The 37 weeks I was pregnant with Jarom have been some of the most stressful and prayerful times of my life. Derrek, Jacob, Shelby, Rachel and I each prayed everyday for him to be healthy and strong. In the beginning of January my legs were hurting and so I had them checked and sure enough I had free flowing blood clots in my leg. I was immediately put on blood thinners, lovely compression socks and a modified bed rest. This put a huge burden on our family. But we were willing to do it for a healthy baby. I would go to work and then come home and put my feet up and rest. The relief society started bringing in dinner once a week and saved us all. I had many many doctors appointments. I saw my doctor every 3 weeks because that was as long as I could go without having nightmares about losing this baby. Our doctor was extremely compassionate and caring. As I got to 32 weeks I started weekly NST (non-stress tests) and then at 34 weeks we did twice a week NST and once a week appointments. Derrek's Parents and my parents watched the kids so they were never home alone as they were always on edge when I went to appointments.
The last week before Jarom came I started having contractions. I have never had contractions out of the hospital except with my oldest. It scared me. Jarom was breech and so the doctor wanted to give him time to turn. I was positive he would come the minute he was in the correct position. I was miserable but forward we went. We scheduled an induction/aversion (turn the baby) for the day I was 37 weeks.
Derrek and I went to the hospital early the morning of the 5th. We met our fabulous nurse from when we had Joshua. She was there to help us deliver this new little one. I am grateful for her. Our fabulous doctor came in and low and behold Jarom's head was down and just a little to the left. He felt like if we started the pit he would slip into place and be here soon. So we started the pit. He came back two hours later and Jarom's head was in place and they put the heart lead on his head because we had trouble chasing his heart rate. (having two monitors and two traces was delightful!) My water broke a little and then a lot, and a lot, and a lot more. I had an extra, extra amount of water. No wonder he could not move into place.
They placed an epidural etc... and we got prepared to wait until I dilated and he could come. Our nurse came back in about 1:30 and said she was really worried about the baby's heart rate and showed us how he was struggling to maintain a good heart rate and every contraction it went down and wasn't recovering how it should. She called the doctor and I was being prepped for a C-section. I had a dream a long time ago that basically let me know a c-section was the only way he was going to make it. So I was calm until my sweet husband started to cry. They were running to the OR room. The doctor was there and all the nurses etc.. were efficient and quick. The last heart rate for Jarom that I heard was 40 beats per minute. AHHHH. I was grateful they were actively cutting him out. I heard his first little cry and I calmed down. It really didn't matter any more he was here and alive. From decision to do a C-section to cry was about 15 minutes. I could handle all else. I thought for sure he was on his way to NICU but no. His first set of Apgar's were dismal as the nurse described it to me later but his second set was fabulous. He had a full knot in his cord that was obstructing his heart beat and blood flow. We are so very blessed to have nurses and doctors who were on top of everything. We were watched over and blessed to have a positive outcome for this little one. I hope he knows the miracle he is every day of his life.
Recovery from a C-section is so different. From the minute the baby is out till even now. It is not necessarily worse. It is just so different.
Jarom's name means: to be Prosperous and happy. Derrek and I finalized his name the Monday before we had him. We needed to be prosperous and happy. We have been so stressed and full of hope and fear. Since he has been in our home Peace and joy have filled our hearts and home. Everyone is still finding their feet but for the most part happiness and peace are here.
" God doesn't replace, but replenishes...Such a true statement. As I am getting prepared and ready for this beautiful new boy to join our family. I know our Joshua cannot be replaced. His spirit and his brightness cannot be replaced but we as a family can find joy and happiness in our new little one with the silver lining of our Joshua who will wait for us in heaven 1/19/2011
When we arrived home the peace lily we got after Joshua's death had bloomed while we were gone and we have five white flowers -one for each of our sweet babies.
