Three weeks ago Ella Marie
joined our family. Seven pounds, four ounces and 20 1/2 inches long. Long
skinny feet. Chubby checks and pouty lips. Fingernails ready for paint. And
hair long enough to tuck behind her ears.
I was induced the day
before my due date. So, Ella was born Nov. 28, 2011 at 1:30 p.m. We had arrived
at the hospital at 6 a.m. A half hour later, as I lay hooked up to monitors,
Ella’s heart rate dropped. They broke my water. Justin’s face was white. But
seconds later, her heart rate was back up. And an hour later Justin was having
breakfast.
At 7:30 a.m., they started
my pitocin – a drug that jumpstarts labor. Four hours later, I was gripping the
rocking chair. Barely breathing. A nightmare of contractions. I paged the
nurse, was hooked with an epidural by noon. Then, I took a 20-minute nap.
Around 1 p.m., mid-sentence
to my mother-in-law, I felt the need to push. It was go time. I waited for 15
minutes for my doctor to arrive from surgery. Gripping Justin’s hand. Entire
body shakes. I couldn’t hold her in any longer. The floor doctor gave me the go
ahead and just minutes later my doctor arrived as Ella was crowning.
But Ella wouldn’t move. Her
heart rate dropping again. The umbilical cord was wrapped around her neck.
Twice. My doctor’s quick thinking and 13 minutes of pushing later, Ella was
out. Loud and healthy.
Justin and I exchanged
wide-eyed glances as our little El squealed for the first hour of life. During
her check up, bath and bake under the heat lamp. Worried she was going to be
more of a gauntlet baby than our first. But, despite our fears Ella’s been a
dream ever since.
I wasn’t sure how it would
be. If I would feel the same crazy love that I did when I met Jack. Would I
love him less, to make room for her? But as Ella nursed in my arms for the
first time, my heart grew. Her warm body now pressing the outside of my tummy.
I was overwhelmed new baby euphoria all over again. My heart is bigger. My love
is brighter.
The past three weeks have
whizzed by. Filled with baby sister kisses from Jack. Nights of quiet nursing.
Laundry after laundry. Tiny squeals and newborn stretches. We’ve all started
adjusting. Even Ella. Snoozing peacefully as her brother shrieks to hold her.
I thank God daily for my
amazing luck. And my two beautiful children who make my world go round.
