The Story of Nora

We have told Anna's birth story over and over in the last 6 years. It is an eventful and interesting story. One of unexpected twists and turns. Before we got pregnant again I wondered what the next child's birth story would be. Would it be full of similar twists and turns or be a more normal pregnancy and birth script?

Well, since you have all come along with this roller coaster of a ride in the last couple of years I think you know the answer to that question. Nora's story does not disappoint! It is about time I get this story in the blog. I have it written in my journal so that I don't forget the details but time to share with you all too!

Thursday, April 22nd
After 8 weeks of bed rest at home and nearly 3 weeks in the hospital, I was sent home on the oral medication to keep the contractions away on Wednesday evening. By noon on Thursday I was wondering if what I was feeling was actually contractions. I decided to drink some water and take a nap. When I woke I did feel better but then when I went to the bathroom there was some blood so I called the hospital. They of course said to come on in. Chad rushed home and we headed down to Methodist Hospital. They brought me right to an antepartum room like what I had been in. Hooked me up to the monitors and sure enough, contractions every 7 minutes or so. But my cervix was still closed and didn't seem to be an eminent danger of delivering.

They hooked up that wonderful Magnesium Sulfate again to the highest dose they could. Didn't seem to be working. The contractions were getting harder and harder although staying between 5 and 7 minutes apart.

Friday, April 23rd - NORA'S BIRTH DAY!
Shortly after midnight the doctor came in again and said she was getting concerned that the contractions were not slowing down and the drugs were not working. She called over to Abbot Northwestern Hospital where Children's Hospital is located and got some advice from the high risk doctor there. He said, yes, I should be transferred.

By 2 am, the ambulance had arrived and I was transferred to Abbott. First ambulance ride for me and I am ok if that is my last! The contractions continued at around 7 minutes apart but again the doctor said my cervix was closed and the stitch was holding. Around 4 am the doctor at Abbott did an ultrasound. They measured the baby a little over 3 pounds but also noted that she was footling breach which basically just meant she was feet first instead of head down.

It was 5 am before they were done with assessing me and talking to me. We got a couple of hours of sleep in between contractions but they seemed to have slowed down quite a bit. Chad's phone rang a little after 7 am and it was our friends who were watching Anna and had her overnight. They said that Anna wasn't feeling well and wasn't sure if she should go to school. So what do I do..... Send Chad home to get her and assess the situation. If he thought she was ok, she was off to school.

Well, he never got home to see it for himself. Shortly after he left I went to the bathoom and well be prepared for TMI right here. Ok, you have been warned. There was a lot of blood. More than I thought should be normal. I called in the new nurse that JUST got on duty and she got the doctor right away. Yes, too much blood. He checked my cervix again and the stitch was pulling and there was a lot of pressure. The stitch had to come out. I thought, ok, great, take the stitch out and we will see what happens. And then he drops the bomb... The stitch has to come out BUT FIRST we will need to deliver your baby girl by c-section. Because as soon as we pull that stitch out here foot will be right there. Can't deliver naturally. Let the tears and fears begin.

And so, just like with Anna I sent him away and then I call him back! He was prepared this time. As soon as he saw my number come up on his phone he pulled into the turn lane and made a U turn. Through my hysterics he understood that he needed to come back.

I was so scared he wouldn't get there before they had to take me in. They were concerned about the blood loss. They wanted to move fast. They started prepping me for surgery and going a mile a minute around me. Chad did get there in time and had just enough time to change into scrubs before they wheeled me away. Because I had taken a blood thinner shot the day before I had to be put under general anesthesia and Chad couldn't be in the room with me. I was so scared with how fast everything was going.

If you had surgery before you know that feeling of laying on the table with them all running around you. Everyone has a job to do and they are doing it but it seems very chaotic from a patient perspective. I was feeling that way and had many tears but then the good Dr. Wagner called for silence. He asked everyone to stop. He waited just a moment or two and then went over what they were in there for. What the task at hand was. Asked if everyone was ready and they answered in unison that they were. He then asked if I was ready. I was. It is amazing what those few moments of silence did for me. Centered me. Gave me a chance to say a prayer to myself. I am so grateful for those moments the Dr gave me. And then at 8:49 am Miss Nora Grace was born.

Next thing I know I am waking up in the recovery room. I was so tired. Could barely keep my eyes open. It is all a little fuzzy to me but I remember seeing the doctor and him telling me that Nora was GREAT and is now in the NICU. He told me how much she weighed in grams and I asked what that was in pounds! The nurse confirmed that she weighed 3 lbs 10 oz. I couldn't believe it. That is what Anna weighed when she was born!

Chad also visited me while I was still waking up! Again, fuzzy memories but he also confirmed that Nora was actually born and was doing great. She would be ok. And yes she weighed 3 lbs 10 oz and was 16.75 inches long. 3/4 of an inch longer than Anna even though she was born a week earlier than her.

Nora was placed on a ventilator right away but really they thought she was doing great and probably would not need that for long. After Nora was taken by c-section Chad was able to see her in the room next door to me. He checked in on me too and got to see more than he expected. My stomach was still open and he got to see my insides. Nice huh? Anyway, he went with Nora down to the NICU and got her situated and then came up to be with me.

After a few hours I was finally awake enough to talk and interact with people and they thought it was time to wheel me down, in my bed, to see Nora for the first time. As I was wheeled away I was greeted by my mom and dad and some dear friends that were waiting and part of it all!

Fuzzy memories tell me that I was blown away at how beautiful she was and how much hair she had. The hair was also very black and appeared to be curly! I also remember feeling so relieved that she was ok. Everyone that said anything about her condition had nothing but good to say. Relieved that in a way it was all over and in a way it was all just beginning! I was still really out of it so didn't stay long. Wheeled up to my room to nap and recover.

The rest of that day was spent resting and in a surreal state of "Did that really just happen?". The friends and family that were there got pictures quickly put on the lap top so I could see the latest and greatest after every visit to her. I didn't feel well enough to go down to see her again until later that evening when Aunt Angie and Uncle Scott came to visit but Chad and others went down a couple of times. And even then I was in so much pain. I couldn't believe the pain.

Let me give you some advice. Shortly after you have a c-section - don't attempt to laugh. It will hurt. A lot. And make sure everyone in your room is aware of this rule.

The problem was when I sent out a tweet finally that said that Miss Nora was born I attached a picture. Some where in the world of Twitpic, my picture of adorable sweet Nora got crossed with another picture that someone else took of their steak and potato dinner. But I didn't look at the pic, I just sent the tweet. Minutes later Chad is looking at the tweet and asked me why I posted a picture of steak and potatoes instead of one of our newly born daughter. What? Well, when I went back and checked this is what I saw.

Surprise! NORA GRACE is here! 3lbs 10 oz.. 16 3/4 inches long.. Nora is doing well & so is mom, dad & big sister! http://twitpic.com/1htt9

I laughed so hard and thought I had popped all of my stitches and had some serious internal bleeding. Don't do that hours after a c-section.

Anna spent the day with a friend of ours and finally that afternoon we had him bring her to the hospital. It was so fun to share with her that Nora had been born and she was a big sister! She was so excited but maybe also a little confused! But she went with a friend to get a present for her sister and was just so excited to be able to meet her!

Anyway, that is the story of Miss Nora Grace! So much more has happened since that day. She was only on the ventilator for less than 24 hours. She is doing great and my recovery is going well too. My next post will give you some more information about what has happened since that day! Hard to believe it has been over a week now! In the world of preemies, every day can be dramatically different than the day before. Even though we don't have Nora home with us we are feeling the exhaustion of being new parents again. This week coming up though should get us more into a routine until her coming home day! Boy are we excited for that day.

Nora's story from the day she was conceived until 8:49 am on Friday, April 23rd is one of great challenges and ups and downs. Time of great anxiety in the beginning and perseverance towards the end. But we can already say that every moment of those 30 weeks 4 days was worth it. She is here and we are so thankful for that. I already can't imagine her not being our daughter. Not being part of our lives. Look forward to the continued joy she will bring to us!

And now for you faithful readers that made it through this very long post, you are to be rewarded! Rewarded with pictures of Nora from the last 9 days! CLICK HERE TO SEE THE FACEBOOK PHOTO ALBUM OF NORA GRACE!