Today is Letitia's 5th Birthday. She does not actually turn 5 till 5.40pm in the afternoon. As my mom use to say, "she came out at dinner time as she was hungry". This article is all about those amazing 16 hours we spent trying to welcome Letitia into the world. (So, if you are not into birth stories, you may click "next blog" now!)
As I clearly recall, Letitia was 2 weeks late. I was brewing like a chook and nothing happened. Staying at home and lugging my weight around got very "not fun" after a while. The Dr (Bless her !) gave us an option to induce the labour. We did, we pop into the hospital (8pm) and had a ointment smeared onto the inside of me! and soon after that....woah, period pains (muscle soreness!!). These stuff is effective!
Reduced version, my waters broke at 3am the following dawn, we were off to the hospital by 4am (sleepy and tired as the soreness kept me awake). Found no room to lay sweet child and had to be put up in a "store room" at the hospital as it was a FULL night at the maternity ward. I took the lot, and the epidural nearly killed Alex. The mere sight of the procedure and the struggle to get the needle in was enough for any man to pass out. 13 plus hours later, I gave right up (I was too tired to push) and Letitia had to be assisted to enter the world. Well done on Dr Whelan's part!! A small frame lady (under 5 feet with the strength of Hercules) who stayed with me in hospital all through the night. We remember our dear antenatal instructor Nicola as well (she came on shift just at the last hour, yippee!). How personal is that??? It was an all-woman's event, except for Alex.
Letitia come into the world covered in white goo. Was scrubbed down and was feeling very tired! Her daddy gave her her first bath in the hospital and she was soon by my side. What exhilaration. I remember her sleepy eyes staring at me (she still loves her sleep) and how delicate she was. Her hair were wavy and fine already (she still has curly hair when wet) and I adored every bit of her (Sigh! This is where everyone has to make the "sigh" noise! in adoration!)
Letitia and I were upgraded to a VIP-Gold room. As all parents go through the hospital tour when selecting the ONE to give birth in, we were told of this ROOM that everyone has very little chance of staying in. Guess what? We got upgraded, courtesy of Letitia's non receeding Jaundice. We had the spa, the private showers, the dining room, and double bed and the spacious privacy. Meanwhile, little L spent more than 4 days in a "solarium" to sun away the yellowness. I cried at the mere sight of it every few minutes. In hindsight, it was a VERY common thing but it really hurt to see your precious one go through all that. I could not hold her in my arms all the time (as she needed as many hours in the ligh box as she could get) except when I was feeding. That was the hardest.
5 years later...here we are. She's a BIG sister to Mathena. Loving life and us (still) everyday. She's absorbing the world around her like a sponge with big heart and a big attitude. She's learning peer pressure and how to "settle" her differences with her friends. She's also learning NOT to push her piece of mind on others (am learning that still!). We love her to bits. Mathena thinks the world of her and cannot wait to do all the cool stuff L gets into. We praise God, again. For we KNOW if not for HIM, we have nothing (kids included!).
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