Benjamin is TWO!

Ben turned two on November 4th. I was able to be off from work that day and spent some special time with him and remembering the months prior to his birth. From the beginning August to mid-October in 2006 I was very ill. I spent many weeks in the hospital, including my birthday, I had pneumonia, lost 70 pounds, and had surgery to remove my gall bladder in September of that year. The surgeon said he could see my baby when he was operating on me. I couldn’t process food. I threw up a lot, once for 26 hours straight – every 10-15 minutes. Nurses cried for me. I had a feeding tube, a pain pump, two pic lines, and many, many drugs. There was a specialist on drug addiction involved in my case, he told me that I would go into detox and my baby would be born addicted, he wore a Porsche tie, he was rude. I had a home care nurse when I was able to be at home, but almost every time I went home, I was back in the hospital within 24-48 hours. I had pre-term labor 3 times, I rode in an ambulance, my children didn’t want to see me in the hospital and were angry with Walter when he had to take me…over and over. I looked awful. (There is so much more to this story that I could tell, but this is not the time or place! So many people helped us during the time I was sick, and God was ever-obviously present.)

Through all of that I had many ultrasounds to check on Benjamin. He was always healthy, never fazed or affected by what was going on outside my womb. He grew normally.

On November 4th, 2006, I had trouble sleeping, at 2 am I had to go to the bathroom and when I had finished, labor struck intensely. I could hardly walk to the living room to get Walter. We called our neighbor to come sit with Ethan and Dan and Jeannie to come to the house for the rest of the night and next day. We called my mom and told her to come to the hospital. She wanted to be at one of my births and this would be her last chance. We paged Dr. Wolanski and were in the car on the way to the interstate when he called back. He asked to speak with me and after asking a few questions said, “How long will it take you to get to the hospital?” I could tell that he knew where this was going…I wasn’t due for two weeks, but this was it. He told us to hurry and he would meet us there.

We arrived at the hospital just after 3 am. The contractions were really hard and fast. Walter went to park the car while a security guard took me to Labor and delivery. I saw Dr. Wolanski walk into the ward just as I was going into my room. It took about ten minutes for them to get me settled in the bed and Dr. W. came in. He wanted to check me and as he reached toward me, my water broke! He asked the nurse if the bed conversion was ready and she asked if he’d like to get changed into scrubs – he said please get the bed converted – there is no time. Walter came in as I was beginning to push and a few pushes later Benjamin was born at 3:23 am. He was beautiful, whole and healthy. He had been one of the most prayed and worried over babies that I have ever known – and he was finally born! Walter called my mom and let her know that Benjamin was born. She was sad to have missed it, but was so relieved that he was healthy and I was healthy!

As soon as he was born, I felt well again. I was ready to go home. All day Saturday I begged to be released. Dr. Wolanski released us on Sunday morning. We went home joyously!

Ben has been the most delightful baby and child. I feel so blessed to have him and to have come through all we did so well.

On Tuesday morning I said, “Happy Birthday, Ben!” and he replied, “Happy Birthday, Mommy!”

Smile everyone and hug your kids, your spouse, and your family. We are all truly blessed.