Today (technically last night - it's the middle of the night, lol) is Haley's birthday! She's our youngest daughter, now married and a mother to Hunter, who just turned two (happy birthday to Hunter and cousin Joshua!). I want to start writing about each of you children on your birthdays, as your sisters have done on their blogs, so here goes...
Wow, Haley, where do I begin? You were a "surprise" baby, in every sense of the word. After eight years and two miscarriages, I didn't think I'd be having any more babies, till you came along. When you were born (After the Dr. induced my labor and finally did a C-section. He said I had a "cast iron" uterus, after a day of strong contractions and no progress made - I think I had gone through the night, also. Grandpa Buis gave me a blessing because I was having terribly restless legs, and that helped me.. : ),
I just remember getting the epidural and then them holding you out for me to see. I remember being amazed by your little, perfectly miniature hand. Your dad and I were very excited!
You were a favorite with the nurses, even though you really resented it when they took some blood from your heel! You were so cute that even your Uncle Jessie commented - only he said you were pretty because you were born in Missouri!
We had everything ready for you at home, thanks to a baby shower that your Aunt Sandy and Linda Kaylor threw for you, before you were born. It was sooo much better during the last half of my pregnancy with you! The first half had been hard, and I had a new doctor who didn't know me and seemed very set in his ways, even though he was a relatively new doctor. Fortunately, after he'd been humbled a few times, his attitude changed.
Right after you came home, your dad had to go back to Illinois, where he was working at the time, so it was just you and me and the four older kids, who were so delighted to have a new baby in the house. The girls, especially, wanted to rock you and hold you. I used to sing the lullaby "Baby Mine," from Dumbo, to you. You really wanted to be rocked all the time!
When you'd been home a day or so, you took such a long nap that I grew concerned about you. I went in to check on you, and I picked you up. As I did, you were choking on some phlegm in your throat. Finally, you coughed it up and started breathing! I was so glad that I'd been prompted to check on you at that instant. I had the kids get in the car, with Ben in the backseat, holding you upright and checking on your breathing. I drove so fast, around all those big curves to the hospital in Mexico! I kept asking Ben if you were still breathing.
As we pulled up to Audrain Medical Center, where you'd been born, your pediatrician stepped out of the emergency room door, right next to our car. That was such a miracle! Dr. Murrywid examined you and said that you were jaundiced and had some kind of infection that you may have gotten when you were born. He didn't know. He sent you up to the neonatal ICU. It was so scary!
The kids waited in a little waiting room while I called your dad. Their faces were so pale, and they were very quiet. They didn't want to lose their baby! When I went in to see you, you were under the special lights, with an IV taped to your partially-shaved head. You looked kind of gray, and very sick! You were laying on your tummy, like a little frog, and my tears rained down on your back, as I talked to you and prayed for you. I turned to Dr. Murrywid and asked him if he thought you would live. He held his hand up towards Heaven and said, "Only God knows."
You'd been placed on an eleven-day course of IV antibiotics, and they tested your spinal fluid, which, thank goodness, came back negative.
When your dad arrived, we called the church to see if anyone could help give you a blessing. The missionaries just happened to be there, they said, and they came right over. Another tender mercy that we were granted.
Sandy and Jessie came into the hospital, same ward, because she was getting ready to have Sophia. I remember being alone in their dim and quiet room and praying to Heavenly Father that He would watch over you. Then I distinctly heard a calm voice saying, "My child, I have been." That was so comforting, and I knew it was true.
Then I read King Benjamin's speech in The Book of Mormon that Sandy and Jessie had lying on her bedside table. In it, he taught about how we are actually maintained, breath to breath. I knew that we were all being cared for by Heavenly Father, moment to moment, and that gave me a sense of peace and perspective that I'd never had before. I'll never forget those lessons.
I started going home with the kids and then coming back to the hospital to feed you. As you improved, we were so grateful! I just remember taking it a day at a time. Sandy had Sophia, and I was there in the nursery as they brought her in and put the little pink knit cap on her. You were born so close together!
Ever since then, we've loved you and all your adorable antics, Haley.
Now you're a wife and a mother, all grown up, yet still learning.
We're so grateful to have you in our lives.
Happy Birthday, Haley!
xoxoxo
Now you're a wife and a mother, all grown up, yet still learning.
We're so grateful to have you in our lives.
Happy Birthday, Haley!
xoxoxo
7 comments:
Wahhhhh! That was really really special to me! Thank you for writing about that, I didn't remember the details of my birth at all so this is something I never want to lose. Thank you Mommy/Flo! I love you! That was a wonderful birthday gift!
You're welcome, Haley! I have your gift ready, btw. You should come down here and spend some time with me!
Oh, and don't feel bad, Haley...most people don't remember their birth!
Take care, Luv!
So fun to read! And sad! I remember all those times too, but from the perspective of a 10 year old sister. Mel and I had stayed at Dawn and Darlene's house and I remember playing outside when their mom told us Haley was born. i was kind of sad that it wasn't ON my birthday, but so excited. before she was born Mel and I would tell jokes on the bus and talk about how we had to remember them to tell her when she got bigger.
her baby shower was so neat and fun! I think I won a prize by getting the little fake poopy diaper. The pack and play you got was such a neat gift and it seemed sooo nice being brand new! I remember how little she seemed in it, and Mel and I were in the room when you got her out of bed and were trying to get her to breath right. The car ride down to Mexico I was sitting right next to Ben. remember how Daddy had just worked on the little brown car and you weren't supposed to drive it for a few days, but you had to to get to the hospital? At the hospital they were signing Haley in and getting all your information and you started crying. Then that made Justin start crying, and that made us all start crying!
One of the missionaries that blessed Haley was Elder Bullwinkle and Mel and I thought he was so cute. We were jealous of baby Haley getting all the attention from him that first Sunday she got to come to church! Ha!
Ummm...what else. Oh, I remember going to Miss Bowling's house with Mel and telling her about Haley. Then she came down to our house, and I don't think she had ever been inside it and I remember feeling kind of embarrassed. She held Haley and told Mel and I that she was really cute. Mel and I had told her that she looked funny or something. You know how new babies look. :/
I also remember her wanting to be rocked all the time, and how she would put her arm down our shirts through the collars. (Sabriel likes her arm in shirts too! That or she wants to hold the shirts in her fist.)
One time when Haley was older and had really stinky diapers I changed her then I sprayed Lysol on her bum because it stunk so bad. Well, she had a diaper rash and screamed and screamed! You told me never to do that again, which I haven't. :)
Megan, you kids remember so many details that I don't, so thanks! It was really fun hearing about your memories. I didn't remember that about the car being newly worked on, either.
I added something on the post about you: we were laid over at Little Rock for hours in that dark, hot airport. Ugh! You were less than two weeks old. What a way to make your entrance into Texas!
Legally, we lived in Texas at the time, so you girls are really native Texans. :) You spent your first 8 years there, and Melinda her first 6 years. And you had the heaviest accent/drawl of us all! Ben's was almost as bad, lol.
PS That is hilarious about the Lysol! Glad you haven't repeated that mistake!
P.S. Just checked and the new Project Runway season starts July 28th!
Wow, Megan remembered even more details, and they all made me start to tear up a bit again (like when you started crying which made Justy start crying which made everyone else start). This is such a good gift to give, because we rarely remember everything so it's good to write it down. Thanks again! and thanks floogy!
Post a Comment