Here We Go!: April 2011

April 21, 2011

As many of you already know, Mike and I welcomed our little boy on Saturday, April 9th at 3:53 am. Weighing at 5 lbs. 10 oz. and 19 inches long. Some you might be wondering why it's taken me so long to post this; all I can tell you is that these past 12 days have been a leeeeetle busy. :)

Alec Michael Suomela (adorably nicknamed 'Chicken Little' up until his birthday) was born 6 weeks earlier than expected due some complications with my health at the last minute. I make light of it now but it was no joking matter when my OB/GYN looked me straight in the eye and said in his doctor tone, "We need to deliver your baby. Today." My symptoms were simply really awful headahes...well they felt more like migraines but they were paired with random bright flashes of light in my vision. My OB/GYN did some labs on me as well and didn't like what he saw...onset of preeclampsia. But wait! I'm too early on in the pregnancy to have that. I was only 34 weeks. And I really didn't have high blood pressure. It was my liver enzyme levels that were extremely concerning. So across the street from my OB/GYN's office to Fairview Southdale in Edina I went.

40 hours of trying to deliver naturally we decided it was time to get this little nugget out into the world via C-section. I just wasn't progressing enough on my own but boy did I enjoy the feeling of some nice hefty contractions still as well as that comfortable catheter. Which only 10% of women feel with an epidural. Oh to be an anomaly :)

Not only was I completely looped out on medication since Thursday afternoon but now it was Saturday and they just upped my dose of epidural to prep me for surgery which I took as the green light to start singing Janis Joplin and Motion City Soundtrack songs (http://youtu.be/teljAGRL3UI) and playing music trivia with the anesthesiologist in the operating room. The question I was given was "Who is the male voice in the Carly Simon song, 'You're So Vain'?" (http://youtu.be/OHWrudgCc3Q) I didn't know the answer so one of the doctors YouTubed it during my surgery and we all sang this song out loud! Yes, I remember hearing one of doctors say, "I'll YouTube it!" Talk about your generational verbs. The answer: Mick Jagger.

As it has encompassed my whole life, now so it will be in our son's. Hilarity.

*I'd like to especially thank Rebecca Radtke for making sure I got into the hospital safely. She must have driven 120 mph from work to get there in the record speed she did. I would like to apologize to her arm skin as I'm sure I ripped through it while she braced me during the beginning hours. Thank you to Molly Schutz, Mike's family, my family, and all the L&D nurses who kept me sane even if by a thread for those first couple of days. And of course I owe much gratitude to my amazing husband Mike, who has his own wonderfully funny stories to share and who was a ROCKSTAR throughout the entire process. He made me feel like I could do this any day of the week. I love you.

*Oh and thank you to the Blue Bunny ice cream company for making orange flavored popsicles. A woman in labor can only handle so many ice chips.

April 6th, 2011

Okay, so it IS unlike Oprah's Favorite Things because mine is based around my hormonally-imbalanced reactions to items I wouldn't normally find excitement in. Wait, who would agree that Oprah is ALSO a bit hormonally-imbalanced? There's the connection. I knew I'd find it. :)

When I travel for work: Kar's Yogurt Apple Nut Mix & Fiji Water

When I want to feel pretty: Lollia Shea Butter Creme in Imagine

When I need to pack for a trip: Vera Bradley travel line www.verabradley.com

When I want baby shopping bliss: Baby on Grand

When I take out the garbage at home: Glad ForceFlex w/Febreze Odor Shield

When my favorite pants from The Limited don't fit: BeBand from Target

When I want 'fancy' fizzy water: San Pellegrino (with lemon wedges)

When I'm bored & wide awake in the middle of the night: DroidWords

When I want to be pampered: monthly massages and facials at Massage Envy

When I want to indulge in pizza at work: Chanticlear Pizza

When I need to clear my mind: open windows on a Spring day & take deep breaths

(That last one you ALL can do. Unless you live in a house without windows, like an igloo. Then "Aang-Aleut" to you and my apologies for having to dogsled wherever you need to go).

Too much? :)