OUR MIRACLES & BLESSINGS

Can you believe my little Luke is 6 years old?!  He is so excited.  We had a very small party here at the house for him and he will have another party with pinata at his preschool tomorrow.....my sweet fellow is so happy (almost always).  He is a special boy to me.  I love him so much and I am so happy he is part of our lives.

Well, last Monday is almost a blur.  Luke spent the night with Angie, Greg and the boys.  Emy tried to but she really wanted to come to the hospital and meet Tessa so I let her skip school and she accompanied us to Labor & Delivery at 6:00am.  The ultrasound did show Tessa to weigh at least 9 pounds and 5 ounces (they said give or take a pound).  10 pounds-wow!  Well, she ended up only weighing 9-3 but that was big enough I say!!

My doctor came in and checked me and I had only dilated to 2 (since about 5 days before at my last dr check).  He said with the size of my pelvis being very small and the baby being very large, he would recommend performing a C-section.  He was worried about her shoulders getting stuck and then having a REAL emergency on our hands.  We didn't want Tessa to suffer in any way, so we opted for the safer route of having a C-section.  My recovery will take longer of course, but my baby is safe and sound so I feel like we chose correctly.

About an hour later, they came in and said "alright, get your things, it's time to go to the OR".  We had to call my mom to come and get everything (except for the camera, of course).  Darrell and I went to the OR (he walked and I was of course pushed on a bed--yay me).  When Darrell came in with all the garb on, I laughed because I almost didn't recognize him!  I thought he was a nurse or doctor---LOL!!

Maybe I was delirious already....haha.

They took me back pretty soon and had me sit up so they could insert the SPINAL--ugh!  It took them 3 tries to get it to work but that is a miracle in itself, how you can't feel anything from your ribcage down, but you are alert and oriented enough to meet your precious little one as soon as they are delivered.  Just a side note:  I had a spinal headache when I left the hospital on Wednesday, went to a pain clinic and had a blood patch performed on Friday, and had IMMEDIATE relief of my headache).

It took them a little while to get her out--she was wedged against my pelvis (she still has a knot on her head to prove it) and they tugged at the bottom and a nurse was practically sitting on top of my sternum, pushing so hard to get her to come out.....then there it was, that AWESOME sound of a baby crying.  I tell you, I lost it.  That was the very sweetest sound to my ears---and still is, believe it or not.

I told Darrell--GO, take pictures, GO!!  He was worried about me because I was in tears and I couldn't hardly make him leave me to go see HER.

BUT, we had a student nurse take quite a few shots, so we didn't miss anything major.

After getting stitched up, I was on my way to recovery (where I woke myself up snoring)...LOL!!!  More than once, actually.  Who cares?  I was tired and deserved a good snore!

When they took me to my room, I was surrounded by family and friends.  I can't remember who all was there, I was feeling just a little bit loopy--the most precious memory is looking over at Emy who had this HUGE smile on her face and she was holding her baby sister like a pro.  Emy was the first to feed Miss Tessa and I am so happy about that!  Luke came to see her that night and was happy to see us all.

Now we have been home almost a week and life could not be better--the house could be cleaner, more organized, the laundry is overwhelming, but honestly, God does give you the desires of your heart.  I HAVE ALL FOUR OF MINE RIGHT HERE--my Darrell (who has barely left my side) and my three precious children (Emy, Luke & Tessa).

Have a great day because I plan to.

Tessa is a week old today--I can't believe how the time is flying right on by.  I'm so blessed.  Will post pictures later on, when I have more energy.

Have a great week everyone.

TESSA RENAE CHRISTINA OAKLEY.....their baby sister arrived on 11-29-10 at 10:17 am via C-section and she weighs 9 pounds, 3 ounces and she measures 21 1/2 inches long!

She is a sweetie---Emy and Luke love her lots.

I am so thankful to have good doctors to rely on...but my goodness, I have seen them more than my share lately.  I have been going to the doctor twice a week for about 6 weeks now--geez, enough is enough. 

On Monday, they ultrasound the baby and check to make sure her heartbeat is good and steady, check my urine (yay me), and weight, and measure my belly.  It's loads of fun, I say!

On Thursdays (this week Wednesday due to Thanksgiving) they hook me up to two belts (one is for baby's heartbeat and the other is to monitor any contractions).  Oh yeah, and they check weight and urine (again). Yay.

Tomorrow is my LAST OFFICE VISIT until I have the baby on Monday.  It has been quite a long road with the doctor visits, so I'm quite glad this is the final one!  I think I know all the nurse's names and I think they all know me...sad but true.

I am so very thankful that the pregnancy has gone so great and that we are both healthy.  So thankful for that.

Now, the final decision on the name........should she have four names like my other two kids?  We shall soon see :)

We went to the doctor this morning and he thinks C-section will probably be the best bet for us.  We are scheduled for Monday, November 29th at 6:00am.  The doctor says my pelvis is small (go figure--the one small thing on me and I can't even see it) and he thinks we would probably fare better with a c-section.  I trust his judgment, so we are going for it.
Please keep us in your prayers.
I will keep you all posted, I promise!
Thanks.

I can't believe my baby is 8 years old today!!  No more booster seat in the car!!  She is so happy about that!

Emy is the sweetest daughter a mommy could ask for. 

I love her to the moon and back.