January 19th - Kaia's comment

Our sweetest little Lauren is on a great track this week. She is healing from her infection (docs think she had pneumonia and they seem to have nipped it in the bud!) and she's getting back to the all-important work of growing and developing!

She and I had a great morning together. Now that she's off her ventilator, has all but one of her IV's out, and has very stable stats, we restarted our morning 'Kangaroo' ritual. It felt great to hold my little daughter again, as she snuggled up on my chest and quickly fell asleep. It's amazing how such normal baby sounds, like her sneezes and cries can sound like music to my heart! As we snuggled together on a reclining chair, I told her all about the new house our family is moving into next month and all of the little girls her age who will be living on our street. I also told her about her amazing Dad and her crazy little brother, both of whom just love her with all their hearts. It will be so great to have our whole family under one roof. I just can't wait! I also told her about how many friends she already has - this blog seems to have stimulated quite a Lauren Fan Club!

Because we started this blog after Lauren was born, some of you may have some questions as to why this all happened so early. Honestly, most of our questions remain unanswered, and may always remain unanswered. First, why did I go into labor so early? No one knows. On the night of December 26th, I began feeling contractions. They subsided and I slept well that night. But when I went into my doctor's office to be checked on the 27th, I found out that my cervix was beginning to dilate and efface - I was going into labor!!! I was immediately checked into the hospital and put on a series of strong anti-contraction drugs. I was also given a series of steroids to help Lauren's lungs develop in case she was delivered. For the next 4 days, I was on strict bed rest in the hospital and monitored rigorously. We all hoped that the contractions were gone and I might still carry Lauren to term. Unfortunately, on Sunday the 31st at 4am, my contractions began again. The docs tried but were unable to stop the inevitable. Lauren was ready to greet the world, whether the world was ready for her or not!! Sometimes premature births happen because there is an infection somewhere or a tear that leaks amniotic fluid. I went through multiple tests looking for a reason that my contractions came so early and everything came back negative! We must accept that we may never know the reason this all happened.

Why did I have an emergency C-section? When the docs did an ultrasound right before Lauren was born, the images showed that she was in a breech position (her head was not down.) Also, her umbilical cord was gathered near the cervix....all things that made a normal birth dangerous. C-section was the only safe option. My contractions were coming rapidly and I was 100% effaced and 8cm dilated. Lauren was on her way out and the c-section was the best option to minimize her trauma.

So, we may never know why my body was ready to give birth so soon. One friend has told us that perhaps Lauren has some amazing things to do in her life and she just couldn't wait to get started! No matter what, she has already taught us many lessons about love, patience, celebrating the littlest victories, and being comfortable with the unknown and the uncontrollable. She sure is a special little girl and we are so thankful for all that she is and all that she will be.