Lia Grace Chamberlain

God delivered an Angel to Theo and I March 31, 2010.....here is our sweet baby girl's birth story....

It all starts with Rowan having the flu. The poor guy has not been sick since he had RSV when he was 4 months old. Wednesday March 31 I woke up and had caught this bug that Rowan had....stomach flu. I called my Mom, barely able to get out of bed I knew I could not care for him and myself in this condition, so she came over and took him down to her house for the day. He was still quite ill and while I felt horrible sending him away while he was sick, I was feeling so bad myself, that I had to call for help. The day consisted of lots of sleep interrupted only by frequent trips to the bathroom (I will spare you the details). Around Noon I began to notice that every time I got up to go to the bathroom I was having a contraction, but they weren't painful just there. I thought to myself and prayed, "please don't let me go into labor while I have the flu." I was feeling so sick I just could not imagine having to give birth in this condition. I slept most of the afternoon and didn't think too much about the contractions.

Around 5:30 my Mom, Rowan and Theo all came home. I woke up and was chatting with Mom as I laid in bed and began to really notice the contractions a lot more. As Mom was getting ready to leave, she stopped and said, "why don't we time these contractions before I go." We scrambled around to find something with a second hand on it to time them. We eventually used the timer on my ipod. The contractions were 4 minutes apart and lasting about 15-20 seconds!!! As we sat there timing them they literally began to get more and more intense. At 6:30 I looked at Theo and said "it is time!" This was 9 days before her due date, so of course I didn't have anything ready to go. Theo and I scrambled around packing up bags and trying to remember everything we wanted to bring. Mom was helping, but I am sure chuckling at our procrastination inside. Mom took Rowan back to her house, poor guy still feeling sick and wanting is Mommy.

We were admitted to Triage at 7:30pm. At this point my contractions were so painful I was screaming involuntarily as each one came. It was so different from when I had Rowan, it almost felt as if I had not done this before. The labor and delivery nurse came in to take me back to my room and the first thing she said to me was "so, should I go ahead and call the anesthesiologist and get the epidural ordered?" I replied immediately, "YES!" She must have heard me screaming for the past 30 minutes.

As they got me settled into my room, the anathesiologist arrived and gave me the epidural. AHHHH sweet relief. I make no apologies for advocating the epidural, I love it. More power to women who can go without drugs, but for me I see not point. I spent the next 2 hours relaxing and sleeping. We had brought in the ihome and '50 Lounge Songs' played and lulled me as I prepared for the birth.

At 11PM I was dilated to 10cm and they called Dr. Bullaro. I begged them to ask her to hurry as I desperately wanted to have Lia before midnight. I did not want her to be an April Fools baby. Dr. Bullaro did make it quickly and our sweet little "sunflower" was born at 11:53pm after only 3 pushes. She was exactly 8lbs and 20" long.

She was so Beautiful!

I could see instantly, by the almond shape of her eyes that the prenatal Down Syndrome diagnosis we received at 20 weeks pregnant was true. I did not cry. I stared intently at her, unable to take my eyes off of her, thinking only how beautiful she was. I had an amazing sense of peace about me and thanked God for this beautiful little girl. I knew from the moment I saw her that she was a pure blessing.

As the Dr. and nurses checked her out, I prayed intently that she was as healthy as she could possibly be....this was the same prayer I prayed during my pregnancy. While I did also continually pray for a miracle during my pregnancy, deep inside I just knew that the diagnosis was correct. Soon enough I heard the words 8 and 9 for her Apgar test...this brought me great joy. I knew we had a few more hurdles.....the echo, feeding, and hearing tests, so I didn't let myself get too excited. When I fed her for the first time and she was able to feed, albeit for a very short time, I just knew she was very healthy. That first night together with Lia and Theo was so peaceful.

The next day was filled with visitors: Grandma and Grandpa, Nonna and Poppa, Rowan (only for a minute as he was still a bit under the weather), Sarita and Bre. I must mention here that Rowan completely ignored Lia. He wanted me, understandably as he had been sick and without his Mommy. I was quite sore and on lots of pain meds so this day is actually quite fuzzy in my memory. I was moved at some point to the postpartum room. I remember it was at a point in the day where no one was there with me and the nurse and I had a heck of a time moving all the stuff. I was able to walk on my own though. We put all the "stuff" in the wheel chair and I pushed Lia in her bassinet.

Thursday was a bit of a challenge with the feeding. I was already getting so sore and she went a long stretch without eating at which time we had to give her some formula. She did take the bottle well and we did supplement with formula for the next 2 days. That night as I laid with her in my arms, no one else there but Lia and I, I began to cry. I cried once again for all the fears I had about this precious baby's life and all the unknowns we would be facing as a family. It felt good to cry with her in my arms. I finally had a beautiful little girl to comfort me as I suddenly became the baby and she the nurturer. I held her tight as I cried and whispered sweetness to her as I promised her I would always take care of her and love her.

I must pause here with the narrative and Thank you Theo for being so strong for me through this process. You have always been my rock and you always know what to say to make it all better. I will never forget how your spiritual gift of optimism and faith got us through those first couple days when we found out about the diagnosis. Even as we laid in bed and googled Down Syndrome on your phone and read all the awful things that can go along with it, you still managed to remind me that this is all Gods plan and for His glory, and that it is a blessing that He chose us to be parents to such a special little girl. I will carry your reminder with me forever as I know it is the truth.....Thank you!!!! I cannot imagine going through life with anyone but you. I Love You!

Friday morning the nurse took Lia for her echo test. It blows my mind now and I cannot remember why I didn't go with her. I know I was exhausted and on some heavy pain meds, but as I write this I cannot believe I didn't go! Most of that day is again quite fuzzy. I do remember quite distinctly taking a long shower and actually putting on some makeup, I was tired of looking and feeling like such a frump! I was able to get that awesome hospital pump and man that thing really does work great. My milk wasn't in yet, but it was getting thinner and thinner each time I pumped. At about 4ish, The and I were there and the nurse came in and gave us notice that we could go home!!!! We were both so happy. Theo began taking our things to the car. I decided we should stay for a few minutes more so I could use the "super pump" one last time, but I needed something to eat first. I wanted to get out of the room, so I decided I would walk down to the cafeteria to pick up a snack. I couldn't figure out how to get to the cafe so I walked over to the nurses station to ask for directions........

As I walked up my nurse, Marci, is on the phone and holding her finger up for me to wait. She proceeded to hand me the phone. It was the Pediatrician. I was informed that Lia needed to go to the NICU for 2 days. The echo came back and showed that a blood vessel that normally closes within 24 hrs had not and that there was a small hole that needed to be monitored. What the? Are you kidding me? Theo already had the bags in the car. We were supposed to be taking our baby home right now. I was so upset and scared. We finally came to terms with it and left Lia in the NICU about 2 hours later. We arrived home to a BBQ dinner my Dad had cooked. Theo had gotten a really big "It's a girl" balloon and I soon as I saw it as we pulled up I began to cry. What was meant to be a joyful celebration turned into a rushed and somber dinner. All I wanted to do was go to sleep.....which I did. I knew I needed rest and that Lia was in good hands in the NICU so I slept until 4 AM and then got up and went to see her. To my excitement she was doing great. All her vitals were steady and she was well. I stayed there with her all day (while Theo took Rowan to Urgent Care...he was still quite sick, not eating or drinking much). Just when Theo arrived at the hospital, we got word from the Pediatrician that because Lia was doing so well we could take her home. Sunday was Easter and a follow up echo wouldn't be able to be done until Monday, which we could take her to ourselves. Yes!!! Good News!!! We packed her up and brought our little "sunflower" home!

......more to come in a later post about the days that followed. It took me 6 weeks to find the time and courage to write this post, it feels great to have it done. Lia has been sitting here with me as I wrote it.