Friday, March 06, 2009

Miracle

I remember, vividly, every little detail about my hospital stay when I had Savannah.

I remember lying in the bed and counting ceiling tiles as a way to take my mind off of the piggy-back contractions that I was trying to wriggle away from, of falling asleep on the big bouncy ball and having my husband catch me, of almost relenting and begging for an epidural after 14 hours of labor. (Call me crazy, but the thought of a needle IN. MY. SPINE. was worse than just dealing with the pain. I might change my mind if I ever do it again, though. I hear it's just lovely.)

But then all of the torturous pain subsided, and they placed her in my arms. At that point my hospital stay took a decided turn for the better. They wheeled me into my recovery room, and I felt a little like a queen. Completely exhausted and battered, true, but a queen nontheless, with the hospital room my little mini palace. Replete with a hubby to wait on me, nurses at my beck and call, and...cable TV. It was virtually a vacation.

Even the food! I have to tell you, my hopes were certainly not very high. But then they brought me the menu, and I immediately fixated on the steak sandwich as an option. I was won over. It was good, too, and...topped with an onion ring, oh yes, ma'am.

So, all of these memories came back to me today. I stepped into the same hospital to go say hello to a brand new little fellow, a precious baby boy belonging to my best friend Tara.

Come to find out, they have stepped up their amenities even further. They now give massages to mommies, and they are going to offer manicures and pedicures, too. For free.

I'm telling you. Vacation. Almost.

Take a look at this sweet little face and tell me it doesn't melt your heart.


Happy Birthday, Baby Boy. I'm in love.

19 comments:

Marci @Finding Joy in the Journey said...

There is just nothing like holding a new baby to make the rest of the world just float away. Sometimes I drive past the hosptial where Finn was born and can almost smell that newborn smell. There is absolutely something miraculous and magical about the whole thing! All those years between Lily and Dax, holding a new baby would make my knees weak!

What a beautiful little guy he is!

Tirz said...

No epidural? You are one brave lady, my friend!! Good for you! I wish I could do that and I highly admire the women ~ like you ~ who go completely natural like that! That is a beautiful and handsome little baby boy! Congratulations to your friend Tara!

Rach@In His Hands said...

What a precious boy!

You deserved to be treated like a queen....the mention of that steak sandwich made me SO hungry already this morning!

Love the new blog look - so fun!

Wendy said...

How sweet is that?

I'm like you; I was more afraid of the epidural needle than labor pains. But all three of mine were very quick deliveries. If I'd been in labor more than four hours with any of them I might've changed my mind.

Lizz @ Yes, and So is My Heart said...

He is precious!

"Vacation?" That made me smile.

Love the Spring Design!

Aspiemom said...

Those babies smell so good! (Well, MOST of the time! lol)

Your new look is great!

Miss Lisa said...

What a sweet baby boy! And what a great hospital!

Unknown said...

what a sweet baby!

Glad I'm not the only one who loved the food. I told my hubby that I was looking forward to it next time, which I thought he'd find kind of weird, but he said, 'ya know, i knew you were gonna say that.'

wow, Jackie! Your blog design gets better everytime. Nice job!!!

StephieAnne said...

Oh he is so beautiful!!! Manicures, pedicures, and massages - NO WAY! Talk about luxurious....

Elena said...

What a beatiful baby! Congratulations to your friend, Tara. Love your new blog layout. Perfect for spring!

Jodie | Velour said...

He's beautifullll! :)

And girl, if I ever have another baby (God help us), I'm moving to wherever you live b/c seriously? Manicures? Pedicures? Massages? That's just madness. It's like they don't even care about population control. Don't they know that when word gets around about that stuff, women will be having babies just for all the freebies? I mean, come on. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure that out! :)

Also, you write beautifully. Truly you do. And I will also add this to echo the voice of many: the epidural is fantastic.

That is all. :)

Oh wait! No it's not! I love your new blog design! The little trees are just precious! They make me happy. :)

Unknown said...

Jackie, I'm with you on the needle in the back thing. I just couldn't do it!

What a beautiful baby boy!

Love the new look of your blog, you are one talented lady!

ttm said...

I am sitting here with tears in my eyes reading this and marveling at the beautiful picture! Thank you so much for coming to visit, you are awesome! Love you!

Heather of the EO said...

I just love this post. I love how you can remember so clearly and your excitement for your new little pal is contagious.

And then there's the ttm comment...ugh... it's the best. Friends, motherhood and tiny babies! :)

Wendi@EveryDayMiracles said...

I couldn't even feel the needle in the back - they numbed the area first. And after those contractions - it was NOTHING to get a little poke. Just sayin...

:) But I also have an incredible amount of respect and admiration for you and other friends who have done this with our the epidural. You certainly are a queeen!! :)

Great post and beautiful baby boy!! :)

Love your new design too. It is fantastic!!

I've been thinking about you alot lately. And praying fro you.

Lisa said...

Apparently we have the same medical philosophies...use it sparingly! I'm totally with you on the needle thing. The pain is nothing that a little breathing and time can't take care of.

You can't know how often I pray for you and your husband, that God will intervene and you'll one day be holding your own precious little bundle. He's a God of the impossible and certainly of the things WE think are too hard.

Love ya girl!

The Fritz Facts said...

How adorable is he!! I love the just-born-baby face.

Congrats!!

Gretchen said...

His head is just perfect. ANd look at that beautiful skin! Adorable. Oh, honey, when your next time comes, I'll be praying you through an epidural. :) :)

Nicole - Life in Progress said...

I still get all fluttery when I go visit new babies in the hospital just from the memories of my own babies.

Oh, and next time, give the epidural a whirl. They really are a lovely little invention!