Monday at Southview Maternity

At 3 am, the first anesthesiologist came in to start my epidural.  After two failed attempts, we agreed to wait until the shift change at 7 and allow the next anesthesiologist to try. 

In the meanwhile, I began downloading music to the new iPhone 4S that I had just got for Mother's Day a few days previous.  I chose:
- All is Well with My Soul
- Amazing Grace
- Blessings (thanks to Lisa Sizer ~ Bob's cousin) *chose for Memorial Service
- Breathe "This is the Air I Breathe"
- By Your Side
- Here I am Lord
- Hosanna ~ Hillsong
- I will carry you (thanks to Stephanie McMillan) by Selah * chose for Memorial Service
- I will remember you by Sara McLachlan (sang at our high school graduation 15 years ago in June)
- On Eagle's Wings * chose for Memorial Service
- Thy Word
- The Valley Song by Jars of Clay (thanks to Sara Holahan)

I also spent time journaling and updating friends and family on Facebook and e-mail.  The messages of love and support had started to pour in and it was in this wee hour of Monday morning that I began to feel God's love surrounding us.

At 7 am, I had the epidural and it worked.  Third time is a charm!  I couldn't feel my legs and therefore wasn't allowed to get out of bed from there forward.  The next 30 hours would involve catheters and bedpans :-)

To my surprise at 7:30, my sister walked in.  She had been over-staffed at Sycamore's ICU unit and was able to be with me.  What a blessing!

Dad & Joyce had stayed with the kids overnight and took them to school at 8 am.  They both came straight to the hospital from there ~ dad cancelled his golf game.

Greg Chicoine, from our small group, owns Tropical Smoothie on 48 and brought food for everyone that morning and again in the late afternoon.  I got free smells :-)

Sara, our nurse, went home and we got a new nurse, Ashley.  We met Ashley and Dr Whitney Sharp came in for the first time.  She checked my progress and was disappointed that there had been none.  She did communicate that the medicine always works and that it can take anywhere from 8 hours to 24 hours to work.  Later she explained that Dr Duggan had seen it take 48 hours. 

So, the process continued....checking every 4 hours.

Monday afternoon was rough.  We had to make the decision on whether or not to cremate and spent a great deal of time discussing it.  I praise God for giving us such a vast amount of time to discuss.  We decided on burial after we spoke with the Miami Valley Memory Gardens and learned that they had a Garden of Angels just for infants.  We also decided that it would be easier to tell the kids about burial versus cremation.  After this decision, Bob called Bill Hazel, a friend of ours.  Bill's family owns funeral homes and was the first person we thought of.  When Bob called Bill, he broke down and couldn't talk.  I hadn't seen Bob that distraught before and it was really really difficult seeing him that heart broken. 

No one wants to bury a child at any age.  When you are discussing a 14" casket and inputting a funeral home number in your cell phone ~ you are at a real low.

In the hours that followed, we had more visitors ~ Lindsay Sav, my long time childhood friend, and Missy Selner, another friend since elementary school.  Missy brought a rose bush and treats with her.  Aunt Sue came and brought more food and flowers to sprinkle around the room.  Flowers from the Women's Ministry at church arrived ~ gorgeous roses and Jessica (Missy's Maid-of-Honor) sent an arrangement.  They lost their son, Cooper, in utero a few years ago. 

Mimi arrived home from Florida that afternoon.  We were so excited to see her and she agreed to pick the kids up from school.  They were all so excited to see her.  That night, Sharon & Sara stayed with the kids overnight.  Gail, next door, helped with the boys and had them over to swim.  Mimi cut Elle's bangs first thing, because you know, "Bangs are the leading cause of blindness" :-)

Amy Huesman, a neighbor and friend from the Mom's Ministry, brought over a large Mexican spread for everyone to eat at home.  It was so comforting knowing they were taken care of.  Gail also brought over mashed potatoes and pork that was eaten over the next few days.

At the end of the night,  Matt & Mimi came up to visit. 

That evening, I took a sleeping pill and don't remember saying goodnight to anyone.  I slept a full 8 hours and it was amazing!

However, still no progress with the birthing of the baby.