Baby Lucia Arrives!

We are so grateful and happy to announce the birth of Lucia Mira Mee.  She was born on November 19th at 35 weeks old.  We were hoping to make it to 37 weeks and have a nice, scheduled C-section, but Lucia had plans of her own.  On November 19th around 5:30pm, as we were sitting down for dinner, I suddenly started gushing blood.  Chris ran outside to get a neighbor to watch our kids, while I grabbed some towels to wrap around me and put in the car.  Thankfully, our sweet neighbor was home and we were able to rush to the hospital.  I was in tears as we made the 35 minute drive to the hospital.  I was so afraid that our baby had died inside.  We called our specialist on the way (fortunately, he gave us his personal number the day before); he said he would let everyone know we were on our way.   We finally arrived at the hospital, where they wheeled me straight up to labor and delivery.  As they hooked me up to all the monitors, I was so relieved and grateful to hear my sweet baby's strong heart beat.  She was going to be okay!  She was truly going to defy all the odds.  She was actually going to make it! 

The specialists had said she was one in a million; they had never seen such a miraculous turn around in their 50 years combined experience.  At 22 weeks, she was practically given a death sentence, not expected to survive to 24 weeks...and even if she did, she was way too small to have a chance.  (One of the doctors even gave us the option to abort the baby...the situation looked that bleak.)  Our only hope was that the oxygen, pool therapy, and prayers would keep her alive.  And to everyone's astonishment, they did! After a few weeks, fluid levels increased, brain sparing stopped, and she started gaining weight at exponential rates. 

Finally, after months of seeing the doctors and specialists 3 times a week, baby Lucia decided she was done! Two hours after we arrived at the hospital, baby Lucia was born via C-section.  When they pulled her from my tummy, she let out a nice, healthy cry.  I couldn't help but cry too, I was so overcome with joy.  I was able to see her briefly before Chris and the nurses took her to the NICU.  Lucia weighed exactly 3 lbs and measured 15 1/2 inches.  After being held in the C-section recovery room for a couple of hours, they wheeled me into the NICU to see my little baby girl in her isolette.  I was surprised to see a head full of dark hair.  She was absolutely gorgeous...perfect in every way.   A few days later, Chris and my Dad were able to give her a priesthood blessing.  Chris put his hand through the isolette window and blessed her with great health and strength. The spirit in the room was so sweet.

So, here we are four and a half weeks later.  Lucia is still in the NICU, but doing fabulously!  She is in her own room, in an open crib.  She weighs 4 lbs 3oz.  She has handled everything so well, and just needs to be able to take all her feedings by bottle before they will discharge her.  We are hoping she will be home for Christmas...but, we shall see :)

I am so grateful that there is a happy ending to all the struggles we have gone through this year.   It has definitely been the hardest year of my life, but one of the most glorious...as I have witnessed and been a part of a miracle.  I have felt Heavenly Father's love so strongly through the kindness of dear family and friends, as they have watched over my children, provided dinners, delivered random treats to our door, and offered countless prayers in our behalf.   We have witnessed first hand the power of the Relief Society of The Church of Jesus Christ!  These women have been incredible!  Not having any family close by, I don't know what I would have done without them.  Their service will never be forgotten.

After all we have been through, I feel more grateful than ever to be a mom.  I am so grateful for my four children.  I never want to take them or any day I have with them for granted.  Life is too precious.  Building our little family has been the best thing Chris and I have ever done and ever will do.