Wednesday, April 1, 2009

The April Fool’s One

This is me (as a child), 18 years ago...today is Ethan’s 18th birthday. Yes, April Fool’s! I was having labor induced anyway, so I asked the doc, please, can’t we just do it on March 31st? (This was my fourth son...surely he could cut me some slack) Um, no…that’s Easter. Okay, fine. But you do realize it will be April Fool’s Day, right? Dr. C: You’re not superstitious, are you? *Insert eye rolling here*

So April 1 in the morning, they started the pitocin, and by about 10 a.m. when the doctor rolled in to check my progress, things were moving along well. He checked me, looked very serious all of a sudden, and called for an ultrasound machine. April Fool’s! Baby had turned entirely breech since he had last checked me at 8:00. He successfully performed an external version, which is a lot less fun that it sounds, and then headed back across the street to his office.

At noon when he came back, he checked me again. I was waiting to hear, congratulations, you’re fully dilated; let’s have a baby. But no… April Fools! Ethan had turned breech again. Another external version. This time nurses giving fundal pressure, and doc breaking my water…attaching a scalp monitor to the baby, and then taping that around my thigh so many times, it seemed that he thought he might be able to lasso the baby so that he couldn’t turn again. (That probably wouldn’t work, by the way)

Well, Victoria, for this baby to turn breech twice during labor, he must be a lot smaller than we thought…maybe in the 5-6 pound range. April Fool’s! Eight and a half pounds. Oh, and I know you’re really sore down there right now, but you’ll feel much better tomorrow. April Fool’s! You actually fractured your tailbone during the delivery, and you won’t be sitting straight for a few months. I didn't know you could even do that.

Tell me again…what was wrong with having an Easter baby? I guess the real joke is, today is his birthday…but he gets to spend it having his butt kicked at Marine boot camp… April Fool’s, Ethan!

22 comments:

Small House said...

Happy birthday to your son. This would be a fun day for a b-day.

Where is your son serving his mission? I have a cute missionary son myself.
Sometimes it throws me for a loop that I have a missionary out. Where did the time go?
Have a great day.
Sandra

Della Hill said...

Ha ha!
I'm sorry you had such a rough delivery. It makes for a good story though.
I have a brother in law and a sister in law who also have birthdays today.
Happy Birthday to all of them.
-Della

Victoria said...

Hi Sandra...my missionary son is in Texas Dallas Spanish-speaking. We have had a missionary out (at least one) continuously for over four years...and we have about six to go...

Here's our missionary:
http://vixlove.blogspot.com/2008/11/one-that-got-lost-in-translation.html

Karen M. Peterson said...

Hello! I'm just stopping by to visit your from Mormon Blog Stalker.

What a crazy birth story! Hope he has a great birthday and survives boot camp!

Kris said...

Okay, I seriously thought that was you now holding a grandchild, which must mean you are still a BABY! You look so good! Hope you had a good Ethan's Birthday today!

Victoria said...

Haha... Kris, you are funny! And we got our first real letter from Ethan at boot camp today. He says that his marching band days have served him well, and so he is a squadron leader, but that he gets hammered all the time for being "almost" perfect.

Jamie said...

You haven't aged a bit! What a rough delivery! Man!

Btw, I am craving some of your homemade bread right now. That was random, I know.

Happy B-day, Ethan!

Jamie said...

Ha, ha! I was wondering if you would catch on to my subtle hint. Nah! I'm kidding! You are so nice!!! THANK YOU for the delicious, wonderful bread!!!

Victoria said...

Fresh homemade bread...we deliver...

RSM Text Factor Gurus said...

It is only fair he has his butt kicked ...maybe they'll break his tailbone?!

RSM Text Factor Gurus said...

I am craving sugar cookies....oh, so very much......

And to quote a friend, "Portion Control, you should try it sometime Spice." I could have one!

RSM Text Factor Gurus said...

i am changing my picture...how does it look? Look at how skinny my foot looks!

alpinekleins said...

Great story - I'm a L/D nurse and it just about takes the cake. I've never had anyone have two versions before - lucky you:)

I'm sure you have many more adventures with this one you could share. Best wishes for all!

Kristin

Jan said...

Happy Birthday for sure.

That was quite a story. Your whole birth process was one little fools after another. Wow.

Ouch on the tailbone thing. What? I have never heard of such a thing.

Victoria said...

Gardenweasel, that is your shoe, but not your foot. Sorry...

RSM Text Factor Gurus said...

well, look at how skinny my shoe is!

lunch today?

CB said...

What fun birthday to have!

Love the picture - you look gorgeous! If I had gone through all of that I wouldn't have looked so nice.

Breach twice - That IS quite a story. Be glad you did not have to go C-Section!!

CB said...

P.S. I bruised my tailbone sledding in January and it killed me for almost 2 months I cannot even imagine breaking it! Ouch!!!

RSM Text Factor Gurus said...

not many people can contend with your pregnancy/labor/delivery/post stories..if they only knew.....

MY WORD VERIFICATION IS: CATURD

sort of like Astird

Erika said...

Gosh, you tell good stories... my life is soooo boring compared to yours. I got nuttin.

Kim said...

HI! I work with Kevin at the IAI office in Orange. Your photos are beautiful and your recipes look delicious.

Many of my relatives are motorcycle fanatics. I don't ride, but I will one day.

It's rare to see someone as skilled at capturing color as they are at black and white. Yours are terrific.

Also, I admire when families are so close, like yours. It's ovious that you and Kevin have created a strong loving family. We see so much divorce and unhappiness - lack of commitment. It's a pleasure to see when a marriage works.

Take good care,
Kim Spucces
714/673-0383

Josh said...

Gardenweasel-
Nice word verification. Sure it wasn't supposed to be CATRUD?
Mine is FAUNGLEU, German for "fun glue."