Does it start when Ryan and I met in high school?
Does it start in 1994 when we got married?
Does it start over the past 10 years while we tried for a baby?
Does it start last summer when I found out we were finally expecting?
Maybe any of those...maybe all of them. We were so excited about expanding our family. When my water broke at 22 weeks, we knew that we had to focus on the slight hope that our dreams for a healthy baby would still come true. We decided to do whatever was in our power to make that happen, although the odds were against us. Most people go into labor very quickly after PROM (Premature Rupture of Membranes.) List item #1 was to get transferred to a hospital that was capable of treating the smallest of preemies. Thankfully, we ended up at one of the best places possible, Duke University Hospital. I was transferred to Duke on Dec 31st, after my water had broken on Dec 27th. The staff at Duke and my family and friends did everything possible to make me comfortable. People brought me food, games, food, magazines, food, books, oh, and did I mention food? :) I had all kinds of great visitors to help keep me entertained and keep my spirits up. Ryan stayed with me as much as possible, and my dad was a Godsend helping out around the house, and visiting with me.
The plan was to keep me from developing an infection or going into labor for as long as possible. 22 weeks was bleak, but each additional day gave our baby a better chance of survival, so we celebrated as each day went by. As comfortable as I was, it would only last so long, and Jan 21st turned out to be the day our miracle arrived!
As I started my daily routine that morning, I realized I was feeling different than normal. The nurse hooked me up to the monitors for my daily Non-Stress Test and we quickly found out that I was experiencing contractions. The Dr's were called, I was given some fluids in a slight attempt to stop contractions, but that didn't work. Ryan was at work and I called him to head up to the hospital (1 1/2 hours away) earlier than planned, as they were moving me to Labor & Delivery. Ryan got there in record time (surprise, surprise) and the Dr's decided it was time to have a baby! Things moved quickly, as Ryan geared up and I was prepped for surgery. He was sitting right next to me when 15 minutes into the procedure, the question we'd had for 7 months was answered...it's a girl! We were thrilled to get a quick look at our little peanut before she was whisked away to be treated by her own team. 1 lb, 8 ozs (700 grams) and 13 inches long, wow...our baby has arrived!
Please stop in often to read about Maya's life and how the miracle of Maya has transformed us.
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