Sarah Grace- The Arrival

Sarah Grace was born on December 27,2010 at 5:32 pm weighing 8 pounds 14 oz. 21". Betamethasone did it's job and no lung issues. :)

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Birth Story:

After almost a full week of having contractions. After spending an evening in Labor and Delivery and getting drugs to space out the contractions and a steroid shot called betamethasone. I was sent home... I got the same steroid shot later the next day.

We spent Christmas at home. I slept most of the day. I couldn't avoid this.

Christmas day night my family spent time with some amazing friends of ours. I was noticing that the contractions and the pain from them were beginning to become an issue again.

The Day after Christmas it snowed here. While Andrew took the kids outside I was sleeping again. We don't have any other explanation other than maybe my body was getting ready for labor.

Monday I had a scheduled appointment with an Non Stress Test (monitoring the baby). We passed everything else but totally flunked the NST.

Here was an OB doctor I didn't know that well and I could seriously tell he was very concerned and looked to be freaking out... He got the ultrasound machine out and scanned the baby... This time she flunked something called a bio Physical Profile (bpp)... By this time I knew something was serious and by this time I had seriously lost my peace..

He sent me over to the hospital which is across the street. It took me an hour to get over to Labor and delivery because I called Andrew and said they were talking delivery. That and I managed to calm myself down.

They monitored the baby for a while and gave me an IV and some fluids. She perked up, meanwhile my contractions were back and giving me more pain but not doing what contractions are supposed to do. Open things up so she could vacate.

Again an OB Doc. I had never met was on call. She was nice, gave me all the information I needed and gave me all the options in a supportive way. We decided that since the pain wasn't going away and we were going to deliver within a few days anyway(because meds were only going to hold things back for so long)and had the steroids on board now would probably be a great thing.

She gave us a few minutes while they prepped me for surgery to make phone calls.

The Birth was incredible. While they were there they tied my tubes. I will not be like the lady in Arkansas who has 19 kids. 3 is our magic number.

When they got to where Sarah was the OB docs said we had made it just in time as they said my uterus was so thin around where my scar was that it probably would not have taken very much to rupture it. When they pulled her out there was a knot in her cord that was beginning to tighten(putting her in trouble)... So glad that I had angels disguising themselves as doctors around us. the Nst's and bpp's were necessary to make sure she was doing well so we could get as close to our due date as possible.

Sarah went straight to the newborn nursery because the neonatologist that was there checked her over and gave us the all clear. This was a victory for us and a victory for research. This was a first time experience for us.

When they pulled her out she let out some screams but after she's been a peaceful little thing. The first words she heard were...You're beautiful. First words out of Dad's mouth was "hello, beautiful". When they brought her over to me I told her that I loved her and that she has an incredible destiny, and I will not let her ever forget it either.

Recovery has sucked pretty much but overall has been better than Daniel's surgery as far as healing goes.

The kids LOVE her. Jonathan was heard saying upon seeing a picture of Sarah:"My Sarah".

First I'd like to thank God for giving me the honor of giving me these precious gifts called children. Children we thought we'd never get to hold.

I'd like to thank Him for the precious gift that first cries are and for the miracles that came often following times of my deepest pain or deepest trouble.

Second, I'd love to thank Andrew for the love and support and for the 5 times we were sent to Labor and delivery for everything from, the baby wasn't moving enough, to throwing up to contractions that were scary enough to drive us up the road just after I had just been up at their office.(for all the time he spent sleeping in chairs) I'd love to thank him for putting up with me and my emotions and my hormones that often got him confused. He treated me like a queen both during the delivery and after... I feel like the most lucky woman on the planet when during my c-section Andrew put his face close to mine and told me he loved me. the mask was the only thing keeping him from kissing me.

For all of my friends that hugged me, picked me up, or just made me laugh when I was feeling down. Thank you. You have no idea how much you helped me even if it came in the form of redneck humor.

To my dear friends who came and helped me with Jonathan and Daniel. Thank you from them. Believe me or not this was a seriously stressful time for them. Several of you made it so much fun for them. Namely Jennifer and Jonathan.

Just a revelation from this journey:It occured to me that even though the last 9 weeks were rough and had bumps along the way... but it was because of the bumps I got to meet several of the OB doctors that were in the same practice... Several of whom are very amazing God filled, human beings that can practice their faith daily and carry out their calling and ministry... they just happen to have an M.D. after their name...

That was awesome just to see that even these high powered doctors can do what they were called to do and be the hands and feet of God. Just like the rest of us we would all strive to walk in our faith and be "Jesus with skin" in what ever we are called to do.

Have a peaceful and prosperous 2011 from my family to yours.

Love Trina, Andrew, Jonathan, Daniel and Sarah