All That I Can Say: May 2010

What better day to tell Jordan's birth story than on her expected delivery day! We already passed our cesarean day which would have been April 28th if she hadn't decided to make her own birthday.

Happy one month sweet girl.

Now the story of how she surprised us on that early April morning...

I started feeling cramps in my back on April 6th around 2 in the morning. They came in waves but not necessarily with any pattern. I knew those could be contractions but they were definitely different than my preterm labor contractions. I hadn't slept a wink and continued to stay up and monitor my cramps which were becoming more painful but still irregular. Jason woke up to me sitting on the bed crying and started rubbing my back. I think I was crying mostly because I was confused and didn't know what to do. Some of the cramps were long and intense, some were short and not that bad. I told Jason to go back to sleep and that I was going to lay in the living room where I might be more comfortable. I didn't want to tell him that I was thinking about packing my hospital bag. He went back to sleep and I started gathering my things but a big part of me was in denial. I was in denial even when I was on my hands and knees breathing through the pain. At 4:15am I woke Jason up and told him we needed to go to the hospital. He asked if he could take a shower to wake himself up and I thought he was being sarcastic so I told him if he could shower and be ready in five minutes then he could. Next thing I knew he was turning on the water... Luckily I didn't feel panicked so my sense of humor was still in tact. Lucky for him I mean.

We gave some extra pets to a sleepy Beagle and by 4:45am we were on the highway.

We fully expected to be sent home and that is why I didn't pack Jordan's coming home outfit. I mostly took things that I knew I would want for an overnight stay and figured we may even be home before breakfast. We arrived, got a room, got me a gown and I was attached to the familiar monitors. I explained what was happening to the nurse and she said she would check me to see what was going on. Well when she told us that I was 3cm and 90% effaced I wasn't sure whose face was more full of shock, mine or Jason's. The doctor on call said to hydrate me to see if that would stop the contractions (which at this time I realized were definitely contractions and were getting pretty painful). I knew it wouldn't work since I had been drinking loads of water the whole pregnancy. We waited, things didn't change, so the doctor came in to do an ultrasound to check Jordan's position. I could have saved him the trouble because I knew she was breech but I'm sure they want to make sure before they slice you open and put your intestines on a table. I was happy that we had to wait long enough for a shift change and they were able to contact my OB. At around 8:45am they let us know that my doctor was on his way and we were having our c-section around 9am!

This is when the term "whirlwind" comes to mind.

Everything went very fast. All of a sudden the triage room was full of people from the surgical team, people taking my blood, the anesthesiologist coming in to explain how they would give me a combined epidural and before I knew it I was being wheeled to the OR. It took them five (yes FIVE) times to get the epidural in. A poke to numb, a poke with the epidural needle... all this while they were futilely telling me to relax. My OB actually made it in there while they were still trying and he took over comforting me. He put my head in his chest, rubbed my shoulders and his presence was such a huge relief. Finally they got it to work (my spine has a bit of a curve and that is what was causing the problem). I laid back, they put up the curtain and Jason was back by my side. At 9:45am we heard our baby crying and I was overcome with emotion, tears, and joy.

My doctor brought her around the curtain for us to get the first glimpse of our beautiful baby girl. Then she was cleaned, weighed, swaddled and brought back to us for a brief closer look. I really got to see her face this time and I said something (cannot remember what now) but I swear she smiled. Well, no, she DID smile. Try and tell me different, I dare you. They brought her in close so I could kiss her right cheek. I remember saying how soft she was. Such a perfectly sweet little cheek. Then she was out the doors and Jason and I were left to try and absorb what had just happened. A few minutes later Jason was looking a little pale and took a trip out in the hallway for some air. A lot had happened in a very short amount of time.

They had Jordan in the NICU for about 6 hours because of her low blood sugar but she graduated to the nursery on our floor by that first evening. That first day is very fuzzy. I was totally exhausted and could hardly stay awake to talk to all the visitors we had. We stayed at the hospital until Friday and she did VERY well for a 36 week baby. Their only concern was she lost 9% of her body weight and they don't want them losing any more than 10%. Her lowest weight was 4lbs 13.9oz and she's been gaining ever since!

Now we have been enjoying her for a whole month. Jason and I have laughed at the way she coughs when she get angry. Sometimes she whimpers in her sleep. It's sort of sad and sweet at the same time. There have been times where she is so sleepy you can move her limbs without her taking any notice. My favorite times are when she is wide awake, looking around and discovering her world. We've already kissed her a million times.

She is the most precious gift.

This coming weekend is Mother's Day and I feel so honored to be able to celebrate the holiday as a mother for the first time. Me! A mother! She is the best answer to my prayers.