.
But I don't want to have a micropreemie. I am thankful for every day that I am pregnant because it is one more day for those organs and lungs to develop. At 30 weeks, I feel confident that I would eventually bring home a baby even with a NICU stay.
I'm still shocked that I'm having another baby in a mere 10 weeks. Maybe I should consider buying somthing. It might make it real.
However, more importantly I feel more relaxed as of 30 weeks. The cusp of viability has been pushed to almost 23 weeks. I've reviewed many claims of 23 week micropreemies. I always stand in amazement at the fragility and preserverence of life.
But I don't want to have a micropreemie. I am thankful for every day that I am pregnant because it is one more day for those organs and lungs to develop. At 30 weeks, I feel confident that I would eventually bring home a baby even with a NICU stay.
I'm still shocked that I'm having another baby in a mere 10 weeks. Maybe I should consider buying somthing. It might make it real.
Monday, November 9, 2009
It's a baby! In a belly!
Shannon has a baby in her belly. It can be a boy baby, a girl baby, a Barbie, and a titty-tat.
Lauren had a baby in her belly when I was pregnant with Shannon and she was four. I asked her if she had a baby in her belly now. She looked at me like that was the most ridiculous question she had ever heard. I guess the answer is no.
Lauren had a baby in her belly when I was pregnant with Shannon and she was four. I asked her if she had a baby in her belly now. She looked at me like that was the most ridiculous question she had ever heard. I guess the answer is no.
Monday, November 2, 2009
No visitors
Omega will not be having any visitors at the hospital. A new policy was announced recently at our hopsital stating no visitors under age 16 due to H1N1. I'm thinking that it will not be lifted by the end of January.
The good thing is that Lauren doesn't do well with hospitals and she flipped out when she came to visit Shannon. I know don't have to worry about that and wonder if I should just not have Lauren visit. Descision made for me.
Since the kids can't visit, I'm out of there at 24 hours. And since the kids can't come visit then no one else is coming either except Bob of course.
The good thing is that Lauren doesn't do well with hospitals and she flipped out when she came to visit Shannon. I know don't have to worry about that and wonder if I should just not have Lauren visit. Descision made for me.
Since the kids can't visit, I'm out of there at 24 hours. And since the kids can't come visit then no one else is coming either except Bob of course.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
My big ultrasound
It was a few weeks ago. I had the big, middle of the pregnancy ultrasound. It is now the 4th time of had this ultrasound. In scientific, doctor and insurance type terms, it is an anatomical ultrasound. That's why most insurance companies pay for it.
But it's not why most people have it. Most people are concerned with finding out what type of baby they are having: a boy baby or a girl baby.
We've chosen not to find out so I was only concerned with how healthy the baby appeared to be. I've learned much since I had Lauren and I can see that health is a relative term. I've seen that disabilities are on a spectrum, some disabilities simply make life harder (which is where, on a good day, I consider Lauren's to fall) and others are life altering and sadly life ending which my friend Joy has experience first handed.
I've learned that the health of my baby is something that I took for granted at one time. I never expected to have a child with issues. My perfect child was going to follow those developmental milestones to the T. It was going to sit up at exactly 6 months, walk at on it's first birthday. It would do this all, on its own without any intervention from anyone let alone me. I was only going to clap and beam in admiration as my perfect child did what it was supposed to do when it was supposed to do it. And that's generally what happens. I have two typically developing children and they have done that.
Obviously, that's not what happened with Lauren. She didn't do what she was supposed to do. She did meet those milestones but on the late end. I always joked at 15 months that she waited for the last hour to be in the normal range. It was funny at 15 months but at 4 not so much. There was just something off with Lauren, something that I couldn't quite put my finger on but it was there. I closed my eyes and shut my ears. But I couldn't do that forever.
Eventually, I ran face to face with the fact that Lauren had obvious (to everyone but me) delays. I can vividly remember her first IEP (Individualized Educational Plan- a lay out of special education services a child will receive) I sat at that meeting and waited to hear about her significant speech delays. They talked about her speech delays of course but they just kept going. She had significant fine motor skills delays, gross motor delays. She was socially where she was supposed to be.
I still remember leaving that meeting and feel like I wanted to jump off a bridge. I hadn't signed up for this and I was suddenly thrust in a strange world that I wasn't exactly sure I belonged. I desperately tried to explain that this was all a mistake. I mean, she just had speech delays.
That was just about 3 years ago now. Lauren has made dramatic improvements. We've made choices that I never thought I would have made. I never would have dreamed I would have put my just turned four year old a narcotic. I never would have thought that my life would be ruled by therapy schedules. I never would have thought that I would have put her in a dance class for kids 2-3 years younger than her and just been happy that she's dancing and now what her ability is.
Anway, when I stared at Omega on that screen, I thought about all of this. I simply sighed and was thankful that his or her brain appeared normal, its heart appeared normal, and all its vital where there and in the righ places. Seven years later and that's enough for me.
But it's not why most people have it. Most people are concerned with finding out what type of baby they are having: a boy baby or a girl baby.
We've chosen not to find out so I was only concerned with how healthy the baby appeared to be. I've learned much since I had Lauren and I can see that health is a relative term. I've seen that disabilities are on a spectrum, some disabilities simply make life harder (which is where, on a good day, I consider Lauren's to fall) and others are life altering and sadly life ending which my friend Joy has experience first handed.
I've learned that the health of my baby is something that I took for granted at one time. I never expected to have a child with issues. My perfect child was going to follow those developmental milestones to the T. It was going to sit up at exactly 6 months, walk at on it's first birthday. It would do this all, on its own without any intervention from anyone let alone me. I was only going to clap and beam in admiration as my perfect child did what it was supposed to do when it was supposed to do it. And that's generally what happens. I have two typically developing children and they have done that.
Obviously, that's not what happened with Lauren. She didn't do what she was supposed to do. She did meet those milestones but on the late end. I always joked at 15 months that she waited for the last hour to be in the normal range. It was funny at 15 months but at 4 not so much. There was just something off with Lauren, something that I couldn't quite put my finger on but it was there. I closed my eyes and shut my ears. But I couldn't do that forever.
Eventually, I ran face to face with the fact that Lauren had obvious (to everyone but me) delays. I can vividly remember her first IEP (Individualized Educational Plan- a lay out of special education services a child will receive) I sat at that meeting and waited to hear about her significant speech delays. They talked about her speech delays of course but they just kept going. She had significant fine motor skills delays, gross motor delays. She was socially where she was supposed to be.
I still remember leaving that meeting and feel like I wanted to jump off a bridge. I hadn't signed up for this and I was suddenly thrust in a strange world that I wasn't exactly sure I belonged. I desperately tried to explain that this was all a mistake. I mean, she just had speech delays.
That was just about 3 years ago now. Lauren has made dramatic improvements. We've made choices that I never thought I would have made. I never would have dreamed I would have put my just turned four year old a narcotic. I never would have thought that my life would be ruled by therapy schedules. I never would have thought that I would have put her in a dance class for kids 2-3 years younger than her and just been happy that she's dancing and now what her ability is.
Anway, when I stared at Omega on that screen, I thought about all of this. I simply sighed and was thankful that his or her brain appeared normal, its heart appeared normal, and all its vital where there and in the righ places. Seven years later and that's enough for me.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Becoming a Big Family
We have officially crossed the line into a big family. Two is typical. Three is larger than two but we know many three kid families.
However, four children is a large family. There is no way around it. We are very happy to be headed into the large family range.
Anyway, I am 23 weeks pregnant and due on January 25, 2010. No, we don't know what it is. Yes, they do still let you not know. Yes, I'm sure it's not twins.
But don't worry we call the baby: Omega. That means the end.
However, four children is a large family. There is no way around it. We are very happy to be headed into the large family range.
Anyway, I am 23 weeks pregnant and due on January 25, 2010. No, we don't know what it is. Yes, they do still let you not know. Yes, I'm sure it's not twins.
But don't worry we call the baby: Omega. That means the end.
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