Part 2, Birth Story One: Amelie Muriel

So, as I already revealed, we opted for choice number two: a c-section. I was prepped and wheeled into the OR. At some point in my life, I had read about a woman that felt her c-section and consequently had "issues" with her child or something crazy like that. So, I was ADAMANT about them testing me before they started, to which they obliged. Amelie Muriel was born at 5:09 pm on Thursday, February 19, 2004. I didn't hear "It's a girl!" (In fact I've never heard that phrase during a birth-at least correctly!) because everyone was amazed by her size. I kept hearing things like, "Oh my goodness, that baby is huge!" and "Wow! What a big baby!" I had to ask, "Is it a girl like we thought?" to which they assured me that it was. Upon placing her on the scale, we finally learned what she was trying to tell us. She weighed in at a mere 10 pounds 3 ounces! The first thing I said was, "We beat Jack!" (my nephew that weighed 10 pounds 2 ounces) I couldn't believe how big she was!
At my 36 week check up, the doctor predicted, "You've got an 8 or 9 pound baby in there." Since my family has relatively big babies--my mom's smallest was 8 pounds 3 ounces--I expected as much. I had assumed her comment meant that AT BIRTH I would have an 8 or 9 pound baby. After learning how much Amelie weighed, I wondered if the doctor had meant that day (at my 36 weeks check up), I had and 8 or 9 pound baby in there! I guess we'll never know.
It took a while before I got to see her. Since she had meconium in her amniotic fluid, she had some extra tests and procedures done, all right there in the OR. I also should mention that I had several nursing students observing as the c-section was performed. One of them (a young man) had actually been one of the people holding my leg as I pushed. They asked permission, of course, for all of this, and I can honestly say I couldn't have cared less who saw me in that predicament.
My immediate recovery and Amelie's introduction into the world went well. I did have some external healing issues to the incision area, which I won't go into. (E-mail me if you're that interested.)
I can say for a while, I mourned not having the birth experience I had envisioned. A few months down the road, a friend shared that her niece, who had dealt with infertility for years and had since adopted, struggled with not having a "birth experience." It occurred to me at that point that I DID have a birth experience, not the one I had planned, but the one that God had planned for me. And that was even better.

One of the first (digital) pictures we took of Amelie. (We were still in transition, so most of Amelie's birth photos are in print.)

Her first morning.

Getting to know her Daddy. (She really looks like Linus to me in this one!)

A very swollen Mommy (though freshly showered after three days!)