This picture was taken just 24 hours before it all began...we had no idea what incredible grace and help we would be receiving from Him in the hours to come...
This is my attempt at a succinct, not containing many emotions or thoughts along the way, account of Moriah's birth story.
March 2, 2015
12:30 a.m.: I woke up after an hour of sleep with contractions that were 5-6 minutes apart and one minute long. I went downstairs to take Moriah's birthday cake out of the freezer. Thinking we might have a long road before us, I decided to stay in bed and let Dan sleep for as long as I could stand it. I used an app. to time contractions until 3:30 a.m.
3:30 a.m.: Felicity came in our room...a pattern that began about a month ago much to our dismay on the heels of a newborn arriving soon! Dan took her to her room, and I decided to tell him I was in labor. I continued to track contractions and Dan rubbed my back between them.
5:50 a.m. : No longer able to comfortably stay in bed, I got up and walked our room during contractions and sat on the exercise ball in-between. They were getting closer together and a bit shorter. Dan called our doula-sister-friend, Cheryl, and told her we were in labor. I continued to focus by walking through contractions but added a low moaning sound with each exhale. Dan showered, made me orange Gatorade (thank you friends who sent the powder over a year ago...it is still blessing us) and threw some things together for the hospital.
6:30 a.m.: Cheryl arrived and heard me upstairs. Dan later told me she said, "Oh no. It's too early for her to be moaning and crying." I was thinking the same thing and began to be afraid this would be a repeat of Felicity's birth...going to the hospital with a whole day of labor ahead. I got in the shower to rinse off and told Dan with much fear, "I don't think I can do it. I'm going to need the medicine." Felicity woke up and Dan sent her downstairs to Cheryl. Dan helped me out of the shower. I said, "Go get Cheryl." Dan went downstairs to feed Felicity breakfast, and Cheryl came up to help me dress and let me lean into her through contractions. I began to feel a new pressure which I hadn't had before. I took one step at the beginning of each contraction and felt the pressure move through me until it went through my foot and into the floor. I was crying. Cheryl said, "We need to go." She called the doctor to let him know to expect us soon.
7:15 Dan, Felicity, Cheryl and I piled into the car. I'm crying and saying "I'm so sorry.", "Thank you", "Lord help me.", "Jesus, Help." as the car gets on the bumpy sand road. When I feel a contraction coming, I say, "Stop the car." At some point Felicity throws out a "Good job, Mommy."
Halfway there the doctor calls Cheryl's cell phone, "Where are you? The whole hospital is waiting for you!" (in Arabic of course). We get on a smoother road. I tell Dan just go as fast as you can. Don't stop when they come. During a contraction Felicity yells, "Stop the car, Daddy!" We keep going.
7:30 a.m.: We arrive at the clinic at 7:30. Three nurses are waiting for us. Cheryl and I follow them to the delivery room stopping for 2 or 3 contractions along the way. Dan parks, does paperwork, and is finally sent to room 102, our recovery room.
The midwife tells me to lie on the delivery table. I am terrified at how long I might be there since walking seems to be the best way to handle contractions. She checks me during a contraction (worst.pain.ever) and tells us I am at a 5 and fully effaced. My heart sinks. Fear creeps in, five is not too far, but Cheryl is insisting that the look on the midwife's face was very optimistic. 2-3 contractions later, the midwife breaks my water during a contraction (oh wait, maybe this is the worst.pain.ever.).
The doctor comes in and starts dressing as if this baby is coming soon. Cheryl calls Darryll and tells him to get to the hospital. She also calls Dan and says get in here as soon as Darryll arrives.
The nurses turn the light on at the little baby table. The doctor checks me and says I'm at a nine. Strangely, my left hand stiffens, closes shut, and I'm unable to open it. They put oxygen up to my nose and give me a shot of calcium. My hand opens. It's time to push...no more than 10 pushes later and...
8:30 a.m. Moriah Ann is born! 7.2 lbs., brown hair, blue eyes, and very few cries.
The doctor brings Felicity in to meet her baby sister after Darrell tells him Felicity wants to know what color the baby's hair is.
9:30 a.m.-6:15p.m.: Recovery. The midwife placed a 20 pound bag of rocks on my stomach and pumped pitosin into an IV to shrink the uterus and get any remaining blood out. The doctor ordered another direct shot of pitosin just to be sure everything was clear. This process lasted an hour or so with me crying and begging them to stop.
6:00 p.m.: Dan goes down to pay our bill: $400 or so, and we are given the okay to go home:
We all pile into the car yet again marveling at the road we traveled since the wee hours of the morning until now.
The evening felt like spring: brilliant sunlight kissing the olive groves, blue skies with wisps of white, and ear to ear smiles and wide-eyed wonder at the Giver of new life...
The evening felt like spring: brilliant sunlight kissing the olive groves, blue skies with wisps of white, and ear to ear smiles and wide-eyed wonder at the Giver of new life...
....and this guy with his humongous arm span...
Of course going to an event like this is never really free...nachos are a must...
I so wish I had a picture of Dan carrying our light adorned tree out of this place...such