Dear Madelynne,
I remember it like it was yesterday...the day you were born. You were three days OVERdue and there were plans for me to be induced into labor by the end of the week. We had waited for what seemed like SO long. My hospital bag was packed, your baby "nursery" was all ready - we were so excited to meet you - and so curious to see if we would have a new son or a daughter!
I had been up off and on during the night feeling very sick to my stomach when I finally awoke around 4 AM with a painful start.
"Ugh," I remember thinking. "This must be what a contraction feels like!"
Right off the bat, my contractions were fairly close together. I, of course, thought it would be a great idea to first take a shower and fix my hair before going to the hospital (pictures, you know)...then I woke your dad up a little before 5 AM.
"I think we should call the hospital - I have been in labor for about an hour now and it really hurts!" I told him.
Daddy called the hospital and they gave him the usual line of questioning, "How far apart are the contractions? How long are they lasting? Is this your first child? You might want to have your wife try to lie down and get some rest."
"Umm, I don't think she's going to be able to get any rest," Daddy responded, as he glanced over at me.
"Well, can your wife talk through the contractions?" the nursed asked.
At this point I was literally crawling around on the floor gasping for breath (no talking was being done!) - I don't think I had ever quite imagined pain like this!
Once Daddy finished writing up his lesson plans for school (I'm not really sure WHY he didn't have them completed before this point and time!) we finally headed out to the hospital. We arrived around 6:20 AM to find out I was dilated to 7 cm! I was so relieved to find my OB doctor was there! Shortly after that my water broke and the rest remains a bit of a blur.
I remember Daddy feeling faint and the nurses telling him to sit down, then they ran to get him some juice (Hello? Who was the patient here?). I remember Daddy kept kindly asking me if I wanted ice chips - I didn't - but it was a suggestion he had gleaned from our birthing classes. I remember the nurses telling me not to push, but my body wanted to push anyway! I remember screaming - and quickly apologizing for screaming. I remember your heart rate went WAY down because the umbilical cord was wrapped around your neck - and so the doctor decided to vacuum you out. Yes, I said vacuum! You poor little thing, you had quite the cone-shaped bruise on the top of your head for awhile. So...at 8:20 AM, you officially entered our lives.
The doctor proclaimed, "It's a little girl!"
"It is?" I asked, in a bit of shock. Throughout the past nine months, so many people had guessed I was having a boy, I must have been convinced somewhere along the line that you were going to be a boy!
We took you home on Friday, October 13th, only to bring you back in the next day to get your bilirubin levels checked...again. You had blood incompatibility jaundice (or ABO incompatibility) because our blood types are incompatible. The levels were still high, so they decided to admit you to Pediatrics to be placed under a bank of bili lights. I was so scared...and so very tired...I had hardly slept a wink the past three days and now I was fearful of the potential gravity of the situation - the doctor mentioned the possibility of blood transfusions if your bilirubin levels didn't start to go down! You cried so much of the time and didn't like being under the phototherapy lights. I felt so badly for you and only wanted to hold you...
It was good to FINALLY bring you home - though we had to have you on a "wallaby" light blanket for several days.
Oh, Madelynne! Where have the past eight years gone? I can hardly believe you are eight years old today! Yet I daily see all the ways in which you have grown and continue to grow. You have brought us so much joy, laughter, and insight. Your inquisitive and curious nature and your concern for others are such endearing qualities. Your adventuresome spirit, boundless imagination, and love for adventure keep me on my toes.
How I pray that the Lord will continue to mold your heart, to grow and mature you, and that He will use the unique personality He has chosen to gift you with for His glory and purpose.
I love you, my Madelynne Claire!!! Happy 8th Birthday!
Love,
Mommy
I remember it like it was yesterday...the day you were born. You were three days OVERdue and there were plans for me to be induced into labor by the end of the week. We had waited for what seemed like SO long. My hospital bag was packed, your baby "nursery" was all ready - we were so excited to meet you - and so curious to see if we would have a new son or a daughter!
I had been up off and on during the night feeling very sick to my stomach when I finally awoke around 4 AM with a painful start.
"Ugh," I remember thinking. "This must be what a contraction feels like!"
Right off the bat, my contractions were fairly close together. I, of course, thought it would be a great idea to first take a shower and fix my hair before going to the hospital (pictures, you know)...then I woke your dad up a little before 5 AM.
"I think we should call the hospital - I have been in labor for about an hour now and it really hurts!" I told him.
Daddy called the hospital and they gave him the usual line of questioning, "How far apart are the contractions? How long are they lasting? Is this your first child? You might want to have your wife try to lie down and get some rest."
"Umm, I don't think she's going to be able to get any rest," Daddy responded, as he glanced over at me.
"Well, can your wife talk through the contractions?" the nursed asked.
At this point I was literally crawling around on the floor gasping for breath (no talking was being done!) - I don't think I had ever quite imagined pain like this!
Once Daddy finished writing up his lesson plans for school (I'm not really sure WHY he didn't have them completed before this point and time!) we finally headed out to the hospital. We arrived around 6:20 AM to find out I was dilated to 7 cm! I was so relieved to find my OB doctor was there! Shortly after that my water broke and the rest remains a bit of a blur.
I remember Daddy feeling faint and the nurses telling him to sit down, then they ran to get him some juice (Hello? Who was the patient here?). I remember Daddy kept kindly asking me if I wanted ice chips - I didn't - but it was a suggestion he had gleaned from our birthing classes. I remember the nurses telling me not to push, but my body wanted to push anyway! I remember screaming - and quickly apologizing for screaming. I remember your heart rate went WAY down because the umbilical cord was wrapped around your neck - and so the doctor decided to vacuum you out. Yes, I said vacuum! You poor little thing, you had quite the cone-shaped bruise on the top of your head for awhile. So...at 8:20 AM, you officially entered our lives.
The doctor proclaimed, "It's a little girl!"
"It is?" I asked, in a bit of shock. Throughout the past nine months, so many people had guessed I was having a boy, I must have been convinced somewhere along the line that you were going to be a boy!
We took you home on Friday, October 13th, only to bring you back in the next day to get your bilirubin levels checked...again. You had blood incompatibility jaundice (or ABO incompatibility) because our blood types are incompatible. The levels were still high, so they decided to admit you to Pediatrics to be placed under a bank of bili lights. I was so scared...and so very tired...I had hardly slept a wink the past three days and now I was fearful of the potential gravity of the situation - the doctor mentioned the possibility of blood transfusions if your bilirubin levels didn't start to go down! You cried so much of the time and didn't like being under the phototherapy lights. I felt so badly for you and only wanted to hold you...
It was good to FINALLY bring you home - though we had to have you on a "wallaby" light blanket for several days.
How I pray that the Lord will continue to mold your heart, to grow and mature you, and that He will use the unique personality He has chosen to gift you with for His glory and purpose.
I love you, my Madelynne Claire!!! Happy 8th Birthday!
Love,
Mommy
6 comments:
How fun to read about this all again and what a wonderful idea, Lori, to write this all down to always remember!!!
Love the pictures of Madelynne and LOVE Madelynne too!! :-)
You are such a special girl, Madelynne! We love you...Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday Madelynne!! Wow, isn't it amazing how fast they grow up!! It was fun to read about her "Birth" Day, thanks for sharing!! Blessings
Happy Birthday Madelynne!:)
The memories of Madelynne's birth are something she will always love to read and re-read in the future.
She is such a beautiful person, God did a good job with her!
Her pictures are wonderful, such a happy girl.
Happy Day Madelynne,
I remember the day you were born, Your Daddy called your Uncle Chris and I and told us, "It's a girl!"
We couldn't wait to meet you, you were and are still a very beautiful little girl whom we love dearly.
Love Auntie Jen and Uncle Chris
Madelynne,
I am late with a "Happy Birthday!" wish, but have been thinking of you as your birthday was marked on our calendar! Look for a package in the mail soon!
Your mother's letter brought tears of joy to my eyes. Babies are truly gifts from God and their moments of arrival are something their parents remember in great detail forever!!
Psalm 139 comes to mind: "I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made..."
Love,
Great-Aunt Lindsey
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