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Wednesday, October 6, 2010

A Little Bit of Real

I was imagining myself at this point posting beautiful newborn portraits, showing this phase of our lives as a blissful, lovely adventure.

Ha!

As if being up with a coughing, non-breathing Luke all night for 5 nights while I was 9 months pregnant (and then dealing with inhalers and antibiotics) wasn't enough, Levi's lingering cough got progressively worse last week.

We were in limbo all week... I was supposed to be induced early Tuesday morning. The boys had gone Monday night to stay with various family. Then the hospital called at 6:30 and said they were really full, maybe later in the morning? Then they called and said, nope, how about Thursday at 6:30 am? I won't tell you how poorly I was dealing with the week of trying to plan the unplannable. To make a long story very short, we were in the hospital Thursday afternoon, but I was beginning to think the whole pregnancy thing was my imagination....

I'm not one for detailed labor stories. Let's just say that labor itself wasn't too bad. It was the five IV attempts, blood pressure seriously plummeting, large loss of blood after delivery (6:20 am on Friday) and subsequent nausea that wasn't so fun. Lola had the cord wrapped around her neck twice (might explain why her vitals dipped with every contraction), but she was very healthy and weighed in at 10 pounds. Holding my newborn baby girl was surreal.

The hospital stay wasn't bad (love their new restaurant-style meal service... it almost made me stay an extra day!). Later on, I started coughing. Not the tickle in your throat kind...the deep in your chest kind. Sigh. We checked out Saturday afternoon and picked up the boys. Levi's cough was much worse. He spent that night seriously sick and coughing on the bathroom floor with the hot shower running.

Russ took Levi to urgent care on Sunday as soon as they opened the next morning. Bronchitis/pneumonia and an ear infection. (Sigh. Again.) Antibiotics for him. And my cough wasn't getting better. Sunday night wasn't too bad, but Monday night was awful. I couldn't stop coughing...the turn yourself inside out coughing, had serious chills and then fever. Levi was still coughing all night long. Lola didn't want to sleep.

I went to urgent care the next morning. Probably viral. Nothing they could do. So... I hurt from head to toe. Well, my hair hurts to touch it. My toes don't happen to hurt, but they are nice and swollen. I've got to tell you, a nasty cough/ache virus right after giving birth (to a 10 pound baby), isn't so pleasant. Especially since I start coughing as soon as I lie down (and my head starts pounding...). Rest is a little hard to come by. Levi is still coughing so hard he almost throws up, and he spent last night on the bathroom floor because the steam is the only thing that calms his cough enough to let him sleep. I'm on the couch. Russ is in bed with Lola. Oh, it is an upside down world around here.

School? Bwa-ha-ha-ha!! We've gone through a stack of educational DVDs. The boys have read some. Can I just say, again, how thankful I am for Classical Conversations? Russ and my mom went with Luke and Leif on Monday. My mom has been reviewing the information with the boys during the week. Speaking of my mother, she has been an amazing help!! There is no way I could have survived this without her and my really incredible husband.

And in other good news, Lola Colette is a doll-baby. We are all smitten with her. I can't wait to see her personality develop, and we are so thankful that God brought her into our lives. The beautiful newborn photos will have to wait. We're just going to snuggle up and love each other through the next week or two. Then we'll see if life will let up a bit and make room for some rest and health and lessons and a few extra-curriculars. Like taking pictures....

Thank you soooooo much for all the kind words and well-wishes. I can't tell you how much they have meant to me!!

25 comments:

Jen Rouse said...

oh my goodness! All that sickness right after having a newborn? I can't imagine. Here's hoping healing comes your way soon!

carole said...

If I could stop by with a big pot of chicken noodle soup I would! Get well soon to all of you. Be gentle with yourself, too. Forget school where you can and just enjoy the baby. It TRULY will go by in a blink of an eye. (ask me how I know...)

heather said...

I have been thinking of you! So sorry this has been such a rough stretch. Thankful that you are home with baby Lola and praying for a speedy recovery for all and sleep! Praying you all can get the sleep you need.

What a blessing to a mom, like yours who is there to help.

Jen~ Lipstick and Laundry said...

WoW... I am so sorry for the sickies... Sending prayers...

April said...

Oh man, I cringed reading that and imagining that coughing right after having a baby . . . I really hope you all feel better very quickly!

Anonymous said...

So sorry to hear that everyone is s.t.i.l.l sick and sending prayers for quick and complete healing. Love that you are foregoing filling our curiosity to see pictures of your new beauty in order to snuggle. Sounds like a mama who has her priorities straight to me! Take good care of you and yours, Destiny

Beth said...

Oh my....I'm so sorry you all are going through this right now!! Praying for quick recovery and NO relapses!

Tina said...

Praying for you, Heidi! And congratulations on a beautiful addition to your family! Tina

K-Sue said...

Congratulations! She certainly is beautiful. I am so sorry you and Levi are sick - having that kind of virus right after giving birth sounds like misery. Prayers...

Anonymous said...

Heidi, I want to run on over and take care of you all. Sorry, for you all, that you are going through this...this too shall pass :) Love on one another as best as you can, receive any help willingly and get better fast! Praise the Lord! ~Connie in Tualatin

Kathy said...

Wow, you had your baby!!! How exciting, I just look at your previous post and she is a beauty! And wow, how did little tiny you have such a big baby?!

I'm sorry to hear about the rough few days you've had. I hope things calm down and get easier real soon so you can all settle into a routine. =)

Kelly said...

oh no...and YAY! i'm cringing over the health report while simultaneously exulting over the birth of miss lola. what a precious gift. the sickness will soon pass. i'm sure you'll more than make up for it with her.

Rachel P. said...

Oh my word, I'm so sorry for all of you. Do you have people bringing you food? If you like, I will bring you some. It doesn't even have to be dinner, I can bring just plain groceries or some breakfast breads. I would love to help your family and you out. Let me know if there is anything I can do for you. In the meanwhile, know that I will be praying for quick recovery.

Beth said...

I'm bringing you before the throne tonight. Not sleeping, recovering from the 10 pounder, sickness, and being comforter to the others... you are MOM! It's such a blessing and joy and such a selfless calling. I'm feeling for you. PRAISE the Lord for your mom. Love on that little Lola! congrats once again.

Jilly said...

Ug! how terrible! Just rest yourself up, snuggle precious Lola, and foist everything else off on someone else. School can be caught up on later. Hope you're all feeling better soon.

On a side note, isn't a girl fun after a few boys? (no need to actually answer that).

~beautyandjoy~ said...

Bless your heart. I am just cringing for you. Sending love and prayers.

Andrea said...

Onions. Please try onions. I promise it will work. Cut up a raw onion, wrap it in a dish cloth and tie up. Then give it to your dear Levi and your dear self when coughing. I lay the cloth by my kids head when they are sleeping. It has worked every time. Even with serious breathing issues. My daughter was on a nebulizer with steroids for years but since discovering onions, not once. All the best and especially to lovely Lola.

Heasleye said...

Oh, Heidi. I can not imagine. Good grief! You are all in my thoughts and prayers. I hope everyone recovers quicker than quick so you can just be, because that is enough! Yay for your mom!

Elaine

carole said...

Last night as I was waking every 2 hours to deal with the teething baby I was thinking, "Oh my gosh - I can not believe I said the classic "enjoy it while you can" thing to Heidi in the middle of an awful time!" I'm so sorry! Can I erase that part of my comment? ;) This week you need to survive. Next week you can savor.
(((hugs)))

steadymom said...

Take care of yourself, Heidi! Praying for you all and rejoicing in such a sweet new life brought into the world...

Jamie

Anonymous said...

So sorry to hear that everything is off to a rough start. It's hard when your little ones are sick. Praying that everyone gets well and you can all start to enjoy life with your new little one.

Audra said...

I went through something like that after giving birth to my first daughter (after 2 boys). She was 9 pounds, ouch! Everyone was throwing up except me and the baby. My mom wasn't able to help so I was tending to the boys and my husband all day and night while taking care of a two day old baby. Seriously not fun! It became my standard for hard times. "This is bad but nothing like when we had J. and everyone was sick" kind of standard. I'll be praying for you as you recover and rest. Kisses to your sweet darling girl!

Renee said...

Oh no! I hate that you all are sick! Please continue to take it easy! Praying for quick recovery so you can rest! :) The baby girl is darling. I just can tell you how dreamy it is to have boys, followed by a girl. So, so, so much fun!!

Hannah said...

NIghtmare city.

After I had my third child at home with a midwife, I went to the ER 24 hours later, holding my tiny, almost premature newborn, because I could hardly breathe. Turns out I had double pneumonia. Spent two days in the ICU apart from my baby (friends brought pumped milk for my husband to finger feed her) and two more days on the floor being discharged to finally go home and bond with my baby. And meanwhile her big sister had developed a (milder) case of pneumonia. Good times.

So I relate to post-natal dramas, and I'm so glad you have your mom and husband to help. Here's hoping you're all mended posthaste!

Anonymous said...

Ugh! You poor thing!!! I feel for you. I think there is something to be said about the 40 days of rest and isolation that some cultures use after childbirth. Take your time to rest up and let go of anything at all that doesn't *have* to be done. Praying for your family's wellness and for the sweet and snuggly moments to make up for all the crud. Love from Alaska.