ThirTEEN!!!

Happy Birthday to my very special girl Maggie!!! You have turned out to be an awesome young women, I can't wait to see what the teen years bring!!

What a joyous day it was 13 years ago. First child, horrible pregnancy and a party in the delivery room! Yes, a party!! Me, Ruben, my Mom, my step-dad, mother-in-law, my sister, my niece, Ruben's aunt, my grand-mother and grand-father, my friend, my Mom's friend, nurse Debra and Dr. Smith! If I forgot anyone, SORRY!

I had been on bed rest for 6 weeks and was 10 days early but Dr. Smith decided it was time. I couldn't even walk anymore because I was so swollen. I remember going to the mall and being pushed in a wheel chair it was so bad!

I went in on a Friday evening and had my membranes stripped then went out to Lyon's for dinner and went home to bed. 5:59am, I was awoke by a severe menstrual cramp then a little trickle of fluid. I woke Ruben up and told him I think it is time! We both knew the 1st child could take some time so Ruben made me a huge breakfast, I took a shower, did my hair and put make-up on. We went to the hospital (Woodland Memorial) around 9:am. Labor actually wasn't that bad with her. I didn't have any meds and she popped out at 3:35pm. 9 hours 35 mins from start to finish. She was very little though 5lbs. 15 oz, probably earlier than 10 days.

We took our precious baby home the next day but we had to bring her in the following day because she was jaundice and not eating or pooping. They had to draw blood out of her arm which was horrible! Poor Ruben had to leave the room. Her biliruben was very high and they wanted to hospitalize her. We begged to take care of her at home and Dr. Smith said he would arrange it. For the next week, I couldn't hold her except to feed and change her. She was in a tanning bed that was set-up on our kitchen table. She had felt pink glasses velcroed to her head. We had to feed her through a tiny tube taped to your finger or taped to my breast. She was so weak, she couldn't latch on to nipples including mine! Ruben and I took turns getting up every 2 hours with her because we had to take her temperature, and feed her whether she was hungry or not! From then on, she was the easiest of all 3 of my girls. Hopefully she will stay that way!!