I always toyed with the notion of writing a book about Ella’s life. It’s been six years of learning and growing for all of us. There has been joy, heartache, laughter, tears, anger, drama, and a crap ton of advocating. There has also been some plot twists. All the things a good story is made of.
I imagine her birth story would be nearly the beginning of her journey, minus my pregnancy, so seeing that tomorrow is her birthday I feel it’s only fitting that I tell it tonight. Funny how I can’t remember most things in my life, but details of her birth are so vivid.
CJ came three weeks early and Ella was almost two weeks late. I always tell Steve that Ella came late to make up for the time CJ wasn’t in my belly. It was God’s way of evening things out. Honestly, I am sure she was super comfy and didn’t want to leave.
I, no joke, begged my ob from week thirty-eight to get Ella out. I suggested scraping, a c-section, and whatever else google told me he could do to try and get her out early. The last month was rough for me. I had sciatica pain, felt as large as an elephant, and peed myself any time I laughed, sneezed, or coughed.
It was just under two weeks after her due date when Doc Murph scheduled my induction. As I sat in his office listening to the induction process, I wasn’t thrilled. It all sounded very uncomfortable, but she was growing, and without knowing exactly how big she was, leaving her in seemed just as uncomfortable and risky. For multiple reasons, it was time. There was only one thing left to do. The day before the induction her heartbeat was monitored for almost an hour and I had one last ultrasound to make sure she was okay.
Steve and I checked in at the hospital ready to meet our baby girl. When I got there I had the sweetest (and maybe oldest) labor and delivery nurse. She could tell I was scared and did everything she could to make me feel at ease. She checked on me often and diplomatically answered the nine hundred and forty seven questions I asked her. Before her shift was over she warned me that when things escalated, there would be pain. She told me I could get morphine, but only so much. It would be best if I waited as long as I could before requesting it because once my doses were gone, I had to wait for the epidural. She also told me I NEEDED to sleep. We hugged before she left. She was an angel.
My next nurse was cool, but all business. She checked in when she needed to and did her job by the book. It was clear we weren’t going to be besties though. Sometime after midnight I remember the pain getting intense. I told Steve it was time. I needed drugs. I just wanted to sleep. The nurse gave me some morphine and I fell asleep quickly. Steve was in a bed next to me, or maybe it was a chair, and was peacefully resting as well.
I abruptly woke up in the wee hours of the morning. I was so thirsty. I desperately needed ice chips. I was so excited when I realized they melted because it meant I could actually drink water, which they had forbidden since I arrived. To this day I swear that was the best water I have ever had. I must have been some type of high because I whispered (well, I intended to whisper) Steve’s name until he woke up. I am sure by the time he finally jumped up I had actually yelled his name, but whispering was my intention. He was so attentive and came rushing to my bedside to make sure I was okay.
I kid you not, at that moment, I swore that I had never used a straw before. I was telling Steve how absolutely amazing I thought it was. I took it out of my cup and showed him the holes on both sides. I asked him why I had never seen one before? Why he had deprived me of such joy? The entire time I was whispering because I didn’t want anyone to hear me. Hands down greatest invention. It even bent. That morning my mind was truly blown. We definitely had a good laugh. We still laugh about it six years later.
The next few hours passed and were rather uneventful. After I drank some water, I went back to sleep. I didn’t ask for more morphine until I woke up. There was another shift change. This next nurse worked hard for her money. She ended up being the one there when I delivered Ella.
When I woke up I remember seeing the midwife who was going to deliver Ella. She checked me and said I wasn’t quite ready but we would keep on keeping on. She would be here soon. I also remember I was starving. The nurse told me I could eat something “little”. I am pretty sure I ordered a bagel and ate half of it. That is something I would definitely regret only a few hours later.
Ella was almost ready to make her grand entrance and tomorrow I will tell you just how she did.
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