Emily's Birth....

This is an extra long post---but for my own record--I wanted Emily's birth....









Emily’s Birth
On Friday, May 11, I went and had a root canal—not so fun experience—but had to be done!!! I had just been to my baby Doctor right before getting my root canal and my doctor did some test to make sure I wasn’t having preterm labor—everything looked GREAT!! No signs of preterm labor at all—WONDERFUL news!! I actually even felt great too---well as good as you can for just getting a root canal and being 28 ½ weeks pregnant!

I came home and just hung out for the evening—nothing too exciting. We went to bed and about 2:30 a.m. I woke up and by bed was wet—oh dear!! I can’t even describe the feeling I had. I didn’t wake Troy up at that point. I thought to myself—maybe it was just an accident—being pregnant is not the easiest thing on your bladder!! I get up and changed and cleaned things up and went to the bathroom—then crawled back into bed—hoping everything would be fine and dandy!! I was still VERY paranoid and of course could NOT sleep. I then noticed each time I moved—I felt liquid coming out—I then REALLY began to get scared!! I woke Troy up and at that point I was in tears!! I hadn’t felt a gush—but my fear was that my water had broken—I was absolutely TERRIFIED!! I was only 28 ½ weeks along---I couldn’t have this baby yet!! I wasn’t ready, she was NOT ready to come out—well, she shouldn’t have been ready yet, plus we didn’t even have a name!! I had so many thoughts going through my mind---I called my Mom, and her and Dad came up and stayed with Tyler, Brandon, and Kara.

I threw some stuff in a bag and we headed to Boise!! I still had water leaking out off and on—I was not having contractions though—good thing!! It was a LONG 45 minute drive to St. Luke’s. I was in tears and Troy was trying to comfort me saying everything would be okay and they will probably check me out and then send me home—I knew that would not be the case---it just didn’t feel right!! I think Troy did too; he was just being the loving husband that he is and trying to comfort me. We got to the hospital and go to the second floor and explain my situation. They of course treat you like you do not know anything. I tried to explain to them this is Baby #4 for me and I have babies early and would like to prevent this one from coming early!!

They checked me all in get our paperwork done—I got into my room and the first thing they did is check me to see if the liquid that is leaking is amniotic fluid. At that point, I was of course full of questions---asking if it was my water if the baby had to be delivered within 48 hours---you hear that—NOT true!! My water was broke---however I did not deliver her within 48 hours-----I kept her in TEN more LONG days!! What a true blessing!! They kept me in a room with an IV and all these machines and monitors on me to keep a close watch on the baby and to make sure I wasn’t progressing—I stayed there for 2 days. I had the 2 shots I needed for the baby’s lungs!! HOLY COW!!! Those were PAINFUL—but oh so worth it!! Then I moved into a normal room where they just came in and monitored the baby 4 times a day for an hour to make sure she was OK and to make sure I was not contracting. My doctor was nice enough to let me shower each day if I was fast and sat down---I gotta have my showers!!!

I spent TEN long days in the Hospital. WOW—talk about up and down emotions! Troy was oh soooo GOOD—he stayed by my side the entire time!! Well, he went to the work (Woodgrain Millwork) during the day---but he was by my side each night---I know that was not the most comfy for him---those NICE hospital couches!! He also had to work at UPS loading trucks early in the morning so we had better Insurance. Woodgrain had TERRIBLE insurance, so when we found out we were expecting Emily, Troy went back to UPS and started loading boxes again from 4 a.m. to 8 a.m. so we had some insurance that would actually help pay for our medical bills.

Tyler and Brandon stayed with Mom and Dad and Lynn and Debbie---FAMILIES are the BEST!! Michelle kept Kara most of the time---talk about a TRUE friend!! We truly are blessed to live close to both of our parents and have WONDERFUL friends---they were all LIFESAVERS!! Mom and Dad brought the kids over on Mother’s Day to see me---not so fun Mother’s Day that year!! There were many days I would call my Mom and Dad in tears—and they would lift my spirits!! Being 100% bed rest is an experience I do NOT want to live through again!!! I had many visits from friends, ward members, and of course my brothers and sisters!! We truly were blessed!!!

I felt fine the whole time I was there---well except for the little melt downs I had wanting to be at home with my kids and not knowing what the health of this baby would be coming so early!! Each day my doctor came in to visit me, he congratulated me for keeping her in ONE more day!!! One day in the womb is equal to about week in the NICU!! I had ultrasounds every 3 days checking on the progress of the baby—she was fully developed—what a BLESSING!! I was on an IV nine of the days I was there---with antibiotics pumping into me so I wouldn’t get infected. The arithramiasin (sp) they were giving me KILLED going in!! I had 8 different IV sites they tried---ya, it kept blowing out!! I was almost to the point I had to have a Pic Line in—but I didn’t—I made it through the number of bags of antibiotic my Dr wanted me to---he then said after that (9 days I had been there) he would not stop me when she decides to come!!

It was Monday, May 21, and Troy did not get back from work until 7ish that day—he had to work late. He came into my room and I just didn’t feel very good—he asked me what was wrong and I told him I just didn’t feel right. I ordered dinner—I could not eat---he ate and then jumped in the shower!! I turned the TV on and tried to get my mind off how I felt. I couldn’t---I knew they were contractions—so I called my nurse—we had switched to the night nurse and she was NOT nice!! GREAT!! Being there TEN days, I had ALL wonderful nurses---the night I go into labor—I get a crappy one!! GREAT!!! I have to page her THREE times—Troy was in the shower or he would have went and got her—she finally comes in ALL irritated and explains to me she is busy with another patient---I told her I didn’t care—I was having contractions and I didn’t want to fully dilate since I was having a C-section. She blew me off and said I was fine and she would be back later—oh, I was NOT a happy camper!! She came back in 30 minutes later and put the monitor on me and it was not picking up the contractions, so she treated me rudely and told me I was NOT having contractions!!

I then proceeded to tell her this was NOT my first child and I KNEW what contractions felt like. She then told me she had to call my doctor to see what he wanted her to do. I told her he was gong to say that he was going to let her come and NOT to try to stop me!! She would not listen to me!! OH, I was NOT happy!!! I didn’t have an IV at that point and I was beginning to have HARD contractions!! I told her this was soooo stupid—I was in labor and dilating-when I was having a C-section!! I wanted an IV and I wanted it NOW—I knew I would have to get it done before I could go into surgery!! My arm was all bruised from my 8 IV sites—I looked like a drug user!! I had to have THREE different nurses come in to do my IV—they couldn’t find my veins!! At this point, I was in Major PAIN and NOT happy because a lot of the pain could have been eliminated if my lovely nurse would have listened to me at the very beginning when my contractions were just small—but oh no—I didn’t know anything according to her!!! I was a little upset--but finally they got my IV in and they raced me off to the operating room!!

I have to be honest---the only guy I really cared about seeing was the anesthesiologist--I wanted out of my pain!! He got me comfortable and then the worry set in. I knew I was delivering WAY too early--but I was still comforted. My Heavenly Father was watching over our family--we truly were blessed!! My Doctor was not on call--but I had a terrific one---Dr. Hodges!! He was AWESOME!! It all happened so fast and he knew I was fully dialated and in PAIN--he was sooo calm and GREAT!! He was so calm the entire time which helped me stay calm!! I threw up once during the surgery---ugh!! YUCK!!!

At 10:29 p.m. Emily joined the world--she was BEAUTIFUL but oh soooo LITTLE!! She weighed 3 pounds 5 ounces!! I really did not get to see her because they took her right to the NICU---which I totally expected!! They did set her on my chest and let me kiss her for one second though---so SWEET!! WOW---there isn't even words to explain how it feels to have the baby that you were carrying inside of you---set on top of you so you can kiss on her!! Life truly is a MIRACLE!!

The surgery went PERFECTLY--now I just had to quickly get out of the recovery room so I could head up to the NICU to see my baby---that is the worst part of having such early babies---you are in the recovery room without your baby---NOT FUN!!!

We made it through the recovery room and then headed up to the NICU to see our baby---at this point she did not have a name--we were going to call her Kali--but she ended up Emily!! I like Emily much better. We got back to our own room by 2:30--Troy laid down and took a couple hour nap and then had to head to UPS. He could not miss a day or he would not have enough hours to get the insurance. Emily must have known that--she came at a good time so he could be there with me, but still head back to work. It was all CRAZY---but we made it work!!

We knew Emily would be in the NICU for awhile so they arranged a room at the Ronald McDonald House across the street for us. It was soo nice--I was able to be there for EVERY feeding for Emily. She was PERFECTLY healthy-everything all developed--just needed time to grow and get strong enough to eat on her own!!

We stayed in the NICU for 30 days---seemed long at the time--but we really were blessed--she was HEALTHY!! We have the VERY best Parents and Friends who helped care for our children at home!! It was miserable not being able to be together as a family--but it was comforting knowing that they were being cared for. We ended up spending the week with Emily at the NICU and going home on the Weekends to be together as a family for the other kids!! It was one HAPPY day when we could leave the hospital--Emily was still under 5 pounds when we left--but she was eating on her own and gaining weight---that was our only requirements to GET OUT!! Overall, we had wonderful nurses in the NICU--but there is still NO PLACE like HOME!!! Our lives were kinda of chaotic from May 11 to June 22--but it was well worth it when we got to take our sweet bundle of joy HOME!!!

Friday, June 22--we left the Hospital---one HAPPY day for the Thompson Family!!!