3 years ago today--we were driving to Women & Infants Hospital in Providence RI, scared & nervous..praying that our baby girl would come out screaming and kicking...of course we were late checking in...my mom was there, my sister Shelly flew in from Texas, my sister Candy & my brother in law Jim was there, my best friends Tracy & Ginger were there of course my awesome Savana was there, me & Jesse (daddy) ..my sister Roann was on the phone talking us through the wait..my dad was anxiously waiting the news along with my sister Robin...i went through the initial lab tests, of course they checked to make sure she was still breach..if she had suddenly turned they were sending me home..i prayed she stayed just like she was... we all said a prayer together..holding hands..which made me sob but also gave me strength & renewed my faith..We will back track to my 20th week of pregnancy when my doctor called to tell me what she saw in my 20 week ultrasound..she saw our baby girl with a condition called " hydrops"..and if you ask anyone...that condition is pretty much fatal..I think I cried for two weeks after that diagnosis...I prayed every chance I got-- I had genetics counselors..dr's..all saying you can terminate..we can do an amnio and see exactly what chromesome disorder she has and we can't find why she has hydrops..i guess there are hundreds of reasons why and all the ones that had ways to be fixed we tested negative for..but wait I saw her little body on the screen (so she looked like snoopy with her little extended belly) but she was my snoopy..Please God don't take her from me..we had people praying for her from Ireland to India from almost every state in the US..all my sisters told our story..my mom told our story and all our friends..and I thank God for all those people who prayed with us..no matter what religion ..what faith..denomination..they prayed for our little girl..which meant the world to me...
We will back track even further to numerous conversations that Jesse & I had that we werent going to have any children together and that was ok..we were ok with that...until E-V...
Savana went with me to my initial ultrasound to see how far along i was..the technician first thought it was my 16 year old daughter at the time having the baby..then he spent the whole appointment trying to make up for what he said and explaining how his mother had him at an "older age" (gotta love that term) ...once i knew..i never looked back..
I didn't even tell my family ..my mom...my sisters that I was going to have a baby until January..I think I was in shock...we were called to an emergency visit to California to say goodbye to my dad..his doc had only given him a few days to live..um ..great so emergency tickets we got...i finally told my sister Roann...her family, my sister Shelly and as we all drove from the airport we called my mom ...and she got the "guess who's making you a grandma again" ...yeah you guessed it..my name came "never"..lol..boy was she surprised...my dad was happy but sad he wouldnt be around ( or so his dr was telling him)
I went twice a month for level two ultrasounds...refused an amnio..and just asked if she was in any kind of pain..as that would be something i couldnt handle..
we had good readings and not so good ones of course...when I was 8 months pregnant..i thought phew we made it this far..we are going to be ok..then one of the ob's decided to tell me I was at a high risk for a still born baby..in case I hadnt realized that..
we did non stress tests and fluid checks bi weekly for the last month...and finally my c section was scheduled because baby E-V decided she would turn herself upside down (breach) and never turn the opposite way : )..I wouldnt let anyone buy me anything because I never heard the words.."she will be ok" I can honestly say that until they took me into the operating room at 11:00 am Friday June 6thand at 11:15 am they said " we have her" until I heard E-V cry ..half my heart believed she wasnt going to make it...she bellowed..i saw them carry her over..Jesse cut the cord and she looked beautiful..they said she looks great..Jesse and I both sobbed with tears of joy...and off she went to the NICU so they could check her out...
E-V was born with three small holes in her heart, she spent a week in the NICU- they needed to regulate her oxygen with a canular, she had some fluid in her lungs from the c section and her glucose was low...
She weighed in at 9lbs and 3 oz...19 inches long...with lots of hair..the nurses loved her :)
We loved her...
Fast forward to 3 years later..no more holes in her heart (they healed on their own)
shes walking..trying to say things...she never stops amazing me..yesterday she got up on the step stool and climbed into her high chair..she almost has going up & down the stairs mastered (she knows where to hold on)..she can imitate from 5-7 different Barney DVD's and the songs..we watch her..she listens to what song it is and does what the kids do while watching herself in a mirror..the reflection in the stove...E-V always makes sure the refrigerator door, car door any door is shut once she notices its open...we are so happy at all the things she "can" do : )
Oh and her grandfather/papa actually stuck around past her first birthday..so we took a trip to see him..show him his grandaughter that he never thought he would see..we got to spend a few months with him before he passed away..I thank God every day we moved back to California to have that opportunity..
Happy birthday" our little angel E-V" you are one of the greatest blessing in our lives...you make me believe there are angels walking on this earth....
