Monday, January 4, 2010

Monday Musings-January 4, 2010 (I'm Back)

Dear Carolina Panthers,


Where have you been hiding all season? Unfortunately, I was on the road during your big, heaping serving of "whoop-arse" to the Giants. 41-9? Wow! We were able to catch updates on ESPN radio and with Mr. Sister's many phone calls made during the game.


Yesterday's game was just as fun. Don't you just love being the "spoiler"? I know, the Saints will still have home field advantage during the playoffs but you just knocked them off their pedestal a wee bit. 


Matt Moore, it appears Jake has taught you well. Let's all hope that this momentum will carry on into next season. Here's to next year!


Your ardent fan,


Mrs. Sister


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Happy Birthday Bethany


15 years ago, December 28, 1994 to be exact, our lovely daughter decided to grace this world with her presence. Well, not by choice, anyway. Oh she was just a bit too comfortable hanging out in mommy's womb. Try as I might, nothing I did triggered labor. Mr. Sister was really wanting an early tax deduction so we selected this date as the day to get things rolling. 


Early Wednesday morning we showed up at the hospital and Dr. Jones "broke" my water. Did that start my contractions? NO! Bethany was content staying in her warm and cozy cocoon. After a couple of hours they decided to administer Pitocin. Pitocin is what is given to prompt contractions and make them stronger. Okay, so I now had really strong, painful contractions but Bethany, being true to her stubborn nature, stayed put. Now the battle was begun...the more they increased the dose of Pit, the more Bethany held her ground...and the more pain I felt (back labor is not for the faint of heart). Finally, my cervix began to ephase and I could receive the miracle of an epidural.  That anesthesiologist was my angel in disguise! It still took several more hours but finally, 12 hours from the time we arrived at the hospital, our beautiful girl was born. Mr. Sister got to hold her 1st, sing her her 1st song and give her her 1st kiss.


They eventually handed her to me when Mr. Sister finally relented. What a beautiful, perfect, little baby! But I was oh sooooo tired...could I just close my eyes for a little nap I asked the nurses. Unbeknownst to me, I was hemorrhaging. The nurses rushed Mr. Sister out of the room and sweet little Bethany to the nursery. I'm unsure if Mr. Sister realized the gravity of the situation at this point but he certainly did when he returned to the room to find me gone and the room awash in blood. They had taken me immediately to surgery. The doctors assumed the bleeding came from cervical tears. They fixed me up and wheeled me to the recovery room where the continued effects of the Pitocin was causing my whole lower body to perform the tango on its own. 


I continued to be weak and extremely fatigued. All the other new moms were bursting with energy and I was very jealous. When I was discharged home I still just wanted to sleep. I continued to seep blood over the course of the next couple of weeks. I was just going through the motions of new motherhood when I started to pass large clots of blood. I called the doctor's office but kept getting the "brush off". Finally, by week 4, one of the doctors agreed to see me. It was a rare, snowy NC day when I drove into Charlotte. They performed an ultrasound and found that there was a bit of retained placenta. Did they admit me? No. They sent me home on antibiotics. 


Now you have to understand. I was losing a lot of blood. Blood carries oxygen to the vital organs and my brain was not receiving the oxygen it needed to function properly so I didn't even think to question this decision. When I arrived home, nursed Bethany and put her down...I then hemorrhaged severely. It was like someone pulled the plug!  I was losing so much blood! I had the foresight to grab the phone, head to the bathroom, lay on the floor with my feet propped up on the tub and call 911. While passing in and out of consciousness I was also able to reach Mr. Sister (who beat the ambulance to our home, by the way) I had lost so much blood that my vascular system "collapsed" and the medics had an extremely difficult time starting an IV. I was in hypovolemic shock. When I arrived to the hospital my hemoglobin was found to be 4 (normal is > 12). I was rushed to surgery and  received several units of blood. When I woke up I was a whole new person! Oh the energy! I was more than ready to take on the responsibilities of parenthood! It truly was like coming out of the darkness into the light of day! 


So that, my friends, is the story of Bethany's birth. I was extremely blessed that she was such a good baby and didn't require too much from me those 1st few weeks. We have more than made up for it since!


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Update on Larry


As most of you know I spent all of last week in Topeka to help out my sister Carrie and her family. They gave Larry a "sedation holiday" last Monday. He never came around. It was decided to go ahead and "pull" the tube that was helping him to breathe on the ventilator. He continued to breathe on his own and he was moved to the palliative care floor. The following day, he was discharged to a hospice facility that was much more comfortable for him and his family. As of this writing, he is still hanging in there but his death is imminent. We are now praying for a peaceful death and for the comfort and care of his family during this difficult time. I hated to leave Carrie but I am the one who still has young kids that need to be in school. I hope and pray that I am able to return for the memorial service but don't know if that will be feasible. I would like to thank each and every one of you for your prayers, good thoughts, well wishes, words of encouragement, etc. You have been a God send for me and for my sister and her family. May God bless you all!



27 comments:

Julie Kwiatkowski Schuler said...

What a frightening story! I was really paranoid of hemorrhages and blood clots in my legs after both of my children were born. It's also a bit shocking how much bleeding is within the range of normal (shudder!) Sure it's a miracle, but all in all, I'm glad we're not doing THAT again!
Happy Birthday Bethany!

I am sorry to hear about Larry. I wish him peace and comfort.

Weezer said...

Your story of Bethany's birth is similar to one I have of Jessica's but YES, yours is more dramatic. I'll have to tell you sometime. Haven't you found, though, that going through that experience to be able to raise and love her has made the two of you closer?! What fun would a normal 1-2-3 birth be, anyway!?
As always, peace and prayers, my friend. I'm glad to have you back.

Anonymous said...

Your story about your birth is very scary. Praise God it all worked out! And Happy Birthday to Bethany!!!!!

I'm so sorry about your BIL....prayers for your family.

Liz Mays said...

Wow, Bethany's entrance to the world was quite unforgettable. If she ever gives you crap, just remind her of that! ;)

Happy New Year and welcome back!

Betty Manousos said...

Really scary story of Bethany's birth, Polly.
Happy Birthday Bethany!!
love and hugs!

Lee said...

I haven't been around, and I am so sorry to hear about your BIL. I know how hard this is for your family, and my thoughts are with you for an easy passing.

Did the Texans make it to the playoffs??

Anonymous said...

welcome back!

pitocin is the devil. and childbirth can be downright scary.

so sorry about your BIL--praying for your family.

Katie said...

Pregnant women don't like birth stories like that...LOL!! Glad everything worked out in the end and that you have an amazing daughter.

Your family, most especially your sister and her family, are in my thoughts and prayers.

Unknown said...

Katie! I'm so sorry. I did not mean to scare you! My apologies. This was a rare occurrence that would have only happened to me.

♥♥ tuğçe♥♥ said...

happy birthday to Bethany prayers for ur family i am glad that u are back
lots of loves and hugs

Lissaloo said...

Happy late birthday to Bethany!
I'm sorry to her about Larry, your family and his are in my prayers.

Anonymous said...

Happy Late birthday to Bethany...what an entrance she made. I'm so sorry to hear about Larry. Please know my thoughts and Aloha are with you all. Love your letter to the Carolina Panthers :)

Tattoos and Teething Rings said...

Your delivery of Bethany (Happy Birthday, by the way!) sounds very similar to my delivery of Aiven- must be something about those stubborn first born girls!

On a different note, I'm very sorry to hear about your brother in law, I can only pray that he goes with peace and love.

Kathleen said...

LOL on Mr. Sister getting in that final tax deduction!

Will continue to pray for peace for Larry and your entire family!

thamesarino said...

I haven't been "around" much lately, but was happy to see a new post from you.
I'm so sorry to hear about your BIL. I have you all in my thoughts, that his passing will be as gentle as possible. Much love to you, your sister, and whole family.
Bethany's birth story is scary. It is amazing to me how little regard doctors can have for women and their knowledge of thier own bodies. I'm sorry that you had such a rough start, but I am glad that you made it out without getting some awful infection!!
and Happy Birthday to Bethany! I know that my mom jokes all the time about how it was just like me to wait until the last second to give my parents that tax deduction(Dec 31rst!!). : ) But they were glad to get it! : )

Bibi @ Bibi's Culinary Journey said...

Happy Birthday, Bethany....15,wow.
You and her had rough beginning that's for sure.

I am sorry to hear about you BIL. It's terrible, but I hope he'll die in peace so it can be little bit easier on his family as well.

Holly Lefevre said...

Happy birthday to Bethany.

So, so sorry to hear about Larry. More prayers and good wishes your way.

BashfulToast said...

Happy Birthday Bethany! Wow, what a story! I'm glad you were alright. If you think something is wrong with your body I think the doctors should have to see you! My mom told me she was in labor for me for almost two days. It sounds so painful but i'm excited to be a mom! Not for a good few years of course! And I say my prayers for sister and her family! Come by my blog for an award!

Unknown said...

Still praying for your family!

Your birth story beats mine... though I also hemorrhaged, it was controlled quickly... I didn't even need a transfusion.

I agree about the energy thing. When my second one came, I had so much more energy - but I didn't almost bleed to death either.

:) Hope you have a great day! Welcome back!

ballast photography said...

Polly, your Bethany and my Brandon were born exactly one week apart. Your birth story is horrific! I am so glad you came out of it OK.

And, like I already told you, I am praying for your family and will continue to do so.

Good to have you back!

Jephy's Mom said...

My son Luke would also have been 15 on December 20th. Bethany seems so grown up, I had no idea she was the same age as he would have been. We lost Luke in 2006.

So sorry to hear about Larry and your sister.

Corrie Howe said...

Wow! I've never heard a story like that. I'm glad that you and Bethany are doing well after this.

I'm sorry to hear about Larry. I will continue to pray for your sister and her family.

Jimmie said...

Wow, that is quite a story! As if the birth of your daughter wasn't unforgettable enough, there was all the other excitement added as well. I am sure looking back on the past 15 years with your daughter that it was all worth it (not preferred, but worth it).

Yeah, your panthers had a strong december. Like all true sports fans with teams who didn't do so hot this year, we can always say "There's always next year, and I can't wait until the draft!" I am a 49ers fan, and we just finished our first .500 season in a long time; shouldn't really be excited about that but I still am.

Take care, God bless!

L.B. said...

Matt Moore might be the real deal. I think Delhomme is done and it would have been a big area of concern to go into the offseason with a huge hole at quarterback and possibly a coaching vacancy. But Moore could be the starter next season which, if he plays like he has been, would be good. The whole John Fox situation has to be figured out, though. Either he gets an extension or he walks.

I'd love for him to walk... all the way to Chicago ;) Nah, I'm being harsh on Lovie Smith. I don't want him to be fired but the team collapsed this year and fell waaaaay short of expectations.

Anyway, I'm sure you were able to enjoy the last part of the season more than the first part, and how you have hope for next season.

Tracie said...

What a dramatic birth story. I'm glad you finally received the medical intervention you needed. I hope your daughter had a very Happy Birthday.

I'm so sorry to hear about your BIL's condition. Prayers to him and the rest of your family.

Erin said...

Oh goodness! You had a time of it with her, didn't you?

I have been waiting for your update on Larry. I will pray that he will leave this world in peace and that your family's hearts will heal.

Jenn Erickson said...

Happy Mama-birthday! What a harrowing birth story. I'm so glad it has a happy ending for both mother and child.

I'm so sorry to hear what your family has been through over the holidays. I wish you, your family, and especially Larry, peace and my prayers.

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