The Rutschke Family: Ezra's birthday-1/11/2016

Number 3 -as Sean likes to call him- came later than we anticipated. It made for an extra long last 2 weeks of pregnancy. But it was a blessing in many ways that he didn't make his appearance until his actual due date. First, we didn't have a name picked. Second, we were safe and in the hospital.

It was really hard for us to come up with a name for this little man. We had about 7 names we liked - three that we liked a little more than the others. But not one that both of us could settle on. Finally we put middle names with all the names we liked and that is what sold us on Ezra. Ezra Wake Rutschke. Wake is a family name and we loved it as a middle name for Ezra. Now I can't imagine liking any other name for him. It fits him perfectly.

Ezra's birth story:
I had decided to be induced on my due date if Ezra hadn't come before that because my mom was going to be in town to help. Being in Missouri with no family makes going into labor really stressful-so the fact that we had help here when he was born was really important and so helpful! So we were induced...kinda. We went in that morning at 6 am, got settled in the room and got the IV in. I had to have a dose of antibiotics for group B and so they started the antibiotics and got the pitocin going. About 20 min later, I started feeling really itchy and hot on my head and scalp, then my neck, then from my torso up. I couldn't stand it any longer. I asked Sean if I had a rash, and I didn't when I asked him. But shortly after we started noticing that I was getting red all over. Not really a hive rash, but red and itchy and HOT! We called the nurse in knowing that I was having a reaction and she immediately stopped everything but the IV fluids to flush out the vancomycin as fast as possible and loaded me with Benadryl. It worked instantly, but also made me sooooo tired. Apparently I'm allergic to vancomycin and have a reaction called red man's syndrome when I take it. Yuck!! This reaction was extra stressful to me because the last time I had an allergic reaction I ended up riding an ambulance-well, actually a fire truck- to get to the hospital thanks to the anaphylactic shock I went in. So I was a little anxious thinking about how I might go into anaphylactic shock again. Gratefully, it didn't get anywhere near that severe. But it was what started the anxiety that followed me the whole day.

The doctor came in shortly after that episode and broke my water. They never did have to start the pitocin again. I was doing really good. I was handling the contractions really well and Sean was doing great helping me through them. I planned on going natural- since I was already at a 5 when my water broke. I have babies fast so I knew I only had about an hour before he would be born so why get an epidural? All of a sudden, that anxiety came back and I found myself panicking that I wouldn't get an epidural in time before pushing. I found myself suddenly calling for the nurse asking for an epidural as soon as possible. I think I surprised Sean as much as myself. I was really okay and excited to go natural. But I got the epidural and was now at an 8. About 20 minutes later I knew I was complete and ready to have this baby. We called the nurse back in and sure enough, he was coming. She told me to try not to push and she would get the doctor back. With the epidural working, I was able to kinda hold off pushing until the doctor came. I pushed for about 3 contractions and his head was out. I was so relieved because the doctor said that I didn't even tear.... but unfortunately that didn't last. Ezra stretched his arm up and his elbow out at the very last second and he tore me to pieces..literally. I'm one of the unfortunate ladies that suffer from varicose veins during pregnancy and because of the varicosities, the lining is really thin. His little elbow managed to tear open three of my varicose veins and as the doctor put it, 'rupture the vaginal wall'. Yay. So I was bleeding pretty badly. And we knew something was wrong. I was holding my perfect healthy little boy by that point, but we knew something wasn't right for me. The doctor couldn't get the bleeding to stop and Sean and I were both getting scared. He finally looked up and said, "I can't do this here. I need help". So we took a trip to the OR. I knew right away that it was Heavenly Father that put it in my head that I needed an epidural. What a blessing it was that I had one. The doctor not only could start stitching me in the room right away without having to worry about numbing me, but I also didn't have to go under general anesthesia in the OR- they simply re-dosed my epidural, gave me some versed, and got to work. Plus, I'm pretty sure tearing like I did would have been absolutely excruciating. They managed to piece me back together but it took over an hour to do so. Sean got to cuddle baby and feed him while I was gone and I'm glad he got that bonding time with our new baby. It was a really scary delivery and I was told I would be having c-sections from then on, if I would and could have any more at all. Which isn't what you want to worry about and hear when you have always wanted more kiddos. But I was mainly just so grateful that I was okay, that baby was perfect and healthy, and that we were both now safe. The recovery was awful and much longer. But I was blessed to not have to get a blood transfusion even though I was really anemic and could definitely tell. I was so exhausted- more so than normal!

I met my doctor two weeks after delivery to check on my healing. He was so surprised and relieved with how well I've healed. He even gave me the okay for more kiddos!! And no c-sections even! YAY!! Heavenly Father was and has been so apparent in this delivery and recovery. How grateful I am for Him! And how grateful I am for all the prayers before and after. They were answered!

I am so glad my sweet boy is here. He is beautiful and perfect in every way!!