It seems like only yesterday that we welcomed our perfect little girl into this world. She was born the day before Thanksgiving in 2008 and she was indeed the gift we are most thankful to have in our life.
Most of you have heard my story a dozen times, but it never gets old to me.
I had just begun to come to grips with the fact that I was never going to have children. I had joined the thousands of woman that face fertility issues and had exhausted all measures over a 10 year span in my life and when I married Sean in 2005, we both discussed this and had agreed that we would be a childless couple and that would be okay as that was the cards we were dealt.
This might be a little TMI, so please look away if you tend to be squeamish . I battled female problems from the time I was 19, I had procedure after procedure and suffered a lot of scar tissue because of it and had ovaries that just didn't want to work the way they were intended. In late 2004, my doctor wanted me to get an IUD in an effort to attempt to control Mother Nature's cycle, so I agreed. In 2008, when I felt tired, ill, and just not right and hadn't had a visit from Mother Nature, I just played it off as my crazy woman organs not cooperating. However, it was just past the time I was suppose to get the IUD checked. I had been working long, crazy days and had just not taken the time to get to the doctor. But before I could have it checked, I knew something was different, but I kept telling Sean "there's no way I'm pregnant, not with my issues AND an IUD". So, we kept having that conversation for a week or so before he said "I'm going to get a pregnancy test". And off he went across the street to CVS and came back with not one, but a whole box of them. I thought he was crazy, but turned out, I was in such shock when the first one came up positive, that I ended up taking every test in that box...with the same result.
It was Mother's Day weekend that I took the home test and then we headed to Mom's in SEMO from Kentucky to spend the weekend with her. I was so excited but still so scared. I was scared to be excited as I had read about false positives and figured that might be what it was, but I couldn't keep it a secret, I was about to explode with excitement. So, the night we arrived at Mom's, we told her. And she felt the same way, she wanted to be excited but was afraid to be. I was able to call and make an appointment with my doctor that Friday before we left for Mom's and he had me on the books to come in that following Monday. Despite us being hesitant {since remember, I did have an IUD, how's this possible on top of all my issues? Is this real? Pinch me! Please God let this be real!} Mom and I hit the Carter's baby store in Sikeston and called my Sis while we were in the store to tell her.
It was a LONG weekend, but Monday finally arrived and couldn't wait to get to the doctor, but oh wait, maybe I could, I couldn't bear the thought of not being pregnant after seeing all those positive pregnancy tests. I arrive at the doctor's office and do the "official" pee test and what was mere minutes felt like hours. Yep, we were pregnant! And because of the IUD and my history, they did an ultrasound right away. The doctor discovered that the IUD had become dislodged and told me that removing it could cause a miscarriage. He was actually very surprised that I hadn't already based on it's current location. So, it was an incredible moment all the while terrifying. All that I had dreamed of my whole life was happening and it could be gone in an instant. I prayed SO hard, I cried, I totally lost it both for being overjoyed and scared as hell. The doctor wasted no time and got me prepped for the IUD removal. And thank GOD his steady hands with the help of modern Ultrasound technology and an awesome nurse removed it with no complications. That was the beginning of my beautiful but very difficult journey. He gave me a December 8, 2008 due date, which we later found out after a discussion with my doctor and our pediatrician that the due date should actually have been the first part of January(so Regan was a really early arrival).
The next few months would pass with me only have extreme fatigue, no morning sickness at all. I thought "wow, this is gonna be a breeze". But alas, it wasn't . Around my 5th month every complication I could have I think I had. I had gestational diabetes(which never went away, but the doctor thinks I had it before pregnancy), high blood pressure (which now I kind of think I may have had heart issues back then as well and just didn't know it until my heart attack), and then I went pre-eclamptic as well.
I was in and out of the doctor's office every week for what seemed like forever. They monitored me very well and while I had to take insulin shots, blood pressure medicine, etc, baby girl seemed to be doing okay.
I went to my doctor on Tuesday, November 25th and he sent me to the hospital to get checked out. My stats weren't good; my blood pressure was through the roof, Regan's heart beat was a little abnormal and the swelling of my legs, ankles and feet were so severe I could only wear house shoes. I was checked in at the hospital to be put on a fetal monitor and medicine to lower my vitals. Well, I never went home that day. They decided to induce me as it was just too much of a risk to not have her at this point. I was so excited, yet still scared out of my wits that something would go wrong.
I made all the necessary calls and of course Mom hit the road so she could be there with us. They gave me pitocin and then by dinner time that night I hadn't progressed a lot so they upped it a bit and broke my water. I labored quite a bit and had dry heaves something fierce. I got an epidural and BAM, it went so fast. I had most of my labor before the epidural unknowing to us and by the time I got it it was time to start pushing. And I literally pushed a few times, or three or MAYBE four and she popped right out! I was WAY closer than any of us realized at that time. Regan was born at 2:17a.m. on November 26th. She was 6lbs 3oz and 19 inches long! And had a head full of dark hair! And was perfectly healthy!!!!!!
I only spent that Tuesday and Wednesday in the hospital and I asked the nurse to ask the doctor if we could all go home to be together for Thanksgiving. And he agreed. I was surprised based on my history but was so thankful. We went home and ordered our takeout Thanksgiving meal that day, but no worries, my Mom cooked us a real Thanksgiving feast that weekend!
So, if you didn't know the story before, you do now, and you know why I call her my "true miracle baby".
She has blessed and enriched our lives beyond belief. I still have to pinch myself sometimes! Regan is the most kind, compassionate, caring, sharing child ever and I'm so glad God picked me to be her Mom.
May you all have a blessed Thanksgiving!
