Lennox's Story

Wednesday October 6th I had gotten in a car accident after someone ran a red light and felt miserable while waiting 2 hours for the police to arrive... there was no trauma to my abdomen but my head and neck were hurting and I was feeling stressed so I'll always be wondering if that kickstarted my labor. Of course I have to acknowledge how thankful I am that no one involved in the accident got hurt and that Crosby wasn't in the car with me!

That being said, I had told myself I would record Lennox's birth story on the blog but I find myself turning to good old-fashioned writing when it comes to things like that, and made sure I had my memory of the ordeal safely and promptly written in my journal before I forgot too many details! So I will give a shortened version of how Lennox came into the world...

D and I had a belated anniversary dinner on Friday the 8th... just a low-key night, when we were done D picked Crosby up from my parents' while I went to Sabita's to give her her eye drops (after having cataract surgery). While I was at her place standing in her living room 10 pm-ish I had these menstrual crampy feelings and just overall felt like I needed to rest. When I got home, D and I finished our movie and were in bed around midnight. I was awoken around 1 am with STRONG enough menstrual crampiness that I couldn't fall asleep. Then at 2 am I began with squeezing slicing pains down lower than low. They started out 5 minutes apart. These were the exact same pains I endured for THREE DAYS with Crosby, along with getting turned away from the hospital twice, so I was bound and determined to tough this out. I kept running to the bathroom with diarrhea too. The pains only got worse. After hanging onto our bed rails for dear life trying to sleep through them, I broke into tears and was saying things like, "I can't do this," and "PLEASE STOP!!!" Told D what was going on and he was completely out of it. I should know better... should have been gripping onto HIM for dear life; that would have woken him up. I drew myself a bath but it did nothing for the pain. I threw clothes on and by now the towel bar and bathroom wall were my best friend as I was gripping the bar and smacking the wall HARD through contractions and seriously though I might die. I went to D again in tears and said, "I can't do this," he said we really need to call the hospital, I grabbed the phone from him, had 2 contractions that I couldn't talk through while on phone w/the nurse, and she said you should get in here. D called my mom to come be w/ Croz and in the meantime I had stopped timing contractions because they were coming so fast it almost seemed as if there wasn't even a break between them. I started shaking and became drenched in sweat and once again said to myself I am going to die. I couldn't sit anymore, I had to stand... little noises were involuntarily sneaking out, like little yells of pain. I thought I had an infection the way I was shaking and hot. Something I'll never forget about this experience is how I became COMPLETELY drawn inward. I could NOT look at anyone or anything. Couldn't talk, only breathe as if it would save my life. Once my mom showed up I had 3 contractions from the living room out to the truck and we were off to the hospital for the most wicked ride of my life, I'll spare those details, then down to the ER and they wheeled me up to the delivery room and I felt this bit of a pop and then a trickle during the few steps to the bathroom. 2 more contractions as I squeezed the life out of the nurse's hand and a big pop and my water broke all over the bathroom floor! The nurse was saying, "I really need to check you," so up on the bed and I was a 9. I couldn't believe my ears but at the same time I could. The nurse phoned the doc and told me I had to hold this baby in 'til doc arrived and I for probably the 120th time told myself I will die as she held my eyes with hers and made me mimick her quick breathing. It felt an eternity but we arrived at the hospital at 6:50 am and I had Lennox at 7:38! D arrived a minute or two after the doc... she said, "Don't you have a husband?!" as he had to park the truck and sign some papers, and I said I don't care it's go time and then he walked in and I was so happy and after lots of pressure, pain, and pushing I felt a tiny warm and waxy little body against my chest. I kept kissing his little waxy lips and they made my lips waxy :) All I could keep saying to him was, "I love you so much, I'm so glad to see you, I'm so glad you're here!" I was completely exhilarated. I immediately felt from him this wash of calm. He was SO calm and sweet. I loved that they had me breastfeed him right away; he knew exactly what to do and it was so great. I didn't get to with Croz and I'll always be left wondering if that's why we had so much trouble with feeding.

Anyway, D and I were beside ourselves happy. It is incredible what having a baby does to you. So happy. When my parents brought Croz into the room, he looked around and found his brother all by himself up in the little bassinet. He did this double-take smile, the cutest thing, and said, "It's my baby brother!" He has been nothing but sweet and kind towards Lennox since. How he is towards me is another (emotional) story, but I'll spare those details because he loves his bro and that's what matters :)

You can tell how thoroughly Croz washed his hands... all the way up to the elbow... showing Lennox his new dozer...



The time in the hospital flew by, and so have these 3 weeks. Days with a newborn and 2-yr-old are like a revolving door. But it is all a wonderful thing and as hard as some days are I am motivated by the fact that it will not be this way forever; transition phase has to pass. D had a week and a half with us and it was time well-spent; we enjoyed every second together as a family.



This is the look I get from Croz a lot. He is being a trooper though and dealing with the change and lack of attention from me the only way he knows how. When I got the costume box out to figure out Halloween the other day I found out that he likes to dress up! He wanted to wear my pirate shirt and was having a ton of fun being Captain Hook until I told him to smile for the camera :) We have lots of good times ahead and are very very grateful for our blessings and this new sweet boy.



HAPPY HALLOWEEN!