Lorabelle's Birth

               

                   It was so cool to see the Lord's hand at work in every aspect of Lorabelle's birth.  My nurse, Shelly was with me for Hank's delivery also. She usually doesn't work more than 2 days a week, but she happened to be working and taking care of me all 3 days I was in labor and delivery. She took such good care of me and talked about Hank and included him in our family. My friend Cindy so sweetly offered to take pictures of her birth. When we found out that it would be by c section, we didn't think that was going to happen. But, we asked and Shelly said as long as the anesthesiologist agrees. So when he came to talk to me that morning, we asked and he said yes! 
Cindy and Nathan got changed into their scrubs and hats and at a little after 8:30 in the morning on Saturday June 23, they wheeled me back to the operating room. Nathan and Cindy waited outside while I got hooked up to the monitors and got my spinal. They laid me back down and started prepping me for surgery. They kept testing to see if I was numb by rubbing alcohol on my stomach. It kept feeling cold so they tilted me back a little to see if they could get the spinal to work better. When Shelly cleaned my belly, I said it was cold and everyone was surprised that I could feel it.  So they asked if I could move my toes, and when I could, the anesthesiologist said, "That's not good." Yep,  not words you want to hear coming from the guy in charge of numbing you. They got me draped and said they would do a pinch test. I don't know what they were pinching my belly with, but it hurt! At that point, they said I was going to have to be put to sleep. I was so upset! The anesthesiologist said that the spinal fails less than 5 % of the time. I was thinking, am I ever going to get to experience the birth of one of children??
               The anesthesiologist and nurse anesthetist were both great to me, and said I know this isn't the way any of us wanted this to happen, but we are going to take good care of you and get you awake just as soon as you are done so you can hold her. I was so worried they wouldn't let Nathan in for the birth like with Hank because they were going to put me to sleep. They brought him in and told him that I would have to go to sleep but that he could come in after they got me to sleep. They sent him out and Shelly came over and grabbed my hand and said, " I know this is not at all the way you wanted to have her, but she is going to be here soon and we will have her in your arms as soon as you wake up, and this is still going to be a good experience." She held my hand as they put the mask on my face, put the medicine in my IV, and as I went to sleep with big tears rolling down my face. 
  Nathan was allowed back in and got to see as our daughter was pulled from me. Shelly even took a few pictures for us. The, they even let Cindy come in the room to take pictures as well. I am so thankful that they allowed her in the room to capture what I was unable to experience. Here are the photos Shelly took:

Nathan got to cut her cord short after she went to the nurse. Her Nurse's name was Kathy, and Kathy just happened to be the nurse taking care of Hank when he was delivered.

 Our chunky girl weighed in at 7 pounds 14 ounces and was 19 1/4 inches long

Oh, I love that chubby face!

             
                   Nathan went with Lorabelle to the Nursery to get her vitamin K shot and to warm up and assess her. Then, she came straight back to my labor and delivery room where they took me to recover. I woke up to her coming in to see me!
It was so amazing to meet her for the first time! She was awake and alert and looked me right in the eyes. She already knew me! Nathan handed her to me and I held her close while we stared at each other. She came out hungry!I was able to feed her right away, and she knew just what to do.  I will have to add these pictures when I get them.... they are amazing. 
             Lorabelle got to meet her Meme and Aunt Nancy first, and then she got to meet her PawPaw who she shared her birthday with. Then she came back to my chest and family and friends began coming in a few at a time to see her. I didn't give her up for quite a while though, so they just got to look at my beautiful girl. 
            Then, Nathan went back to the nursery with her to give her her first bath. I'm so glad he was the one to do it! Here he is washing her hair. 

 

 

              We stayed in the hospital for 2 days before getting to go home. We were so ready!!! Dr. Ogdee came by Monday morning to see me and couldn't believe I had her while he was gone. But he was just so happy for her to be here safe and sound! He said we could stay another another night and we said no way! So our nurse started getting everything ready for us to go home. Dr. Bullock also came by just to see me again and say congratulations. She was another person put in place by God for Lorabelle's delivery. She was so good to us and so supportive. She was encouraging at the beginning of the week when having a vaginal delivery was still the plan and that is hard to find in a doctor. When the specialist, Dr. Maberry started getting nervous and wanting me to deliver, Dr. Bullock agreed and said that since I wasn't dilated at all yet, she thought it was best to have a c section as well. And for her to come in on Saturday and do a non emergency surgery when she wasn't even on call, that is so, so nice. 
               We got our paperwork done, and took some pictures before heading home. 

 It felt so good to have her home! It was such a different trip home from the hospital than it was this time last year. Even with my heart being full of joy for this little girl and her homecoming, it was also heavy with missing Hank. That hurt has been even more intense as I hold my little girl and see that she has his eyes, and wish he was looking over my shoulder at her.

All that coming home business was hard work..... so then, we rested.

1 Samuel 1:27 I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him.
Thank you Lord for this most unbelievable, precious gift. May I not ever take her for granted. You are so gracious in giving us this gift and I am so thankful for my family of four.