I last posted on 6/6/10. Two days later (Tuesday 6/8/10) at 1 AM Ben called to say he was taking Beth to the hospital. She was having contractions and they just weren't going away. How ever, she had contractions without dilating before so Ben said he would call when they found out what was going on. They would not keep her unless she was dilated at least 5 cm. even if she was in labor. And she was only a little over 36 weeks pregnant.
I got up and took a shower. I figured that even if they did send them home I would have my shower for the day. My husband got up to go to the bathroom and I told him what was going on. I got on the computer just for something to do. About 3 AM Ben called again and said Beth was dilated 5 cm and they were keeping her!
After Steve got ready we headed to the hospital. We got there about 5 AM. It was very cloudy and a little cool that day. As we made our way to her room we met Beth's friend, Jenni, who had just gotten there. A little later Beth's friend, Krystle, and her 4 month old daughter, Katelyn joined us. Later in the morning Ben's parents, Kay and Bryian Crostreet, arrived. Later, after work, Dale and Janice Van Duyn, and their daughter, Laurren Karr, joined us. The Van Duyns had been our friends for years. Steve works with Dale and Laurren and Beth were friends almost since birth.
Beth got an epidural and was a lot more comfortable. She even rested a little bit. Except for short trips to get something to eat, Ben stayed at Beth's side. The nurses came in occasionally to check her. It seemed to be a very slow process. When they broke her water and things progressed a littler quicker for awhile. Then it slowed down again. The doctor had just told her that a C-section was not out of the question when she dilated completely.
At that point everyone except Ben had to go to the waiting room. I think that was about 7:30 PM. We waited for what seems like hours. I was getting concerned so I went to the nurse's desk to ask if everything was going okay. Of course they would tell me nothing.
A little while later, about 9 PM Ben came into the waiting room, all smiles. He told us the baby had been born and that were stitching Beth up. She had tore quite a bit. Then he told us the vital information. She weighted 7lbs. and 4 oz. She was 20 inches long. And her name was Addyson Noelle! Her nickname would be Addy.
We went to see Beth and the baby. They were planning to keep the baby in the room with them but they said Addy was 'singing' or making noises when she breathed, indicating breathing problems. She had to go to the nursery, they thought, for just a little while.
We went to the nursery to look at the baby through the window. She was the most beautiful baby, besides my own, that I had ever seen. She had dark hair (that looked curly at the time) and dark eyes. She also had the cutest chubby cheeks imaginable! Beth had given me a list of people to call so I phoned family and friends. I couldn't get over the fact that I was a grandmother! When Beth was finally taken to her postpartum room we went to see her. She had the sweetest smile on her face when we entered. She had done such a wonderful job! A friend on Facebook had told me I would never look at my daughter the same way again and she was right.
We went home probably about 11 or 11:30 PM. All the way home (a 45 minute drive that probably took us over an hour) it rained so hard we could barely see the road. I had never seen it rain so hard for such a long time. Brad had gotten Daisy from Ben and Beth's and of course we had to take care of our dogs, too. Needless to say, we were exhausted but very happy.
The next day Beth called to tell us they had to take Addy to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit because of her breathing. No one, besides the parents, could see the baby at this point. Beth was very sore and had a hard time moving. She had about 25 stitches. But they went to the NICU to see Addy when they could.
On Friday I went to the hospital to see Ben and Beth. They said that they could have 2 support people that could go into the NICU with them but they had to have had a N1H1 flu shot. I had not had one so I went to Walgreens down the street and got one. I had to wear a mask because it hadn't been two weeks since I'd had the shot. But I got to go into the NICU to hold my granddaughter for the first time!
The whole NICU experience was not pleasant. The breathing problems resolved quickly but then they were concerned about her being able to get enough breast milk. They put in a feeding tube. Beth wasn't allowed to nurse Addy, only pump. She would give Addy a bottle and Ben would hold her while they gave her what she didn't take through the NG tube. She continued to improve daily but the doctors and nurses were inconsistent on how they took care of her. Beth was discharged on Thursday but Addy was still in NICU. The hospital had a house with rooms that Ben and Beth got to stay for a few days. That was such a blessing because it's about 45 minute drive to the hospital from their house and Beth was very sore and had trouble moving.
Finally, on Friday June 18th, Addy got to come home! Ben and Beth were so glad to be able to take care of their baby themselves.
The Wednesday before last was Addy's First Birthday. She had a party last Saturday. Since her birth Ben and Beth have moved to Mt. Pulaski, IL near Lincoln. Ben has a job in Lincoln and they are continuing their education. Addy has grown up to the the most beautiful, the smartest and the most precious child ever! (I know all other grandmothers feel this way. I call it the 'Grandmother's Prerogative.') Her hair is straight, not curly like we thought. She has her Dad's hazel eyes that turn colors depending on what she wears. Sometimes they are gray, sometimes greenish, sometimes bluish. She looks a lot like her Mommy's baby pictures but there are times when she looks just like her Daddy. She's really a pretty good mix. She has brought such joy and fulfilment into my life. In March before Addy was born Dr. Phil's son and daughter-in-law had a baby and he had a show devoted to her. Robin, his wife, said, "I thought I was born to be mother but I was wrong. I was meant to be a grandmother!" I know exactly what she means.
