Tuesday, September 4, 2012

37 years ago

 

My life was changed forever … God blessed me beyond measure … He sent me my greatest gift, my daughter. 

 

I wish I had a picture of her on her birth day … the best I can do is share a photo taken her first day home when she was already 1 week old, our first day together.  She was born full-term, but she was experiencing some respiratory issues and kept in the nursery.  I’d had a C-section and was heavily medicated … but I can remember even to this day asking frequently to see my baby.  Unfortunately back in the day, a C-section recovery was significantly different than it is today … big-time drugs and heavy-duty restrictions.  Before she was able to leave the nursery to come to my room, she was transported to the NICU over at Children’s Hospital in St. Louis; as you can imagine, my mama’s heart was breaking.  Thankfully the doctors at Children’s were able to determine what her problem was … a double pneumothorax.  It took about a week for her to recover and breathe on her own … one of the longest weeks of my life.  I’d been home for less than 24 hours, when we got a phone call from Children’s … she would be released if she would take a full bottle for me.  Mind you, I’d been sent home with specific instructions to go nowhere until I returned to my doctor’s office in another week for the stitches to be removed … instructions I willingly disobeyed when it meant having my baby home with me!  (My doctor “scolded” me for disobeying his orders … and then told me that he wouldn’t have expected me to do anything differently.)  I did pay the price … 2-3 days after she came home, I had to go back to the hospital for a couple of days myself.  Disappointed smile 

 

1 week old

 

I’m so thankful for my daughter … a piece of my heart that lives outside my body.  Red heart 

 

Happy birthday, DD!

 

16 comments:

  1. Happy, Happy Birthday to your daughter! They sure grow up fast, don't they?

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  2. Wow that was hard for a first time. The first time is such a shock in a normal delivery. I know that when I had my daughter I never expected to feel that kind of love and I knew once I had her I would have stepped in front of a bus to save her. I like that your doctor relented after the scolding. When I had my C-section, they sent me home because I wanted my baby with me and kept walking the halls going down the nursery. I shouldn't have done it but I wanted my baby. :) I paid for it too.
    Have a lovely day with your girl. :)

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  3. Happy Birthday to your daughter!!

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  4. I tell you I think we are sisters; I had both my girls by c-section and our oldest also had a pneumothorax. I was in icu and didn't get to see her for a day and a half and then was so drugged I could barely hold her-oh and the pain I remember.
    Happy Birthday to your girl. Hope you have a special day today.
    xxxoooNoreen

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  5. Happy Birthday to your lovely daughter. Time does go by so quickly!

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  6. Happy Birthday to your girl! :)

    Yep - restrictions are so different today then in the past.

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  7. Happy Birthday to your dear daughter. The two of you got off to a rough start, but I'm sure you made up for it :)

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  8. Happy birthday to your sweet special girl! May the Lord bless her now and always...

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  9. Happy Birthday to your daughter. Times sure have changed. I was in the hospital for 2 days after giving birth. Some have told me it is even less now. You were very strong to be able to leave your baby at the hospital. {{Hugs}} to you and {{Hugs}} to your daughter for being a piece of your heart!

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  10. Such a sweet post! Daughters do have a special place in our hearts...especially when they are our friends, too! Hope she has a wonderful birthday!

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  11. Nothing sweeter than a daughter! Happy Birthday to yours!

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  12. What a nice story. Yes, back then things were so different, now the mom and baby go home the next day! I think that is way to soon but I'm not having babies anymore.... Happy Birthday to your little girl.

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  13. Oh, every Momma needs a daughter. Just nothing like them. I do feel very blessed to have both a son and daughter. It's the perfect combination. Happy Birthday to your dear daughter!

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  14. I don't have a daughter so I can only imagine what joy one would be! Happy Birthday to her!!!!! And so glad you both came through the complications o.k.

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  15. Happy Birthday to DD. Wow that is some birth story. How hard to be away from her. Sorry you had to go back into the hospital again. ((HUGS)) I had a c-section to and had as asthma attack to the meds. Spent 24 hours in intensive care without my son.

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I am SO glad you stopped by! No proving that you're a robot here ... I want to hear what you have to say! ;-)