Emily's Introduction

With Emily's pregnancy I started with the same OB/GYN that had delivered our first daughter. With Emily's pregnancy early on they said she was an IUGR baby (intrauterine growth retardation). That we should expect much of the same experiences, early induction, and small weight comparable to our first daughter. We had decided that we wanted our children to be close in age, so as soon as I okay the okay from the doctor, we started trying again. I became pregnant with Emily quite easy again. We moved a couple of times during my pregnancy with her and in my third trimester we were 45 minutes away from my delivering doctor and rural hospital. I was trying to hold out hope that I wouldn't have to be induced this time and that baby could just come when she was ready. From my past experiences I was considered high risk and therefore had more appointments and ultrasounds leading into my 3rd trimester. Baby was small but healthy as far as they could tell. I had a 36 week ultrasound booked, we had one vehicle at the time and my husband was rushing to get home from work to take me to my appointment. In our rush I had left my cellphone on the kitchen table, at least I remember the toddler right! We didn't plan on being gone long so I had packed lightly for our daughter, a couple of diapers, 2 full bottles, and small container of snacks. I had my ultrasound, the technician told me I was done and able to leave. We decided that since we where close to my in-laws place that we would stop for a little visit, and I could have a rest before heading back out the opposite way. I had been having what I was assuming where Braxton-hicks, and they had been keeping me up most nights. Paired with chasing a toddler around and still settling into our new living arrangements I was just tired. My mother-in-law had cooked a meal and after eating I had dozed off in a rocking chair. My husband woke me up as we needed to get going home.

Shortly after he woke me, the phone rang. It was my mother and needed to speak to me, my father-in-law passed the phone over to me. "Hello" I said, my mother on the other end seemed slightly frantic as she was expressing that the hospital had called her. They had been trying to reach me and were unable to. I needed to come back to the hospital right away, I needed to be induced hours ago. Emily's percentile had fallen down to the 3rd percentile and it paramount that I get to the hospital for an emergency induction. We asked if Alexis's could stay and of course it was a unneeded question, but your mind is never quite working right in these situations. We literally kissed Alexis good-bye told the in-laws that we would call them and left. We were at the hospital within 15 minutes and I was taken into a room and water was broke almost immediately after arriving. My doctor left after breaking my waters, and was on call for my delivery. I had the same nurse as before and we settled into what we thought would be hours of labor.

As before I made progress till I hit 5cm and then I stalled out. I decided once more that we would get the epidural then. As we waited for the anesthesiologist to come and do the epidural procedure, I was starting to feel more and more pressure. He only had the testing line in my back and nothing was actually hooked up or taped down. It was getting very uncomfortable to sit on the edge on the bed and wait for him to finish. I told my nurse that I thought baby was coming, this time she didn't doubt me. She got me turned around and laid down in the bed and told the other nurse to call the doctor. It was an extremely fast delivery, and doctor came running into the room after our little Emily was already in the nurses hands. She was small, but breathing and crying up a storm. Doctor checked her over, delivered the placenta, visited with us for a bit and it was over. There was way less fuss from the medical staff as this was our second baby. Emily was a small 5 pounds 5 ounces at birth and 20 inches long, despite being born early she was healthy and had no reasons for concerns. Family came in to see her, and then we were moved to a shared room. Alexis, meeting her little sister for the first time was quite funny and the introduction was actually captured on camera and it is a family favorite photo. The in-laws told us about how they had to get creative with Alexis's care because of our under packed bag and rags were used in the changing of her diapers. My husband left with our oldest and took her home for the night and they were going to return in the morning after taking care of the dogs. I settled in for the night with Emily and it was an interesting one due to sharing a room with a new mom who had a colic baby. First thing in the morning my doctor came by, checked Emily and said since this wasn't our first go around we could leave, not even 24 hours since delivery. Our little hospital was busting at the seams and they had no more rooms and moms in the delivery suites.

I jumped at the opportunity to go home, baby was feeding well and I was over the shared room. We went home and booked our 48-hour health check, it was late since I was released on a Friday morning. That following Tuesday a health nurse came out for the check and said that Emily had jaundice, which is common with preterm babies and that it was already receding so just keep doing what we were. In our defense, she looked to have a brown glow to her skin not orange. My husband is Metis so I just figured with her skin complexion and her jet black hair that she was taking more of the Native American complexion. Boy where we wrong, she's growing into a very pale complexion with dirty blond hair and bright blue eyes.

Shortly after Emily's delivery is when I got very sick, I talk about that in my 'This Is Me' blog. My milk dried up and I couldn't get it back when she was a wee two weeks old. We had some hurtles, but over all Emily was a healthy, independent baby. She liked to be swaddled but not held much, her favorite place to sleep was inside a laundry basket. Her sister loved her dearly and always wanted to be with baby Emmy.

She has grown into a beautiful young lady over the past eleven years. She is kind, compassionate, adventurous, and smart. She has a great sense of humor and enjoys making people laugh and smile. She is a great helper here on the Mini Farm and takes pleasure in helping us with the animals and the garden boxes. She brings so much joy and a sense of wonder and amusement to our lives. We are blessed to be given the opportunity of being her parents. We treasure the years we have had and the years to come with her.