The Adventures Begin...

I had a lot of fun writing my Labor & Delivery posts... and since I got a positive response to my "tell all" approach... I decided not to wait until the next batch of pictures to jot down my experience this morning...

This is the first time I've been out of the house without my wonderful husband, Cameron. Ziek,(his nickname for now, until he grows out of it, or starts looking a tad bit Hawaiian , in which case we will probably call him Ka'imi - for now, Ziek.) had a one week check up this morning! At 9am. What the heck were they thinking giving me a 9am appointment?

I remember when I first had Makoa... I was positively blown away at how LONG IT TOOK to do ANYTHING outside the house! We were late for everything because my time-management skills had left my brain when "mommyhood" took over. (Dont worry, it eventually returned)... but has once again left and is not returning quickly enough!

Last Saturday, we decided to take Makoa with us to Ziek's billiruben (jaundis) check up at 9:30am... we arrived at 10:30. 'Nuff Said.

So this morning (his billiruben count is just fine now... never exceeded 20), he had his one week check up... mostly to check his weight, I guess. I didnt want to be too late - I HATE waiting and waiting and waiting and wondering if they even checked you in (it's happened!). My mom said I could leave Makoa with her while we went (THANKS GOODNESS! Though, this little adventure may have been a lot more suspensful if he had come with...). And being that I didnt want to be late, I skipped breakfast (MINOR DETAIL!).

And was only about 5 minutes late! Ziek was sleeping peacefully and we learned that his weight is now at 6lbs 6oz... (only 3 more ounces to gain until he's back at his birth weight- which is expected at 2 weeks old.) so that's great. After doing all that in the little side room, with only one chair which his carseat is on, they tell me to just wait there until they have another available room. I'm holding Ziek and start to feel a little out of breath and tired (mind you, I only slept about 4 hours last night, and hindsight being 20/20, I see where not eating breakfast was actually mistake #2 and by all means I should have had someone else driving! Or atleast accompanying me.). So, I'm thinking I should really sit down... but the car seat is on the chair... and I only have one arm... and any second they should be taking me into the examanation room... any second... any second... now I'm really feeling funny, so I scoot the carseat over until its against the counter and sit my bum on the sliver of the chair that's available. I set shirtless, bundled up Ziek in his carseat, and I instantly start feeling better. Of course, I've been sitting down for approximately 30 seconds when the nurse comes in to take us the the examination room. I carry Ziek and she thankfully, carries the carseat and diaper bag for me.

I instantly sit down when we get the exam room... and Ziek is getting a tiny bit fussy, so I feed him while I wait (his Dr is a lady, otherwise this would have been a whole 'nother mental debate on my part). She comes. He checks out just fine. However, she tells me that she would like to get one more billiruben count just to be positive that he's in the all-clear.

Side Note (You May or May Not Know. I certainly didnt when I had Makoa!):
bil·i·ru·bin
–noun Biochemistry.
a reddish bile pigment, C33H36O6N4, resulting from the degradation of heme by reticuloendothelial cells in the liver: a high level in the blood produces the yellow skin symptomatic of jaundice.

If that makes any sense to you, I'm impressed. Basically, a high bilirubin count is bad (over 20 is when they get "excited" about it). A high bilirubin count stains the skin yellow (jaundice), and really bad case will stain the brain yellow - which then causes neurological problems. Makoa had a high enough count that they had him on the bilirubin "lights", which brought down the count. A good pooper can get whatever they need to get out of their system more effectively.

They get the bilirubin count by taking blood. Usually from the heel of the less than week-old baby. Makoa had to get tested EVERY DAY for the first week of his life. Sad.

Now you're the wiser for having read this blog. Feel free to go on with your day feeling accomplished.

So, Dr Young says were good to go, gives me the slip for the lab (walking distance), and says to schedule a weight-check check-up for one week.

I get to the nice girl at the desk and let her know I need to "schedule an appointment for one week, weight-check" okay... shes taking longer than normal... Im not sure whats taking her so long... is she new? Once, again I picked the winning number I didnt know about! But I guess I'll never know... Then, I figure I should schedule Makoa's 18month check-up while I'm standing there (holding Ziek in his carseat). Which causes the girl to take even longer! I start to feel a little funny again... mostly exhausted... I figure she'll be done any second... but seriously, she was taking a ridiculous amount of time scheduling these appointments... and I'm just not feeling on top of my game. She's done. I'm outta there.

Off to the lab, I'm feeling tired walking with baby Ziek to the lab (mistake #3: NOT BRINGING THE STROLLER!) when I get there I go straight for the seat, sit down for a few seconds then take a number. Minor. I figure I'll just grab a bite to eat when we're done here. Our number is called...

The last 2 times we did this a) Cameron was there b) Cameron was there and he took the baby to the little station to have his blood drawn c) While Cameron had Ziek at the station, I stayed seated the whole time in the waiting room.

Now, I'm taking Ziek to get his heel pricked and blood drawn (HATE IT!)... he's sleeping like an angel, but note, there's no where to sit down. So I'm standing (NOT GOOD) and holding his precious little hand while the lady pricks his heel and starts the blood-drawing process.

Note: With Makoa we were in and out. He was a good "bleeder" and took about 15 seconds to fill up the tiny vile. NOT ZIEK.

He seriously took at least 5 minutes to fill the tiny vile... and by the time he had, my head was spinning, I broke out into a cold sweat and honestly thought I might pass out right then and there. I tell the nurse I need to sit down, and once again scoot the carseat over as far as possible and sit my tush down and breathe in and out... in and out... I see spots... I think a migraine might be coming on... cant breathe or call out for help... I see my life flash before my eyes... Then everything goes black. Just kidding. But I really did think a migraine was going to break out.

He's done. I sit there for a few minutes and my head clears up. I leave the lab and sit down in the first seat I see in the hall. I sit for a few more minutes. Naturally, Im a little nervous and dont want to drive myself home... but whats a girl gonna do? I start feeling a little better. We get to the car in one piece, and I head for the nearest fast food place - KFC. I order one of those new snackers (BBQ - not bad for $1.29) and water. After stopping to eat and drink that delicious water, I feel marvelous. 20 minute drive home, listening to "Absolute Relaxation by Andrew Fitgerard (or something)... all the while Ziek was a PERFECT baby and just slept the whole way home.

We make it home, Makoa's sleeping in Gramma's bed and Ziek is sleeping in the car seat - I GET TO TAKE A NAP! It was great... until Makoa's woke me up.

Anyway! I realize this is way drawn out - but seriously, can you imagine how much more stressful the whole situation would have been if I had BOTH boys in the car! Now I know there are those of you out there with FOUR boys (yah, you Kris!) and I can only take deep breaths and when that day comes when I'm again by myself and forget to eat breakfast on a horrible nights sleep and feel like I'm going to pass out - PRAY. Really. How I survived this morning was divine intervention.

Mommyhood is absolutely wonderful - but I could not do this alone. The only way to "survive" is to rely on Heavenly Father. I believe that with all my heart.

...And now you know, The REST of the Story...