MAGnificient Maggie's Birth Story- Part II

This is a continuation from a previous post. I do apologize as a mom of a baby in the NICU for a week and now at home with a 2 week old and a 21 month old, spare time to type is not something I have much of. So here I am working on Part II and who knows how long I have to type so let's jump in and see how far I get.

After the triage nurse and doctor confirmed I was only a "dimple" of a 1, the nurse suggested to me and to AJ and my sister that maybe if I got up and walked it might help things progress. So after puking a few more times, I climbed out of bed, sat in the chair and tried to get motivated to go for a walk. One would think walking when you are barely in labor or progressing wouldn't be that hard, but for whatever reason it was hard!

AJ and Christy convinced me to get moving and off we headed out the door of the triage room down the hall, right in front of the admitting desk. I felt lightheaded and horrible to say the least but my labor team was determined to get me to progress so they tried to convince me to keep going. I was hanging on to the railing in the hallway for dear life. I tried to convince them I was dizzy and going to pass out, but they were determined I was fine and keep pushing me a little further. Finally, I tried to kneel down on the floor because I was so lightheaded and they figured I meant business so they let me turn around and head back to the room. I think we had gone all of 20 feet! On the way back, I felt like I was going to puke again and really didn't want to in the middle of the hall, so I was holding it back with everything I had but gagging with each step. I would heave forward and hold it in all the while AJ would flinch back and gag slightly since he pukes when others are puking. My sister was quickly walking in front of us to get to the room and grab a barf bag. It was one of the more comedic moments in my head from that night.

I made it back to the room and onto the bed before puking which was a good thing, but that was the last time they convinced me to go walking. Later my sister told me she forgot how easily lightheaded I get and apologized for not believing me. Sometimes, I am a wimp and need some persuasion, but this was not one of those times!

So back in to bed I crawled and they decided to hook up a IV line and get some fluids in my body since I was puking so much and give me some anti nausea medicine that would also make me drowsy and help with the pain a little. So after three tries and a ER nurse, I was hooked up and getting fluids and some meds. I was feeling drowsy and would fall asleep after each contraction but would wake up with each one as they were painful. At this point I was starting to have back labor and that to me is the absolute worst. And all the while I just keep thinking, I am barely a 1, how am I ever going to make it to a 10??

Another side note, I have lost all track of times and so I really don't know times well. So who knows how long or short things and events were? All I do know is that I went to the hospital around 3am on Sunday morning and had Maggie at 11:10pm that night. I did labor at home from 8pm-3am with very consistent contractions so we will call Maggie's labor about 27 hours. Porter was a 36 hour labor so anything less was a win-win in my book. Um, looking back I am not sure I would agree with that now.

Well, Maggie is awake and ready to be fed and then off to bed. At this rate, this may be a 12 part series!! I will keep posting parts as I have time. My sister wrote most of the major details in her post a little while back, but I still want to get my memories and point of view down for all to read.

Thanks for keeping up with us and for all your thoughts, encouragement and prayers! We are so blessed by all who have prayed for us and supported us through this and continue too. Thank you!

This is for you!

I wanted to take the time to call some people out for the amazing roll they played in Maggie's success. This is going to be an ongoing post, so please don't be offended if we haven't featured you in this section. We will hopefully get to you soon and if we never do please know that we are so unbelievably grateful for everything that people have done to help. We truly have an amazing community around us. 


The very first person I want to thank is Katie Meerdink. You may be wondering why I am thanking Katie first over countless numbers of deserving family, medical professionals, and friends. I mean Katie wasn't even our delivery nurse. Let me tell you why.

I have a few key images in my mind from the delivery. The first and probably most disturbing image is that of my newborn baby completely blue/black/brown and totally unresponsive. In my mind I believed her to be dead. I won't ever forget that image. 

After a whirlwind of doctors and nurses I came across a new image. This was the image of Katie pumping air into the lungs of my little girl. Katie was literally breathing life into Maggie. Katie continued to pump that air into little Magnolia Raine for what felt like a lifetime. My best guess is that it was a 1/2 hour to an hour, but it could have been much shorter then that or much longer. All I know is when Maggie left the delivery room Katie was breathing for her and when I went into the Nursery she was still breathing for her. Things were happening all around Maggie. There were four, five, or even six people at a time moving frantically around Katie, but she stayed strong. 1, 2, 3 pumping the air. 

Katie, I am not sure how often you get to do something like that, but let me tell you that this time what you did for Maggie, Myself, Maryanne, Porter and countless others who love and care for Maggie will never be forgotten. Words cannot express the gratitude I have for you being there that night. 

Thank You,

AJ 

So True

HOME!

Ms. Maggie went home today! Praise the Lord!! The doctors and the NP all were surprised how well she was doing, and wouldn't have guessed she would be ready to go home. But she did. Today, Maggie had another EEG, or brainwave test, that was looking if there was any indicators for seizure activity. Overall, the test was reassuring. It still was not completely normal, but basically the results show that Maggie has a potential for seizures, but is not having any seizures. The NP told Maryanne this, "Put this result on the back burner, be aware of it, but don't be scared of it. Treat Maggie like a normal newborn baby." Such good news. We continue to trust and rest in Jesus for His comfort as Maryanne, AJ, and Porter now have Maggie at home.

Nursing like a Champ

Just a quick update. Maryanne told me that Maggie is nursing like a champ, just like her brother Porter did! So exciting! We praise the Lord for bringing us to this place, where Maggie seems to be doing so well. But it has reminded me to continue to pray for our little ones, to ask for God's direction each day, and not to take things for granted. This morning in church we sang the song, "In Christ Alone." Definitely one of my favorite worship songs. The line that I don't think I'll ever sing the same way is,

"From life's first cry to final breath, Jesus commands my destiny."

God didn't grant Maggie a first cry right away when she was born. But He did grant this a few short days later. Everything is,

"In Christ Alone."

A Video to Tide You Over

So I have been informed that it is still going to be a few days before Maggie gets out. Maryanne said that they still need to do some tests and have some specialists look at her. So until she gets out and everyone has a chance to meet her I will provide you with a video of the first time we got to hold her.You can view it in high def if you click through to YouTube. Again thanks to Valerie for putting this together and posting up for us. You are the best.

Update From the Field

It appears that Maggie and Maryanne are showing everyone how it is done. Maggie is eating like a champ and Maryanne is there for her whenever she is in need. Maryanne is being told that the central line is coming out at 3pm. That means they are confident that Maryanne and Maggie can sustain all the nutrition Maggie needs. The central line is the last intervention that she is receiving right now. All the other wires are simply for monitoring her. With all that said I would guess Maggie will be out in this amazing weather in a day or two. I am so proud of both Maryanne and Maggie for their fighting spirit and strength. I have a feeling that Maggie is going to be Maryanne's "Mini-Me". We will keep you posted on future progress.