Childbirth and tiny umbrellas, pygmy goats and disco balls. The story of Sam Speed.

Apparently tiny umbrellas are just for fancy girly summer drinks, served on a patio somewhere and NOT for the labor and delivery hall.  What a let down.  However, epidurals ARE for labor and delivery but the nurses WOULD NOT give me the street name for that stuff so I could enjoy it with tiny umbrellas served on a patio somewhere...  dammit.

This is how the birth of Samuel Speed Price happened.

Me and Mr.Price

July 2nd came and went, my Aflac money was a sure thing, but that didn't reduce tensions in the Price household.  My parents had already arrived, our, and my personal cramped quarters were wearing on relationships.

In the days before delivery I told Mr. Price on several occasions that we were getting a divorce, he was an asshole and that I hated him.  Standard, really.

1 week and 2 days before the debut of Sam.

I really just hated being past my due date, but Mr. Price was also being an asshole.  I don't remember what it was that he did or didn't do, whatever it was, it was WRONG.

Tensions were running high.  My beautiful, sexy, most wonderful, smartest woman on the planet, midwife, Nancy, offered to do some "sweeping" on the 4th of July, when offices were closed, in a last ditch attempt to get things moving naturally... What an angel she is.

Between my midwife and my anesthesiologist (affectionately known as Andy AND the sexiest man on the planet), I don't know who I would rush to kiss on the mouth, first.

With membranes swept and my hands permanently placed around Mr., Price's neck for the next insensitive comment or stupid thing that was going to come out of his mouth, Nancy carefully said (sensing that tensions were, indeed running just a touch higher than normal):

"If this doesn't work, plan on coming in tomorrow morning 9am, with your bags packed."
Me:  "HIS bags packed?"
Nancy: "Well, yours as well, we'll get this baby out of you tomorrow."

Shit, I thought Nancy meant I was going to be able to kick him outta the house.  Dammit.

I can TOTALLY do this baby delivery thing on my own, but I DID still need a punching bag for any pain I was going to endure, and I had definitely eyeballed my target long enough as to who was going to endure it for me.  Cue - Mr. Price

We walked out of the offices with promising signs that contractions were starting and Mr. Prices' health was ending...  A few more F bombs and asshole swinging later, I was determined to go to the downtown fourth of July festival that my town offers each year to the budding derelicts and morons without jobs looking for trouble, and get me a sno cone, funnel cake and a gyro, in that precise order.

I snapped at my mother to accompany me, and Joseph was to also come and enjoy some "goddamn inflatable rides", in the sweltering heat.  I was going to sweat this baby out of me.  Unfortunately, there's a new attraction at these public affairs, the Tea Party tent, they were selling t-shirts with things like "I'm a racist, so what?".  I forgot to take a photo of the tent, I honestly thought if I did, I would have been face to face with two inbred rednecks and their shotguns and, well, you can see how that would have ended, with me in my fragile over-due-date state.

WITH THEM DEAD after they had screamed for compassion as I mercilessly turned their own firearms on them and used the shotguns as "PUPPET POLES" AND I WOULD PARADE THEM AROUND IN PUBLIC AS TROPHIES for ANYONE who dared mess with my "over due date" pregnant status.  I would kill you, kill you fucking dead.  Not just dead, really fucking dead.  Those people were evil and  I was READY to fight.

Can you tell I was a little tense?

I'm in pain, suffering from strong contractions, but as the heat and my anger continues to boil over, I don't notice.  I eat my three items, watch Joseph enjoy a pony ride and head home for more divorce talk.

"All I'm going to remember before the birth of our second child is that we argued non stop in the days beforehand and that YOU LOST all of them, you asshole."

I'm bitter, angry, tired and ready for a baby.  I bark at Joseph several times, but later, take the time to write him an apologetic email about how his kind wonderful mother turned into a swamp bitch in the days before his sibling would arrive, but that as a 4 year old he was very understanding and forgiving and just stayed out of my way.  What a smart kid, apparently smarter than Mr. Price.

I deliver the formal eviction notice so that EVERYONE can hear me.  (Imagine medieval messenger, unrolling his decree, before a gallant fight)

"Now hear this, all babies residing illegally in MY womb, past your due date must vacate the premises before 9am eastern standard time tomorrow, or you will forcibly be removed, the proper authorities contacted and your worldly goods, confiscated." 
"This is your last and FINAL warning."
"Amen."

God, I'm so serious, get the fuck outta there.  PLEASE.  Or else.

Mother leaves the house, with instructions that I will call in the wee hours for her to come and sit with Joseph as I take me and my soon to be ex-husband to the hospital to have this baby.

I don't sleep very well.  I try to comfort myself with the things that I would get in the divorce.  Mr. Price would get both the dogs... HAHA douche bag, I would keep the smart kids and get a sexy new apartment.  But, at 1am, still unable to sleep, I realize things are moving closer together, in an orderly fashion, about 10 minutes apart.

Wow contractions suck.

I was amazed at my ability to suffer through them, continue to hurl insults at my husband and simultaneously cry, due to the pain and lack of sleep.

This baby was coming, today.

Sweet.

Mother is called, Joseph is awake, bags are packed (yes, yes, TOGETHER, not just his, I did need someone to drive me to the hospital, sheesh!) and after 10 minutes apart, the contractions move to around 6-7 minutes.  I time it so that I can bargain with myself mentally, much like I do on a run, to push myself farther.  I didn't want to show up at the hospital the SECOND TIME with having only dilated to 1cm and screaming bloody murder like a total wuss.  I was determined to get through a lot of it at home.

I told myself, wait until 4am to call Mum.  Ok, now call after the next three contractions, then slowly get your shit together and leave the house by 5am.  Easy Peasy.

Worst. Car Ride. Ever.   

Shut UP Paul.   
Stop driving like a moron.  
Are you TRYING to ram all the bumps with all four wheels at once, because you're an asshole or because you are just that naturally talented at this lame skill?

Mr. Price screeches up to the fire lane and declares that there isn't a fire, but there sure as hell is going to be one if we don't get this bitch up to Labor and Delivery, STAT.

The security guard knowingly nods and reaches for a wheelchair.  Bliss.  I stop just slightly before easing my mammoth arse into the chair to work through another contraction, they are coming faster, harder (that's what she said) and there's going to be collateral damage.

I had pre-registered, but that doesn't fucking matter at 5:30 in the morning.  There's still some bitch waiting for you in an office as you have to state your name, tell her your social security number, sign some papers and work on some more contractions.  I hated her.  I loved everyone else in that hospital, but I hated her.  Everyone else was helping me get this baby out, but registration lady, was delaying it.  Bitch.
I was 5 centimeters.

In less than 50 minutes I had been wheeled to my room, poked, hooked up, filled out forms, breathed through more contractions, got to 2-3 minutes apart and had a visit from the sexiest man alive and his 12 inch.... needle.  I was 7 centimeters by the time I had gotten the epidural, which I will affectionately give the street name from here forethwith as "Fairy bliss".

The sexiest man alive, and him "giving it to me" with his 12 inch... needle.

Fairy Bliss Face.  Kinda like "Meth Mouth" But waaaaay sexier.

Fairy Bliss is single-handedly the thing that saved my marriage to Mr. Price.  At that blissfully numb moment, we were on the mend (never really on the edge, except for his urge to shut me the hell up and/or kill me for being the most beastly tyrant on the planet for the previous 9 months), and ready for Baby Price, version 2.0.  I was so numb, I couldn't feel or move anything, and at 5' 8" and 60 pounds or so over my most ideal weight range, I presented a challenge for any kind of movement or pushing whatsoever.

Drugs are AWESOME!!!!

Nurse Rachel, who I TRIED to kiss on the mouth several times in my drug induced state, slipped me a grape Popsicle, which you can see evidence of, above.  And it was the best Popsicle, EVER.

Naps.  Numb.  Bliss.

I snuck in a short nap and awoke with the urge to push.  More numb than before and I still felt baby ready to come out.

20 minutes of pushing would have been 5 if I wasn't so frakking numb.  They rolled me on my side to push some, because Baby version 2.0 had decided to turn over a bit.  It worked and I went back to regular pushing, legs freakishly far apart and knees pointing, East and West, respectively.

Threesome anyone?  I totally would have, I loved these ladies so much.  Nancy, stop laughing, or I'll make Rachel roll YOU over.

I watched in the mirror so I could see how I was doing.  Nancy applied about 5 tubes of KY Jelly, massaged and announced that the baby had a "Full head of dark hair."


No shit?

At that instant I freaked out and the thought that this baby might not be Mr. Price's rushed through my head.

When was I unfaithful?  How did this happen?  A full head of dark hair?  Joseph was born with hardly a muff of light colored hair.  Oh shit, how am I going to get out of this one?

2 nano seconds later I realized that, that was total nonsense, in between badgering Mr. Price I sure as hell didn't have time to slip someone else's, passed the goalie.  I just freaked out, because Baby 2.0 was already worlds different from Joseph, as they should be, but it took me by surprise.   Mr. Price and I both have full heads of dark thick hair, so this shouldn't have been a shock, but, all drugged up, I was ready to declare my undying love for the cuteness that is pygmy goats and roll in a disco ball for some mood lighting.  Crazy shit was going through my head.

Almost squeezed out, Mr. Price was asked if he wanted to pull out the baby.  In his most surprised, yet eager voice, he agrees and at 9:17am, pulling out Baby 2.0 onto me Mr. Price states:

"Err, amm, I think it's another boy..!"

Again, no shit? For real?

All I see and hear is baby, on me, not really crying, but breathing.  I kiss him and in between kisses I see Mr. Price is shedding a few tears, what a darling, sweet, gorgeous, wonderful father, husband and man.  I love him, so very much.  Only slightly second to my now, two fantastic boys.  Blue eyes, dark brown thick hair.  Just beautiful.  I smell the baby and it's not a gross smell (because he sure LOOKS gross right now covered in muck) and I wonder if they are going to make me let him go.

Winning!

Eventually they do, to pull some fluid out of his lungs, he cries, all is well.  I lift myself up as much as I can, still royally numb all over and try to ever so blatantly, look for the twig and berries between his two chubby red legs.  There they are.  The berries, and the twig. Right there, center stage.

Oh shit, he's a HE.

Shit.  

Fresh outta the oven.

I just wedged myself out of what once was my mother's vag, and is now called a "CANAL".  You'd be pissed, too.

I have NO idea what we are going to name HIM.  He was supposed to be a GIRL, according to everyone else.  Crap.  I hate coming up with boys names, I'm so unprepared and if I give him a lame name, I'm never going to forgive myself.

I'm in love with three boys.  So lucky.

Nancy starts stitching me up, there's commotion in the room, but it's eerily calm.  Mr. Price is already hovering over our young son, protecting him and talking to him, touching him and loving on him.  I'm watching my midwife employ her sewing skills on the inside of my vag.  Eyes wide open and jaw on the floor I say:

"Sweet, it's like total destruction down there.."

Seeing my shocked face, Nancy removes the mirror, but doesn't dissuade my curiosity as she pulls out my placenta and gives me a tour of the organ that only moments ago, housed my second born.

"This is the side that he lived in, this is the side that faced out."

It's sooo gross.  But yet, I can't look away.  It's awesome.

My Midwife.  Sexy.  Talented.  Smart.  The WHOLE package.

Placenta 101 is over and our second son is wrapped up in a hospital blankie, given to Paul and put back on me.

Mr Price:  Shit, hon, what are we going to name him?

How the fuck should I know?  You're the one that was FOR SURE it was a girl.  Douche.

We fumble through some inappropriate names, we come up with NAUGHT ideas, so mother and father fashion the most awesome idea, go and fetch our four year old and see what he comes up with.

We're going to have our 4 year old name his younger brother.  Great parents, we are.  And if we had, Sam, your name, today, would be "Turkey Sandwich".  I'm not shitting you, that's what Joseph suggested after we put him on the spot and asked him to name you.

Joseph was the first to meet Sam, and the first to know that he was right all along, that he was going to get a baby brother.  Joseph agrees and likes the name "Speed" and Samuel, well, that's all I could come up with after I pulled my wrinkled piece of notepad from my handbag, which was a last minute effort at trying to corral all our favorite names if it were a girl, or if it were a boy.

I'm a big brother, it's a boy, I was right.  Ha ha.  I rock.

For the record, I had NO IDEA what Sam was and didn't care, but I DID have a girl's name all lined up.  If Sam were a girl he would have instantly been named "Adelaide Pepper Price."  Done and done.  Pepper for short.

Joseph is sweet and very eager to be a part of the action and a part of Sam's life.  He wants to hold him all the time, talk to him, play with him, and cuddle him.  It's adorable and my heart grows ten fold.

Big bro, holding Baby bro.

The Fairy Bliss is turned off all too early, but the numbness lasts into the night, walking is a laughable nightmare, but freakishly fun and looking at my deflated stomach, is pure comedy.

Visitors (Andrea and her promised hospital delivery of coconut rum and pineapple juice, I LOVE YOU, you are IN the circle of trust..), moving rooms, breastfeeding like rockstars, food delivered three times a day to my bedside, the next few days and weeks are all the blur, as time generally is, nowadays.

Samuel Speed Price. Born 7.5.11 7lb 14 oz @ 9:17am.  Joy.

Samuel Speed Price is here, today, 4 weeks old and currently grunting on the floor beside me as he works to create another one of his seismic events, going dookie for the fifth time, this morning.

Dingo is staring at the baby and wondering if he should avoid him, eat him, or just pee on him and walk away.

Fuck off Dingo, he's all mine.  Yesssss.

When a shower was just a shower.

It's time to reminisce.

Taking one of the most catastrophic showers I have taken in a while, today, I was forced to think back to a time when showers, were just showers.  Long hot showers, short efficient showers, showers were just showers, were just blips on my daily radar of things to do to avoid being smelly.  I didn't ever think of showers in any particular way, but today, I find myself thinking of them, as the "blips" that they were, in the most affectionate of ways.

Ahhh, the time I used to take in dragging my feet towards the shower, at any particular time that suited me, turning on the hot water, letting it "simmer" for just a moment, the hot steam filling the room and slowly undressing, fully equipped with the freshest razor, carefully selected fragranced body wash, full shampoo and full conditioner, loofah, ready at it's post for a full all over body lathering, the kind of lathering you could get like they are able to do in commercials if you use half a bottle of soap, but the latering was worth the $2 of the half a body wash bottle.  Brushing my teeth, shaving not just one leg, but both and ABOVE THE KNEES TOO!  Washing my hair, NOT forgetting the conditioner, not forgetting to wash it out, brushing my wet hair and then drying and styling my wet hair into something that wasn't exactly as bouncy as a real housewife of whatever county, but could rival a bad Reese Witherspoon hair day, I could be proud back then. Wow, what a time those showers were.

But alas, no longer do these showers exist today.  I sit here to blog about my showering experience today, still hair wet and still partially naked.  It's been over 2 hours since I had my shower and still cannot muster the ability around my household obligations to get fully clothed.  So I decided to bitch about it instead.

I'll give you all the ingredients:
Fussing newborn
Nagging a 4 year old to get dressed/eat lunch
Dog #1 pees on the hardwood floor - 4 year old runs in at full speed to inform me of this biological disaster that is taking place in the farthest room from the shower
Dog #2 is hiding under the table = done something really bad
Cell phone alerts, someone's texting me
Home phone ringing
Missing Razor
Slippery bathroom floor when wet
A spider in the shower, for some good measure and entertainment

So let's just skip to the catastrophe that was today's shower.  Not only did I foolishly attempt to HAVE ONE, but also to wash my hair AND shave my legs.  I was dreaming big, it's the start of a new week, I was feeling a little ballsy today.  My bad.

It starts with me turning on the water, newborn in his "moses basket" in the bathroom so I can still peak at him and hear him.. then... the 4 year old runs in at full speed "Dingo peed all over the floor in the office!!!!"  Not thinking it's too bad, only to find out that Dingo has in fact, leaked lake Erie all over the hardwood floors, two towels is what I need to fix the mess, while newborn fussing turns into "Listen, mum, I REALLY REALLY NEED TO EAT, NOW." 4 year old still in pajamas, needs to finish his lunch, the meat part, not just the cheese part, shaving partial areas of my legs above and below the knees at random hoping to catch enough areas that make it feel like I almost got it all, simultaneously rubbed body soap all over as the water washed it off, hoping that would be enough to stave of any smelliness until tomorrow or at least a deodorant fix in four hours, hair washed with water and either shampoo or conditioner (not quite sure which), at which point the spider that decides I have yet to have had enough entertainment in today's shower, decides to jump itself into my clear vision, ready for the attack, as there is nothing lethal in my shower, other than a half full bottle of shampoo that I try to beat it to death with as I slip and slide all over the fabricated plastic walls screaming bloody murder, undoubtedly further agitating the newborn and his wails, and ends with me running around the house, naked, cold and wet, chasing Dog #1 as it knows today is the day I deliver it's long awaited death, screaming at Dog #2 to get "IN YOUR HOUSE NOW!"  grabbing the old dog towels and grabbing the newborn, spraying and wiping away lake Erie of Pee, swiftly swooping him (newborn) into my arms, trying to feed him while sitting helplessly, still wet, and semi naked on the couch, hair "air drying" which I TOTALLY HATE cuz it gets all kinky and weird, as I listen to the shower still running in the background, in my haste, the shower remains in the ON position, casually washing over the nobody that is in the shower.... wondering, what happened to those showers that used to be a blip, a mere blip on my daily radar.

It was only a blip, a little blip, I miss those little blippy showers.