Just a few weeks ago, in the early morning hours of July 19, at almost 39 weeks pregnant, I found myself pacing our bedroom floor and starting to feel a familiar feeling.....labor contractions. I woke up feeling them and started to walk around to see if they would go away. I soon noticed they weren't really going away so I woke up my husband who shot right out of bed and to my side, asking me how strong they were. At that point, I said not too strong but definitely noticeable. Troy immediately started saying he thought we should head for the hospital. We have a history here.....my most recent labor experience with our daughter, Ashlyn, was a super quick one. Like a we almost didn't make it in time, screaming down the hall as nurses wheeled me in a wheelchair as fast as they could, showed up fully dilated, no time for an epidural, time to push kind of situation. So, knowing this, my doctor had told us that as soon as I felt a strong contraction to go to the hospital. My husband remembered saying the words, "don't push" to me in the car on our way to the hospital with Ashlyn, so this time he was telling me......if you are feeling contractions, it is time to go.
I convinced him to let me just take a quick shower and during that time it was official.....I was feeling the pain. The contractions were coming and not stopping.....time to go. As we were rushing around, calling our families and our dear friend, Nicole, who was coming over to stay with our two older girls who were sound asleep in their beds, it started to hit me. This baby was going to be born on my birthday. As the day was beginning on July 19, I was about to turn 33 and meet my third daughter, who I would share this birthday with.
We made it into the car, a much calmer experience than the last time, but there was no doubt.....the contractions were there to stay. We checked in at the hospital and made it to our room. This picture.....I did not know at the time that my husband took this, but looking at it, I can feel all the feelings. The sun was beginning to come up, I had just put on this hospital gown, I was looking out at the cornfields surrounding the hospital, knowing I was about to do some serious work. These were the last moments in my hugely pregnant state, last moments of feeling her move inside of me. Moments of just Troy and I in that room.....getting ready to meet our third child. I think as long as I live, when I look at this picture I will remember all I was feeling at that time.
Soon after that picture was taken, nurses began to come in. IV's were put in, contractions were monitored. It was determined that I was far enough along to get an epidural (yeah). The epidural took the pain of the contractions away and we just waited. However, I soon started to feel some intense contractions even with the epidural.....the nurse telling me that our daughter was coming fast and this was what they call "breakthrough pain" that I was going to feel. I did feel it, but not for too long. I could sense the mood shifting.....the nurse saying it was probably time to get the doctor. I saw them wheeling in all of the equipment for the delivery. The contractions were coming hard now.....I knew it was time. Between the pain of the contractions and knowing we would very soon meet our daughter, tears started to flow down my cheeks. Troy was right by my side, holding my hand and encouraging me. I was looking into his eyes, not able to really talk, but he was looking right at me and we knew what each of us we were thinking. The last time we were in this moment we had no idea that the baby that was handed to us would be born with a diagnosis that would change our lives. In the months leading up to this birth we talked and prayed for peace to accept whatever we were given.
I was being told to bear down, count to ten and push. I could hear Troy telling me I was doing great and the doctor saying I was so close. A couple more rounds of this and I knew she was almost there. Troy and I looking at each other......knowing what the other was thinking. Troy telling me, "It is okay, it is all going to be okay, Shari." And, really, God's peace was so close to us. I knew He was there with us. I knew in my heart whatever He was about to give us, was His perfect gift for us. Those final moments were coming to an end.....one final push and I heard the sound of our daughter.....letting us know her lungs worked just fine. The doctor placed her immediately on my chest and I saw this....
Our third daughter was here. A child we had prayed for. Prayed that God would help us overcome any fear we had about having more children. Prayed for God's will. After she was handed to us, Troy and I were crying, hugging and staring at her. Looking at God's faithfulness in the form of a beautiful baby girl named, Tessa Kate.
After the delivery, we eventually made it down to my recovery room where we were so anxious to see our two older girls and our families. And, these two big sisters could not have been more sweet and proud.
After a great hospital stay, it was time to take this sweet gift home.
We are so thankful for this newest miracle that God has given us......we are thrilled to love another daughter. Tessa Kate, welcome to our family. You are so very loved.
