DramaQueen Turns 12 (300/365)

TIME:  10:46 PM
PLACE:  The living room
SUBJECT:  DramaQueen – at age 11

  
And thou shalt in thy daughter see,
This picture, once, resembled thee.

Ambrose Philips (1675-1749), British poet. To Miss Charlotte Pulteney in Her Mother's Arms (l. 7-10). . . New Oxford Book of Eighteenth Century Verse, The. Roger Lonsdale, ed. (1984) Oxford University Press.

TIME:  10:47 PM
PLACE:  The living room
SUBJECT:  DramaQueen – at age 12

12 years ago, DramaQueen entered my life and my heart.  I remember that day well.  I was already 6 days past my due date and went to my Ob-Gyn, Dr. B.,  that morning.  Nothing was going on.  He was pretty sure I would go on my own, and wasn’t planning on inducing me until November 1st.  I left the office depressed.  My sister was with me and we went to the mall next door, then out to Lebanon, IL to see if my Aunt (my mom’s sister) was in line for an alleged shipment of Beanie Babies (remember that craze?).  After we spoke to her and went into one of the shops, I experienced what felt like gas in my intestines.  By the time I arrived home, I knew I was having contractions.  I laid on the couch to watch Oprah and waited for HH to arrive home.  When he arrived home, I showered and timed the contractions, which were about 25 minutes apart.  They were all in my lower back and hurt horribly.  During one, the phone rang, HH answered and handed it to me as I was in pain.  It was my good friend, Denise, finding out how I was doing.  I told her through my gritted teeth that I think I will be having this baby soon.  Before we left, HH also insisted that I set the VCR to tape “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” so he could watch it later.  *shakes head*  

We arrived at the hospital a little before 7pm.  When the admitting nurse learned that my water hadn’t broken, she looked skeptical about me staying.  Nevertheless, she hooked me up to a monitor in triage.  Each time I had a contraction, the baby’s heart rate would drop like a rock.  HH beckoned the nurse to come in and review it.  She looked at the EKG and told me that they weren’t sending me home, and I would be having a baby soon. 

Things went pretty quick after that.  I was checked into a room and Dr. B. arrived.  He suggested that the best course of action would be a C-section as the labor was putting the baby in distress.  I looked at HH and we both nodded.  They prepped me for surgery.  I remember how cold the room was and the sting of the needle for the spinal anesthesia.
Dr. B. and an attending came in and went to work.  There was pushing and pulling and at 10:47pm, I heard the cry.  DramaQueen had entered the building.  HH cut her cord and I got to see her - she was perfect.  Soon I was put back together and they wheeled us back down to my recovery room, where my mom and sister were waiting.  HH held her for awhile and the picture of my husband sitting in the hospital chair, holding our first child is etched forever in my mind. 

Before they moved me to my hospital room, Dr. B. came in to see how I was doing.  He told me that I would of probably had to have a C-section anyway – Not only did DQ have the cord around her neck, but she weighed in at a hefty 9 pounds, 12 ounces and was 21 3/4” long.  Now she is 5 foot tall and weighs more than her birth weight.  Tonight, I took her to dinner, just the two of us.  Afterwards, she requested to have ears double pierced (do you see the new silver studs in her ears?).  We shopped for some clothing and she chose 2 skirts, 2 shirts, a pair of tights and some “Twilight” shoelaces with “I *heart* Werewolves” printed on them.  Happy Birthday, DQ – I love you so very much!