Addison’s Story & Day 42. 323 Days Left.

She was due December 6th 2007. She had other plans.

First let me begin with pre-pregnancy. A year prior to conceiving Addison, I had to have emergency surgery. This was only a year after the hubby and I were married. I had an ovarian cyst which ruptured. The rupture caused a liter of blood to float around my tummy and chest, causing me to lose consciousness. Everything happened so quickly. I was prepped for surgery and signing a consent for a partial or full hysterectomy.

After my surgery, I remember briefly waking up and seeing my mom and hubby. I looked over and said to my mom “sorry, no grandbabies” and drifted back to sleep.

I spoke with the Dr. who performed the surgery. She did not have to remove either ovary but she suggested after recovery to begin “trying” to conceive because “the road to conception may be very long and difficult due to the damage from the cyst.”

10 months were spent trying. 10 months I drove the hubby crazy with pills, charts, ovulation kits and thermometers. 10 months of phone calls to my girlfriends “I really thought this month was it.” while they tell me to “just relax, it will happen.” And every “just relax” phone call left me wanting to stab a box of puppies. 10 months of peeing on sticks and nothing.

Month 11. While at work I was peeing every 15 minutes. Finally, the 98th time I just knew. On my way home from work I bought another pregnancy test and a 32oz bottle of water. I ran into our tiny apartment and peed on the stick. Before I even put the test down it showed a +. Ok, well that was too fast. Stick #2 +. I ran back up to Walgreen’s and bought a different brand double pack test. Both positive. I remembered seeing the digital tests; so to be certain, before mentioning to the hubby, I ran back up and spent the $30 on the digital tests. It flashed POSITIVE. YES! This is it!

I paced the house trying to figure out the best and most creative way to tell the hubby. I was too excited… I called him at work.

My first trimester was pure hell. My day, every day, consisted of throwing up after every meal, feeling nauseous when I wasn't eating and losing 15 pounds. My OB prescribed something to help with the nausea but as soon as I got home I threw the prescription out. I was not putting any drugs in my body while growing this precious little bundle that I worked so hard to conceive. The first trimester also brought the worst migraines and cramps I've ever experienced. The ones that last all day, all night, and won't let you sleep. After a number of ultrasounds, they determined the baby was growing fine. Nothing was wrong. It was a disaster and I was so glad when it was over. Especially, since hearing and reading the first trimester is the worst. I was looking forward to the second.

Unfortunately, the second was not any better. I was still dealing with the horrible cramps and vomiting. Was pregnancy really supposed to be this difficult? When I hit four months and thought I was out of the clear, I began telling friends and co-workers. It was a Friday. Saturday night I went to bed a little early because I had horrible cramps. I woke up around 12 midnight and had to go pee. The cramps had gotten worse. After peeing I noticed blood. I grab my What To Expect When Your Expecting and thumbed through the pages. I gave it an hour. The bleeding got worse and we ran to the emergency room. The worst moment of my life was signing in: The cause of your visit? I think I am miscarrying (I write with a shaky hand). List your symptoms: Bleeding and severe abdominal cramps for the past hour & half. I am finally seen by the Dr. and taken back for an ultrasound. The baby has a heartbeat. Thank God. The Dr. came in and explained that the chances of us losing the baby within the next 24 hours is 50%. I was put on bed rest for a week.

We arrive home Sunday morning and the hubby and I spent the day in bed; crying. We both call our employers. I take the week off. He takes a couple of days. By the end of the week, everything was fine. The 50% was in our favor. We were truly blessed. After a follow up with my OB we had an ultrasound scheduled. I was now well into my 4th month and the ultrasound done determined we were having a girl! We were so excited. Exactly what we were hoping for! We walked out of the office and called our parents. “We are having a girl. Addison Jean.” We ran to Carter’s and I bought the most perfect little layette for her.

After that trimester I had all the rest of the symptoms. My back was in pain all the time, I always had to pee, exhaustion set in from not sleeping, was never comfortable and I even got an infection.

It was November 21st, 2007. My 28th Birthday. I was 38 weeks. My sister came over to have lunch with me. After finishing the dishes I had to pee. I stand up and a swoosh of water rushes out. “Mon, I think my water broke.” She says, “Are you sure you didn’t pee? It is two weeks early.” “Yes, call the hubby and I will call my OB.” They tell me to head on over to the hospital, they will check me there. I jump in the shower. Meanwhile my sister is screaming at me to get to the hospital. Fine, Mon. I won’t shave my legs". She did make sure I grabbed five towels to sit on so I didn’t get her car seats wet.

We get to the hospital and they do a test wipe. “It is blue. Your water broke.” Happy Birthday to me. I am not dilated. They give me until 8pm Wednesday night. Nothing. They begin the Pitocin drip and get labor started. I had to sleep with the IV in that was hooked up to a line of fluids and monitors on my tummy. Going to the bathroom (which I had to do every 10 minutes because of the fluids) was a whole process altogether: unhooking the machine, unplugging the monitors and dragging the metal thing holding everything. (First they wanted me to use a bed pan- I refused). I finally got a little sleepy and managed to sleep a couple hours at night. Hubby gave up sleeping on the chair and crawled up on the bed next to me.

Thursday, November 22nd. 2007. Thanksgiving. I had a number of visitors. My parents, my sister and a close girlfriend. My girlfriend and I were chatting when suddenly I turn to her and say “Hey, Jay I am feeling a ton of pressure.” She (a nurse) said “don’t push. I am going to get your nurse.” The nurse came in and finally after 26 hours I was 10 centimeters. My nurse called my OB and within seconds I was ready to begin pushing. My Dr. tells the hubby to grab a leg and my girlfriend to grab the other (so much for her Thanksgiving plans). While pushing my sister came into the room to say goodbye. She had to drive back home. I hear her say, “ok were doing this. I guess I can leave a little later”. She grabs my camera and begins snapping pictures. My mom arrives shortly after and the Dr. says “no one else in the room.” It was a circus. My sister runs into the bathroom to grab a cool damp rag for my head and leaves the door open. The giant mirror captures an incredibly perfect shot of Addison crowing. I scream, “Mon shut that door!”

Finally after 2 hours and 40 minutes of pushing she joins us.

Welcome to the world Addison Jean.
Born Thursday, November 22nd 2007. Thanksgiving Day.
At 4:40pm. Weighing 7 pounds 7 ounces. Measuring 19 inches.


So on this special day; your 3rd birthday, I say, I would do every second over again because our lives are more perfect now that you are here.
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Day 42
Happy 3rd Birthday Addison Jean.