I want to thank you all who have traveled with me the past 41 weeks on this amazing journey! For me being able to tell it from the heart. For the support phone calls and emails and for allowing us to share this time in our lives with you. In some way to me it feels like this is the end, but I know it's not. It's just the beginning of something wonderful and miraculous.
The delivery of our "Rose Bud" per Grandma, was incredible!!! I was surrounded by the most incredible support team ever! I think at first the nurses were nervous of the "crew" being in there, but in the end, they were very happy, and asked for them to come back and help others! I was very lucky to have mom and dad, Krista and Sarah, and the most incredible husband at my side...oh, and the best photographer:) You may think, my that's a lot of people, I thought so at first, but it was perfect! God knew exactly what he was doing! We went in at 7am and unpacked. They hooked me up to the monitoring devices, which I disliked very much. Those tight belly straps!!!! I was able to walk about. I was getting nervous about the induction part. I had hoped I would have started naturally. The cool thing was my water broke ten minutes prior to Dr. May coming in and breaking it for me! I was so thrilled! That was an answer to prayer. The contractions came on like quickly and then faded. They kicked in the pitocin to keep things consistent. I was 4/5cm when they hooked my up. They gave me the epidural as well, and within probably an hour we jumped up to 8/9cm by I think it was noonish. The family was across the street having lunch. We all couldn't believe how quickly things progressed. In no time I was fully dialated and it was time to call Jenny, the photographer. At 2:30pm the crew was ready and I started to push. You could tell the nurse was still nervous about the forbidden word, "C-Section." It was obvious in her body language and on her face that she really thought C-section was my only option and hated it when she had to say the four letter word..."PUSH." Straty stepped up to coach. Cleansing breathe, then three hard ten second pushes. Baby Hadj's heart rate dropped twice, so they hooked me up to oxygen. Mom was in charge of removing the mask during pushes and provided ice chips and cold towels. I was certain my pillow was on fire. I kept telling mom it was really hot in there. Straty had the brilliant idea of putting the towels in the frig first to cool them down faster. Sister Sarah ran the towel swapping as well as the blog. The nurse had to attend another patient, which then sister Krista came in to hold a leg. Dad made sure video was set and I'm sure was praying hard in the window seal. Jenny was about snapping this amazing team effort. Krista and Sarah would change off. It was soooooo cool, because at first it was Straty, mom and the nurse counting "one, two, three..." When Dr. May came in and said he was 95% certain Baby Hadj was coming vaginally, the energy shifted. Praise the Lord!!!! The whole room was counting..."ONE, TWO THREE..." You could tell the nurse was releaved as well! At 5:13pm Amelia Marie popped her head out. She was stuck for a couple hours in the canal, which gave her the biggest cone head and a ring around head. The ring to me looked like a halo. A true gift from heaven. God was there the whole time! He worked through every person in that room. Dr. May was incredible and so calm. Mom stayed both nights with us in the hospital. Straty is sick with a cold. It worked perfectly, since mom is my nursing coach. She'd check diapers, I'd feed, then she'd put Amelia to sleep. If Grandma had her way she'd do that every day:)
Thank you crew! Amelia and I couldn't have done it without you!!!!
We checked out of Club Med. I had to pretend we were going somewhere then a hospital that morning. The night before, I begged Straty to call the Doctor and tell him we weren't coming. I had changed my mind. Of course that wasn't going to happen. We came home and I panicked. It was the lack of pain killers, hunger and holy cow, now what do we do? Mom and Dad went in to survival mode. Mom unpacked us and started cleaning up things, while dad went in search of drugs and food:}
Straty you are incredible. Your support throughout this adventure has been fabulous. I say that in a sincere way. My heart has never felt as full. You're everything I need and more. You're going to be the most amazing daddy to our Amelia.
Thank you all for coming to visit Amelia, for the cards, emails, gifts and flowers. We are completely surrounded with love and support.
XOXOXOX
