Elyse's Birth Story....

strong

1. having, showing, or able to exert great bodily or muscular power; physically vigorous or robust: a strong person.

2.accompanied or delivered by great physical, mechanical.

3.mentally powerful or vigorous.

4.especially able, competent, or powerful in a specific field or respect.

5.of great moral power, firmness, or courage: strong under temptation.

I show you this word today because it embodies all of what Jill was on July 21st, the day Jill and Stacey met their beautiful Elyse.  

When I got to the  hospital Jill and Stacey had already been up for almost 48 hours.  Jill worked silently through her contractions as a tear would slip onto her cheek every so often.  She was exhausted, but she powered through like every women wishes they could do during labor.  She told us time and time again that she wanted to do this naturally, no epidural, no pitocin, nothing but her sheer willpower and strength would do.  She labored, labored, but to her dismay she couldn't dilate past a 7.  With the exhaustion and her body not doing what she wanted it to do she was forced to make the decision she had tried so hard to avoid.  Jill got the epidural and had high hopes it would push her to the 10 she needed to be.  She rested and received her pitocin drip, ready for the next step.  

I slipped in to check on Jill and Stacey after she had, had time to rest.  The doctor checked Jill, I sat in the chair, fingers crossed, eyes closed, praying this was going to be it.  We were very surprised when they asked Jill to push.  We all sensed the urgency and I slipped behind the curtain.  They asked Jill to get into different positions in order to get to Elyse better.  Nurse after nurse came in and as I stared at Stacey to give me some sort of sign I heard Jill say "Just cut her out, get her out, I don't care how you do it!"  Little did I know that little Elyse had flat lined and they were trying to get her heart started again.  The doctor was pumping her little chest and got  her heart started again and it was time to do an emergency  c-section.  I went and told the family that she was going into surgery, not knowing how critical it really was.  I believe that I was not suppose to  hear the part about Elyse flat lining, because I wouldn't have been able to tell the family.  Because Jill had gotten the epidural already, she was prepped and was able to go right into surgery.  Jill and Stacey did amazing.  I think they held most of the tears until they heard Elyse cry for the first time.  What a great little cry she has!!  She is perfect.  She was born July 21st at 11:36 8.14 lbs and 21 inches long.  It has been such a twisty road to get her here, but now I know they can't imagine life without her.  

Without further ado, here is Elyse's birth story....

 

 

 Not shown are the angels Jill had by her side holding her hands as she went through one of the hardest things she's ever had to do.  Her dad Roger and her Grandmother were with her the whole time.  It was truly an amazing day.  

This is gonna be a good life.....