Sleep...A Vague Memory...

You know, everyone has these pictures of their husbands cuddled up on the couch sleeping with their newborns. I've always thought, "Awwww! How sweet! They fell asleep on the couch together!" Well, little did I know how this all comes about...the pure exhaustion that causes this...the need to just get some sleep by any means necessary!

For Your Kindness, I'm in Debt to You

So, back when I got tired of Mississippi, I moved to Boston and took a job at Perkins School for the Blind. Perkins is the largest school for the blind and developmentally disabled in the country. (Helen Keller attended their deaf-blind program.) I just found the job on the internet, applied, had a phone interview, and moved on up! I started off as a program aide and ended up as an assistant house parent at the end of my stay. Yeah, it was scary, but honestly, I didn't even think about it. It turned out to be one of the best moves of my life. It is such a special place and serves such special people. The kids, my co-workers, and the whole experience there taught me more than I could have ever learned anywhere else at that time in my life. Needless to say, I also made some of the best friends there that I will ever have.
Anyway, being the largest school for this specialty, they have a lot of resources. I've posted some videos from earlier this month at their Possibilities Gala where Natalie Merchant sang with the kids. I've been gone for too long because I only recognize a handful of them, but just watching these videos takes me back. I could go on and on, but these kids are some of the most talented I have ever heard sing or play an instrument. It really is amazing what God can do...

Happy B-day, Benny!

I'd like to send a birthday shout-out to my big brother, and one of my best friends, Ben. We love you and hope you have a great day! I've attached a birthday wish from your look-a-like below.

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You better work it girl!

Yesterday Helen has her first photo shoot with our friend, and awesome photographer, Jeanelle. (You can see her blog, "Gabby Grace", in my list on the right.) Here are some "sneak peek" pics of our little covergirl. Everytime I am battling a screaming little girl I will think of these peaceful photos and remember how sweet she was ;)

And we're baaaack!

I know, I have been neglecting the blog and all you blog stalkers lately! But I have a damn good excuse. Helen finally decided to make her arrival 2 days late. She was due on the 28th, and I was induced and she popped out on the 30th. I know the birth story might be too much info for some of you, but I, personally, am always curious about what happens during births, and I also want to write this down to remind myself that I actually did this. Yes, I REALLY popped a baby out. Still unbelievable to me.

So, I went for my 40 week doctor appointment on April 29th, and I had progressed to about 2 cm dilated, and I was getting pretty cranky...as you can all imagine. My doc gave me the option of being induced the next day or the next week, and of course, I chose the next day.

On April 30th, we showed up at the hospital at 5am to get the show on the road. I got checked in, and went up to our room. I don't think I have ever been that nervous! The day started off with a bang.

I am not the bravest person when it comes to needles and things, but I have come a long way, and thought it would be no big deal. After all, I was going to experience far worse that day, right? Well, of course I got the most incompetent nurse from the night shift to put in my IV. Ugghhh...I still have the bruise on my forearm where she "blew my vein". And to make it worse, she actually said "Oooh, I just blew your vein" when she did it. Are you kidding me? Anyway, after a few tries, and me already crying hysterically to Kevin, she finally got the IV in my hand. At that point, I was thinking...if I can't take an IV how the hell am I going to have a baby??

So, after that, they began the pitocin. For those of you who haven't had a baby or been induced, it's the drug they use to start your labor. Because it's a "chemical labor" as opposed to going into labor naturally, the contractions are more intense and closer together than natural. Contractions are no joke to begin with, but with this drug...ugh, they were pretty uncomfortable. My doctor finally showed up and broke my water. OUCH! I won't go into it, but it hurts. After your water is broken contractions get more intense on their own, despite the pitocin. So, I opted to get the epidural when I was just between 2 and 3 cm dilated. I think the "usual" time to get it is at 4 cm.

Let me tell you, this epidural is no joke either. Of course, the worst possible scenario happened to me...the girl who is afraid of needles in the first place and cried through the IV insertion! Ha! Apparently, the bones in my spinal cord are extremely close together, making sticking the epidural needle & catheter in all the more difficult. They had to stick me 4 times to get the damn thing in. Yes, 4 TIMES! This resulted in me getting a "wet tap" where your spinal fluid begins to leak and you get a headache worse than a migraine. Pretty unpleasant, but I have to say, I know I couldn't have given birth without the epidural. It turned out to be a lifesaver, wet tap or not.

After I got medicated, things started to go pretty quickly. My doctor checked me a little bit later and I was already 6 cm dilated, and an hour later I was 9 cm, then 10cm about 30 minutes after that. Then the scary part begins...they told me to push! I was so nervous...just because I really didn't know what to expect. Plus, with the epidural, you really can't feel where you're pushing or if you're even doing it right. I was, I guess, because 45 minutes later, I had a baby girl in my arms. (I attribute 45 minutes of pushing to walking religiously, ladies. I was by no means in great shape, but I really did walk about 1.5 to 2 miles a day.) But, and this was the worst part, to get her out, the 2 nurses in my room got on top of me, literally, and pushed her down in my stomach. I really thought they were going to break my ribs! I will give them a shout out, though, after that terrible night shift nurse left, I got the BEST nurses ever. I couldn't have done it without them.

So that's our story. The day had a few hiccups, but it was all worth it. Even pregnancy was worth it!! I can't believe it is all over and Helen is 2 weeks old today. She is doing great, and we love her to death!

Helen Dean Smith

Born April 30, 2009 at 2:29 pm

7 lbs, 8 oz and 20 inches long