The Cabbage Patch Doll

Yesterday we welcomed our new addition to the family.  She arrived at 4:47 PM, weighed 5lbs 12 oz and was 18"long.  It was a very long day for everyone.  We arrived at Lexington Hospital at 5AM and they immediately started getting her ready to start labor.  She had started having contractions during the night.  Dr. Lyman went ahead and gave her a epidural but it never seemed to work.  For some reason she was having pressure in an unusual spot and as time went by it only got worse.  After 8 hours she still had not dilated so a decision was made to do a c-section.  All during this time the babies heart beat was good so there were no concerns.

With 11 family members taking up half of the small waiting room on the 2nd floor at Lexington Hospital we waited for what seemed forever.  Around 5:45PM our little cabbage patch doll was brought out for us to admire.  She was so tiny and had a head full of dark hair.  At this time there was 16 family members in front of the nursery window all admiring our new addition.

After what seemed like an eternity I was able to go back and see my baby girl.  She was so exhausted and asked me if I knew that the cord had been wrapped around her neck twice.  No, I had not been told that, so we cried together and I said a thankful prayer to our heavenly father.  The epidural never did work so a choice had to be made to either put her to sleep or get a spinal tap.  Jessica begged them to not put her to sleep to give her the spinal tap.  They did and she was able to be awake when Addison/Brooklyn (as this point I am not 100% sure what her name is because Daddy is saying Addison and Mommy is saying Brooklyn).  It was a tough delivery for my baby girl.

Finally around 8:30PM she and the baby were brought to the room.   They wanted her to start nursing right away but our little cabbage patch doll just was to content to eat.  So finally at 9:30 we were able to come in and hold her.  She is just so tiny and beautiful.

Yesterday started a new journey for me that I am so looking forward to this new chapter in my life.  Jessica I am so proud of you.  You did amazing and I love both you so much.

Love,
Granny

A Letter to My Daughter

   

To my baby girl,

In just a few days you will start one of the most gratifying journeys of your life, becoming a parent to a precious baby girl.

It seems just like yesterday that I was getting the news that I was pregnant with you. How those 9 months flew by. I loved being pregnant and feeling you move in my belly. Each day I fell more in love with you. We made the decision to not find out what sex you were. Your name was all picked out. If you had been a boy you would have been a Jr. At 2 AM on April 21, 1988 my water broke and at 1:00 PM one of the greatest moments of my life occurred, you were born.

On Friday as you prepare to have a beautiful daughter; there are so many things I want to tell you. I have loved helping you pick out things for the nursery, planning your baby shower, shopping and just helping you get ready for this new gift from God. I raised you to be smart and independent, and I know these traits will help you be a wonderful mother. This is a special time for me, too, as I look forward to the birth of my first grandchild.

A little piece of advice, try to enjoy this important time in your life. Keep a journal to remember all of it, even the parts that are painful or scary or disgusting. One day you will look back and be able to cry or laugh at it all. All of these things are part of a larger story that you will get to experience only this once. Even if you have other children, the first time is so special.

 

You will receive lots of advice from me, friends and perfect strangers. Some of it you will agree with and some you won’t. You are the Mother so what you decide is all that matters. Go with your gut because it is usually right. Have fun and enjoy this wonderful new life with your precious baby girl. She will grow up so fast and it will be time for her to go off to college.

I love you so much and look so forward to what the future has for you, your daughter and our small family.

Love always,

Mom

Children too are a gift from the LORD, the fruit of the womb, a reward.” – Psalm 127:3