Knowing that time was of the essence, my sister took my then 4 year old daughter back to Nashville with her so we could unpack and get everything ready the coming baby. I still had over 2 weeks to go, but we wanted everything perfect for her arrival.
As we were unpacking the moving truck we discovered that the movers had riped my couch and broken my washing machine. So, 11 years and 1 day ago my mother dragged me all around Paducah looking for a new one. The day started off good, Hannah was coming back today and I was excited for her to see her new home. I know she was excited as well. She wasn't used to spending much time away from David and I. Around lunch time I started feeling very bad. I wasn't joking when I said my mother dragged me around town. All I wanted to do was sleep.
Hindsight is always 20/20 isn't it? Little did I know that I was one sick young woman. I just thought I was coming down with a cold or the flu or something. My reasoning was solid...I had just moved from a semi-tropical climate to place where winter is an actual season not just a word on the calendar. So all day I did a zombie walk, found my washer, then went back home to bed.
Late that night, as I was lying down, something strange started happening. My abdomen started doing this weird little dance. It looked like the baby was doing the worm or like she was fighting to get out. Which I guess she probably was. I was amused but also worried.
11 years ago, I went to my doctor. I was still feeling pretty bad, so David drove me. The first thing they always did was take my blood pressure, today was no exception. Now, there are some words you never want to hear when you are the doctor's office. Here is one sentence that immediately raises a red flag especially when followed by a routine procedure. It goes something like this, "Hmmm...Let me go get the doctor." The doctor came in and confirmed the nurses finding, I had developed Toxemia. They told me that my pregnancy could not continue safely. I other words, I was about to become a mother for the second time!
They told me to get to the hospital right away and the doctor would be right behind me. So we loaded up and hit the road. At this point David decides he is hungry and insists on going to Burger King. He even asks me if I want something. I don't think I cursed at him but I know I thought about it. Upon arrival at the hospital I am whisked away to maternity and hooked up to all kinds of monitors and IVs. Fluids and anti-seizure medicine and medicine to induce labor, fetal monitors and blood pressure monitors. I was so hooked up that I wasn't allowed to leave my bed all day! Oh, those stupid monitors!!! They kept blasting their warnings all day long!
It was all worth it though. Emma Darby Ward was born at 8:33pm weighing in at 6 pounds 6 ounces and 21 1/2" long. She was and still is everything I always dreamed she would be. I thank God everyday for blessing me with her. She's not perfect. She can act a little bit like Eeyore and she could definitely be a little nicer to her brother, but I wouldn't change one thing about her.
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