Our roller coaster ride...
On August 6th I was admitted to labor and delivery after a routine office visit to my doctor. Come to find out, my body was trying to go into labor. I was on strict...and I do mean STRICT bed rest in the hospital while they tried to stop whatever contractions came my way. I hardly left my bed until they wheeled me into emergency surgery 10 days later. I started having hard contractions at 2:00 AM on August 16th. The nurses would give me a shot every 2-3 hours to stop the contractions, but Emy couldn't wait. Finally at 8:40 PM, after a long hard day of contractions that couldn't be stopped, my doctor ordered an emergency c-section. Emy was breach and I had already nearly delivered her on my own. My mom was with me when they made the call to take me into surgery. As they prepped me for surgery, Dustin scrambled to make it to the hospital on time. I don't know how he made it, but he did. I was on the operating table and here comes Dustin - scrubs and all! I don't think he'd mind me saying that he was a bit emotional and I was the one trying to calm him down!
Emy Elizabeth was welcomed into the world at 9:19 PM, weighing 1 lb. 8 oz. and 12 1/2 inches long. She gave us a few quick cries before the doctors started working on her. That was a great sign...if she was crying, she was breathing.
The NICU was full, so the doctors were trying to find out where they would transfer her. They had hoped she would stay there, but they weren't sure. Well, our prayers were answered and she was able to stay in our hospital. Thank the Lord. I heard a week later that if I had delivered any later then she might have been flown out of state due to the lack of available NICU beds in Oklahoma. I due wish I could have held her in my tummy a little longer, but I am a big believer that everything happens for a reason. I can't imagine having to travel to Texas to see my little girl. God was truly watching out for our family.
I was soon released from the hospital, but had to leave half of my heart there. It was so hard to leave without Emy. I returned home to recover, but didn't seem to be feeling better. After having a high fever everyday (my antibiotics should have done the trick) I was rushed to the emergency room. I apologize in advance to those with a weak stomach...my c-section incision was gushing. I was re-admitted into the hospital and they prepped me for surgery once again. It wasn't a matter of "if" I would have surgery; it was a matter of "when". Calls were made and we had so many people praying for us. PRAYER WORKS. By morning, they said that no surgery was needed. Have I mentioned that prayer works? I was finally released 4 days later and am now feeling much better.
We continue to visit Emy everyday (I missed a few due to my high fever). I can't tell you how hard it is. I cry almost every time I visit her. I'm sure all of the NICU nurses know me as the "crying mom". No really, it is so hard to see your tiny baby with a tube in her nose, hooked up to a respirator and an IV in her leg. I've given birth to her but can't hold her. We can only touch her at certain times during the day. Dustin and I joke that God has made the road to our kids a rough one. We could see Mia, but couldn't touch her for 7 months. We delivered Emy but can't hold her and won't be able to take her home for 3 months. It's hard to understand, but it's very worth it.
With all of this, God is teaching us about prayer. We have so many people praying for our family. People all over the country. God is teaching us to lean on others. Our friends, family & church have helped us so much with so many things, from taking care of Mia to providing us with meals. The nurses and aides at the hospital that cared for me were true angels. One of my nurses, Linda, would read scripture to me and sit and pray with me. I can't even describe how grateful I am. God is also teaching us faith. Maybe I didn't learn my lesson with all we went through to get Mia! We find ourselves leaning more and more on God and the strength He gives us each day. Without it we would be lost.
Thank you to all who posted. Your support and prayers are greatly appreciated. Please continue to keep us in your prayers.
