Thursday, October 15, 2015

I just had to get past day two


So far, so good with Baby Ben. The C-section surgery went much smoother than the last time, when I felt so much pressure that I deliriously asked the doctor to stop (at which point he knocked me out). Recovery is slow; God bless pain meds.

The hardest part of having Ben was his second day of life. Because that's when Max's seizures started and our lives took a detour through hell. It's normal for babies to shudder and shake, but seeing Ben do so has been unnerving. I told the on-call pediatrician what happened to Max so she'd understand my concern about seizures, and asked her to do an extra-thorough check. I went through the same with Sabrina after she was born.

Ben is fine. Day two of his existence was spectacularly uneventful, other than the arrival of a big poop. (No worries, I won't be reporting on them regularly). Obviously, anything can happen any day...but newborn day two is a mental marker Dave and I needed to get past.

Dave had flashbacks too. At first he was scared to even hold Ben and when he finally picked him up he looked terrified. "I have that time with Max in my head," Dave said, looking sad for a moment. A friend who also has a child with special needs checked in, concerned whether Ben was OK. None of us take a baby's good health for granted.

Day three of Ben's life brought unmitigated bliss. My friend Wendy visited and we celebrated Ben and his cuteness. It felt wondrous to wheel him around the halls of the maternity ward, just like any mom of any newborn.

"Congratulations!" nurses and other parents said, and joy flooded through me...along with relief.

20 comments:

  1. Yay for good health and a big poop! Now you can relax a little and enjoy!

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  2. Prayers, Love & Hugs!!!! You look fabulous :-)

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  3. Congrats on getting past day 2! You and Ben look gorgeous! Think maybe he's a future Brandeisian?!?

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  4. Ellen....
    "Congratulations!", indeed!! ;-D
    That picture of Dave holding Ben.... I love how Max and Sabrina are looking over his shoulders!! {In picture form!!} ;)
    Love you later, Raelyn

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    1. PS. You look beautiful, Mama!! I do mean that. ;-D

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  5. And joy is flowing through me, too. You are truly glowing--you look young, happy and peaceful.

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  6. Congratulations on the big poop. I remember waiting that with much baited breath. Love the smiles. Such a beautiful life affirming time, and even more easily enjoyed from far away (where no poops, difficult latches, or sleeplessness is involved) :-)

    bj

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  7. Yay! Ben is so cute. How does Sabrina like being a big sister? And yes, thank God for pain mess. I just got home from a major surgery(Nissen Fundoplication).

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    1. Kathryn A....
      Nissen Fundoplication? Oh my.... Get well, take care, and be good to yourself!! ;)
      Love you later, Raelyn

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    2. Thank you! it was to fix s hiatal hernia and strength the top of the stomach to stop GERD. I have five incisions. I'm doing better than I was yesterday but the hospital messed up the prescription for pain medication do I currently don't have it! Igh

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    3. Kathryn A....
      A hiatal hernia? I am sorry that you had to suffer through that!! :(
      I was born with congenital diaphragmatic hernia {CDH} and one of my Blogging Friend's little boys--who was also born with congenital diaphragmatic hernia--had to have a Nissen Fundoplication operation.... Not fun. I am glad that you're doing better than yesterday!! ;)
      Love you later, Raelyn

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  8. Ben is beautiful and so are you.

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  9. Awww, such adorable pictures of you and Dave and your newest! I can so relate to this. I also don't (can't?) take the health of a baby for granted and had similar feelings after the births of Oliver and Theo. :) Hugs. Now that day two is past, may there be only joy from here on out!

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  10. So glad mom and Ben are doing well and that you got past day two. May each come with less worry and more bliss. You look fabulous.

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  11. Breathe a sigh of relief and now enjoy the fun stuff!!

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  12. You look so good. And I heard that big sigh of relief all the way to Arkansas. Enjoy your days ahead of smelling their sweet heads. (My fav thing.) I just have to say, with those long toes he could be one of my grands! He's a little doll!! Congrats again!

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  13. You look amazing. So happy for you. Sending loads of love.

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  14. I know I am a bit behind, but I wanted to say congratulations!

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Thanks for sharing!