So I was admitted into a room full of women who were in labor. They took my urine and stipped me of my clothes, then took my blood pressure. The woman said the cuff was broken so she returned with another. That cuff didn't work either, so she brought in a manual cuff. She took my blood pressure another two times. Then she walked out calmly. A minute later I had a team of nurses running with my bed, throwing papers in my lap to sign. In a whirl, I caught "Emergency C-Section" and "Siezure" and "Blood pressure is near 300/190". They put me in the big labor and delivery room, the one that I know you don't get unless you are going to have a baby. I have never been more scared in my life.
Then, three nurses begin putting IV's in my arms and hands. I was so swollen they could barely find a vein. They started pumping me full of this aweful medicine - Magnesium Sulfate - that would control my blood pressure. I had to be given a catheter, which was horrible. After that, I dont' remember much, the magnesium kinda puts you out. They gave me a shot of steriods, to develop the baby's lungs as much as possible, and prayed that I could make it the 6 hours for the steroids to take effect.
True to their word, six hours later, I was given another sonogram. The doctor said the baby weighed between 2 and 3 pounds, and had a good chance of survival. If I didn't have him today, we could both die. So they took me back for a C-section at 10:00. We finally called some family members, to tell them the news. Aidan was coming early -- 3 months too soon.
When I awoke from recovery, the neonatologist told me that the baby was a lot smaller than they thought. Rather than 29 weeks, as I had thought, the baby was more along the lines of a 26 weeker. He was alive, that was the most important thing to me.
I guess I was just so scared that I didn't want to see him. Several of my family saw him before I ever laid eyes on him. I thought maybe if I never saw him, it wouldn't hurt so much if he didn't live. I did go look at him almost 2 days after his birth, when I was finally allowed to get off the bed. That was the scariest thing I ever saw. He was so tiny, you could hold him in one hand. We took our wedding rings off and slid them up his arm. His foot was the size of the last bend of my finger. His head could be held between two fingers. His skin was translucent, you could see his heart beeting. He had tubes everywhere.
Can you believe that my one pound baby was on a ventilator for only 3 days? He was on a cpap for 4 days. He had NO brain bleeds. He only had 3 blood transfusions. He gained weight every single day in NICU (after he lost that first 6 ounces) and only ONE day he didn't gain-he stayed the same. He was only in NICU for 63 days, coming home well before his due date! What a strong little boy!
Now look at him, into everything. He is so sweet, so well behaved. He is funny, smart, and creative. Can you believe he does imaginary play with his people and he's not even 2? Other than taking his sweet time to walk, he is absolutely perfect.
There is no miracle like my Aidan. Aidan makes me believe in miracles, he makes me believe in God. I had never wanted anything in my life more than I wanted him. I have never prayed for anything the way I prayed for my tiny boy. And if I can never have children again, I was blessed with the best child of all.



7 comments:
Even though I already knew every word of that, I still loved reading it. I love that story and I love Aidan! He is such a strong boy and so perfect in his personality, behavior.. in EVERY way! I love these pictures, they are just beautiful. Where did you get that diaper cover? It's really cool!
Wow what an amazing story. He is definitely a miracle baby! Great pics!
You rock...I love the cake smash you've done. I'm doing my son's this weekend so thanks for the great inspiration!
Oh, I did not know the story of Aiden! I am in tears...but I am so happy that you have had a miracle and that Aiden is fine. he is beautiful and you are so blessed to have him...not to mention you are capturing his little life wonderfully!
Jessica
Carrie,
Where did you get the cute diaper cover?
What an amazing story! Praise God for your little Aiden. I also didn't know his story. His two year pictures are gorgeous!
Carrie- I had no idea Aiden went thru all of that. I knew he was a preemie, but that was it. I am so happy he was such a fighter. Do you have any pics of him when he was first born? I can't imagine him that tiny!
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