What a Difference a Day Makes!

After writing my last blog (July 30) on waiting for Elliotte to be born and everyone being patient, a funny thing happened..........she came the next night! Now Elliotte, being in the womb and all, wasn't able to read my blog about patience and decided she'd had enough with swimming in the amniotic fluid in close quarters. The doctor told Beth, the day before, that she would probably not go into labor on her own (even though she was dilated 3 cm.), Elliotte would be around 10 pounds and would more than likely have to be induced. I'm sure Elliotte heard all this and decided she was not going to weigh 10 pounds at birth and definitely not be delivered in a drug induced state! She already has her mother's determination (which is a nice word for stubbornness). Elliotte decided to show everyone that she was in control and did not want an August birthday. I'm sure she was thinking the ruby birthstone for July is much prettier than the green one for August (sorry to all you August people). So, breaking Beth's water around 5:15 Friday, July 31, Elliotte sent everyone into a little tissie. Thinking we all had several hours before her arrival, I was making phone calls, getting snacks and reading material together, applying waterproof mascara and putting the dinner into the fridge. Finally we were literally going out the door when Ben called and said, "She's dilated to 7 and you better get here quick!" Now remember Beth's water broke around 5:15p.m. and they walked in the hospital at 6:15 p.m. and it was now about 6:50 p.m. Rushing as fast as we could, we got to Baptist by 7:10p.m. I rushed in and no one was at the desk on the labor floor. It was shift change, just like when Beth was born. I found a nurse leaving for the day and told her my daughter was in labor and I needed to find her. She was nice enough to take me to the right place where I said my daughter's name was Beth Robinson. Remember I was in a little tissie and just forgot for a moment. When I said, "I mean Beth Miller" I was taken directly to her labor/delivery room. Beth's epidural had just been put in, after 3 sticks with the needle first, and she was in obvious pain (this was about 7:20 p.m. now). I kissed, hugged, kissed her again, then did the same to Ben. Here I was in my daughter's labor/delivery room about the watch my first grandchild being born. What a privilege and blessing that was. Ben went out to the waiting room to talk to his dad and others that had gathered while I stayed with Beth. She was still having pain on her right side while the left side was deadened. As the minutes went by (notice I said minutes and not hours) Beth continued to progress, so much so that the nurse called in every available hand and the doctor. Ben was back in the room now and Beth was still feeling pain on the right side and wanting to push. As the doctor came in and rolled his stool over to Beth, the right side deadened (thank goodness because she is such a wimp with pain!) He told her to push and push and push, etc. After about 15-20 minutes of pushing, Elliotte Lynn Miller entered the world at 8:19 p.m. on July 31. She weighed 7 lbs. 11 oz., was 19 1/4 inches long, had dark hair and Beth's pretty skin color. Oh yeah, she has a set of lungs on her, too! We are all overjoyed at her arrival and that she is a healthy preemie, almost 4 weeks early!

Today, everyone is doing well. Elliotte is nursing well, after a few days of not quite getting the gist of it and she's a good sleeper. Beth is feeling wonderful after feeling so bad the last 2 months. Ben is the proud daddy and loves "his girls" with all his heart. Elliotte is peeing, pooping, wiggling, crying and she has quite the temper when she's ready to eat. This is were she opens her mouth and the face turns red/blue but no sound comes out for a few seconds and you want to yell "BREATHE!!". Then the high pitched scream comes out and you wonder how that piercing squeal could come from someone so tiny. I have had the honor to be with Elliotte everyday of her life so far. Today is my break to get things done at home but I am missing her so that it makes my heart hurt. I know when I see her in the next few days, she will have changed so much. How fast time flies when you are having the time of your life! John and I are thankful to God for Elliotte's safe arrival, a healthy baby and mother, a proud father/son in law and for our hearts full of love for this child. I will continue to pray everyday for Elliotte and her parents and know one day she will learn the story of her birth and be thankful to God for her life. And friends, please indulge me as I will be showing pictures of Elliotte to anyone who asks.......and even those who don't!! God bless you all.