<<Bittersweet memories, part 2>>
2004-05-27 - 2:08 p.m.

continued

Even after I received the news that the amnio results came back normal, my midwife told me "we aren't out of the clear yet". They couldnt determine why my triple screen results were so low. She made the assumption that my due date was incorrect, but never bothered to tell me this. The rest of my pregnancy progressed normally.

Fast forward to May 26th.

I was to meet my dad in Flint so that we could sign loan papers for my 'new' (used) van. Once I hit Whitmore Lake, my car started acting funny- like the emergency brake was stuck. I could only go 45 mph. I pulled off the freeway and into the gas station, put some gas in my car. As I stood up, I started having contractions. I shrugged them off as nothing- Braxton Hicks perhaps, got back into the car and finished driving to Flint.

The entire time the loan officer was talking to me, I kept having contractions, one right after another. I didn't mention it to anyone. I had a doctors appointment in a few hours and i would just wait until then to get checked out. Afterall, my last labor was over 36 hours- I was expecting a long wait.

We finished our business at the bank, and I headed back to Ann Arbor to my midwives office.

I had my bi weekly check. As far as I knew, I was due in 11 days. I had a sneaking suspicion that I may have been leaking amniotic fluid, so I had my midwife due the fern test. One came back negative, the other positive.

I was sent to U of M hospital for observation and a third test.

When I arrived, I was asked by the midwife on call what my due date was. I immediately told her "June 6th". She frowned. She asked me again. I repeated myself.

She said "on your chart here, we have your due date as June 26th..... if you are in labor, there is a chance that we may have to take the baby to the NICU being that its 4 weeks before your due date".

I was at the hospital alone. I couldn't get ahold of Larry, and being that pregnant and going from thinking I was possibly going to have the baby that evening, and the baby being only 10 days early--- to I was possibly going to have the baby that evening and it being 4 weeks early and may have to stay in the NICU, I had a meltdown. (damn those hormones) I instantly became afraid for my daughter's health.

They monitored me for hours. They did another fern test which came back negative. I wasn't having consistent enough contractions or dilating. I was sent home. Before I was sent home, I was told that I was to be done working for the remainder of my pregnancy and put on bedrest because my blood pressure had elevated to 140/90- I am usually around 100/80, so this was extremely high for me.

I called home and told Larry that we weren't due for another month. He was in his 'party' mode. I went home and he was out. I had to meet my dad in Southfield so that I could pick up my new vehicle. That was fairly uneventful and took a few hours. Afterwards, I decided to take Ashia to my dad's house for awhile, as I was feeling quite uncomfortable after lying in triage all day.

I stayed at my dad's house watching some movie on cable and trying to kill time. I was having severe cramping by this point and starting to think that maybe this was it. Nothing was consistent though. My dad convinced me to let Ashia stay the night with him. I went home to an empty house.

I fell asleep around midnight. Larry stumbled in shortly there after. Around 2:30 am, I felt violently ill. I went to walk to my bathroom, and I couldn't stand up. I was in excruciating pain. I crawled to the bathroom and layed on the floor for about 20 minutes. I felt like I couldnt move. Something had to be wrong. I managed to crawl back to my bedroom and get the phone. I called the triage at the hospital and told them my problem. They couldn't get a hold of the oncall midwife and told me she would call me back momentarily. I got the call around 3:30 am. I told her what was going on, she asked if I was having contractions. I told her not any more, but that I couldn't walk. She asked if I was comfortable timing them for an hour- I told her I wanted to come in.

We made it to the hospital around 4:15 am. I started having consistent contractions 7 minutes apart on the way there. I would scream out in pain and grab larry's hand with each one. They were horrific. By the time we parked and made it up to the triage unit it was around 4;30 am. I finally saw the midwife at 4:45 am, and was checked. I was dilated to 5. I was being admitted. I asked for an epidural immediately. The anesthesiologist was paged. I called my dad. He was on his way.

At 5;00 am they had a room ready for me. The nurse had me sit in the wheel chair and they wheeled me to the high risk side. My blood pressure was now 150/90. They were getting concerned. As soon as I climbed into the bed, my water broke. The midwife was not in the room yet. I immediately felt the baby coming. I told the nurse... she yelled "dont push yet! we have to check you!" I said "i cant help it- she is coming RIGHT NOW" Within minutes, my daughters head had crowned, and the midwife made it in time to deliver the rest of her body. Kayleigh Lynn was born at 5:15 am. If we had timed our contractions for another hour as suggested, she very likely would have been born on the side of US 23..

Kayleigh came into this world with black hair, blue eyes, and weighed in at 7 lbs, 4 oz, and 19 1/2 inches long. Considering they estimated her to be 2-4 weeks early, she was doing great! She scored a 9 and 10 on her apgars, and was perfect.

6 months of hell and emotional anguish, of not knowing if she was going to be ok- everything turned out fine.

My dad walked into the room around 6 am. He had no idea I had already given birth. He couldn't believe she was already here! Ashia was brought to the hospital a few hours later.

It was love at first site.

Today is Kayleigh's 4th birthday, and its amazing how much she has grown and changed in these past four years. She is a very petite child. In fact, her and Savannah (who will be 2 in July) share most of their clothing. Kayleigh has an addiction to Shrek and My Little Pony. She can be a very stubborn child, but also very loving at times- when she is in the mood! Her biggest accomplishments this year are being potty trained and learning to ride a bike with training wheels.

Tonight we will celebrate by taking her to Build-A-Bear Work Shop and Chuck E Cheese's. Tomorrow is her "Dora the Explorer" sleep over. Its crazy how fast these years have just flown by. Sometimes I look at her and don't recognize her. I just want her to be a baby still! And she has grown so much- being the middle child she has a big sister to look up to and a little sister to be a role model for. Her and Savannah are best friends.

I'm going to stop by the store and pick my sweet little girl up some surprise balloons and cupcakes for the festivities tonight. I'm hoping she is as excited about tonight as I am :)

Stephanie

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Last 5 Entries:
An update. Just for mari. - 2005-07-21
Farewell, Diaryland. - 2004-11-01
not the ultimate sacrifice..but a pretty big one... - 2004-06-23
well. doesnt this suck? - 2004-06-12
A trip to paradise - 2004-06-10