Faithful in the Fray

I figured I would finish off the third and final part of Maizie’s birth story this Monday morning before I head back to work at the end of the week. Here is part one and part two if you missed them!

The rest of the C-section went smoothly. I was wheeled to post-op where I was given my purse, aka my pain medicine that went into my epidural, and waited patiently for Jeremy to come back to me. At this point, I don’t remember much other than finally being able to eat some ice chips, being so doped up on medicine that I talked ridiculously slow, and hearing my post-op neighbor’s husband call everyone he knew to tell them his kid weighed in at 10lbs 10oz. Ouch. Once Jeremy was back with me we called my parents to let them know that I was okay, Maizie was born, and she was doing great. Jeremy was an amazing daddy and got all her good information before heading back my way. They gave him a cute little pink card that gave her weight, height, date of birth, and more. They also gave us her foot prints and a picture of her. Jeremy and I called and texted people to let them know the good news as we waited to be transferred to my postpartum room and to finally see my pink stork. It sounds so silly, but since the first day I was admitted to the hospital and saw the pink and blue storks outside everyone’s room I couldn’t wait to be given mine. To me it symbolized that I had made it, full circle, and she was here.

After a rough night of trying to get comfortable, crying because I wanted to see my sweet baby girl, no sleep, and being checked on by nurses and techs every two hours, it was finally time. Around 5am my nurse came in and gave me a sandwich. Moment of silence for the best sandwich I’ve ever eaten. I hadn’t eaten since my beloved Jimmy Johns Thursday night so this was Heaven on a Saturday morning. About a half hour later my nurses were back to get me up for the first time and ready to go meet Maizie.

About a quarter till 8am Jeremy wheeled me down to the 2^nd floor Special Care Nursery where this precious bundle of joy was waiting for me. I can’t even begin to describe the emotions that were coming over me on that elevator ride. It was time. The moment that I had been waiting my whole life for, to see my baby, was just around the corner. The NICU wasn’t nearly as scary as I imagined it to be. Yes you had the loud noises from the machines, but there was something so peaceful knowing that tiny, sick humans were working on being tiny, healthy humans. I washed my hands as quickly as they would allow and then I saw her. This tiny, remarkable, strong, beautiful baby girl. She was covered in wires from head to toe. Her oxygen mask covered the majority of her face, she had feeding tube down her throat, not to mention her heart rate monitor, pulse ox monitor, and thermometer. But you know what? She was perfect.

I couldn’t believe this baby that I was looking at had just hours before lived safely inside of my body. Looking at her in the flesh brought tears to my eyes and praise from my mouth. Jesus, Jesus, Jesus was all I could say. There were no other words that would come out. He had promised us redemption. He had declared my body healed. He had given us a miracle. During her feeding I was able to hold her for the first time. The moment as surreal as could be. She opened her tiny eyes and for a moment stared into mine. She knew my voice and my touch, and I could only hope she knew she would forever be safe in mommy’s arms. The next 15 days would bring every emotion imaginable to the table, but one Saturday morning we received a phone call that told us Maizie Jewell was ready to go home tomorrow. What a better day than Mother’s Day to walk out of the hospital, finally, a family of three.