Miracle Baby - Part 2

This is more for Coralynn and my memory than for my normal readers, but don't let that stop you. :)
Coralynn Ambyr Flannery's Birth story:
This is my third child, so even though I know every birth is different I still expected it to be more of the same, maybe even a little easier since 3 and 2 were so close together.
I couldn't have been more wrong - from start to finish this has been such a different experience.
I found out I was pregnant with the other two by a feeling - I just knew and then confirmed with tests and doctors. With this one I was lying on the gurney prepping for surgery for an unknown mass and suddenly everything was cancelled because little Cora was already growing inside.
From there it seemed that everything would follow the pattern of her siblings. She grew and grew and grew and I did too. The swelling was a bit worse with this one than with Kryton, and as far as Jason and I can remember there was no swelling with Alisabeth. Still, I didn't really think about it, and definitely didn't realize I should be concerned.
I brought it up to the midwife once and she gave the normal recommendations. A month later I brought it up to the doctor who prescribed compression stockings which only made things worse. Two weeks later I complained again and this time he did a little more investigation and I saw a moment of concern register on his face. Blood tests, a 24 hour urine sample, and some other fun things soon followed.

Combine this with all of the stress I was adding to my life and it's really not surprising that I was diagnosed with preeclampsia. Jason got a new job with Dell Security, requiring us to move cross-country, find somewhere to live long-distance, sell our house here, meaning we needed to pack and clean the place, I had to quit my job earlier than anticipated, made more stressful by the current items left on my to-do list that weren't very easy to pass on to a co-worker, and lastly the normal job of trying to take care of my kids. Poor Cora was getting the short end of the stick, I can understand why she would want to throw in a few waves to get a little attention. :) Just kidding, she had very little to do with it.
Well, now that we knew it was preeclampsia, there was really only 1 thing to do. Change all plans and prepare to deliver at 37 weeks. From everything I've learned that's the only way to clear up the problem for good. So plane tickets were cancelled and shifted. Housing and other plans were shifted. Our church stepped in to help and provide meals and care for the kids as I cut my already shortened work-time even shorter by several weeks. All in all it was an emotional week. To top it off, the diagnosis and all of the changes came the day Jason had to leave to drive our goods to Georgia. There wasn't really another viable choice because he started work a week later and it was a 4 day drive.
So I bawled off and on for the next five days trying to keep it under control and not be stressed and keep my blood pressure down.
Finally Nana arrived on Saturday, and I felt my second relief. I tried to relax, but my house was slowly turning into a pigsty and I just couldn't leave well enough alone.
Monday afternoon I got up after trying to put Kryton down for a nap, and something just snapped. There were toys everywhere, dirt everywhere, the kids needed lunch and I started in on it mercilessly. Less than a minute later Alisbeth took one look at me and asked "Mom, are you alright?"
I was holding my belly against what felt like a massive pulled muscle across the entire lower stomach. Needless to say I sat down and just tried to hold Kryton while my mom took over and finished off my small list of chores including lunch for the kids.
After about 45 minutes the pain was still there and I hadn't felt her move more than once. I tried to remain calm and called the dr's office to move up my stress test appointment from 3 to that moment, but they told me to go to the hospital instead since it was lunch time.
Our neighbor hurried over to watch the kids and my mom drove me down. I tried again and again to feel little Coralynn's movements, but nothing. As we parked I was barely holding back my panic and as the elevator doors closed to take us up to maternity the dam broke. By the time I hit the nurse's station I was a mess and they immediately hooked me up to a monitor. As soon as I heard the flutter of her heartbeat I felt such an intense relief. She was perfectly fine, a lot better, in fact, than her mother whose blood pressure had skyrocketed to 186/100something.
They monitored me for over an hour as my BP slowly fell down into the 168 range over high nineties  - a terrible BP, for those who don't know. Then they contacted the doctor and admitted me a few minutes later. I was started on pitocin and magnesium by 4:30, and the fun began.
I progressed at a steady pace. By the time I reach a 5 and 65% I knew this labor was going to be like Krytons. I was already shaking from the strength of the contractions, and though I was focusing better, we still had a way to go and the pain was rising along with my BP. My doctor had already told me that his recommendation for all preclamptic pregnancies was an epidural, so I gave in and called the anesthetist. It took him a while - an eternity it seemed, but eventually I found myself hugging a pillow while mild pricks went into my back. The guy was perfect. I've heard all different stories from the extreme worst to the very best and I'm pretty sure that my first time was the best. Heaven help the next anesthetist if we have another kid :)
Soon after he got it in and I lay back against the pillows I felt the next contraction come, but it was different. "Uh, nurse, I think it's time to push?"
She had been carefully starting the process of prepping the room, assuming that the 5 she had felt prior to ordering the epidural meant we had plenty of time. She looked at me and then started to hurry her pace a little.
The next contraction, "Yeah there's definitely something moving down the birth canal."
She did a quick check and didn't have to go far before reaching the baby's head. Leaving everything where it was she rushed from the room to call the doctor back to the hospital. She gave him 15 minutes to get there.
When she got back I was having my third contraction and could feel the body/head move into position. "I'm pretty sure he's crowing."
She hurries from the room again to let him know that 15 was too high an estimate. He had 5.
6 minutes later and two more contractions with no help from me and the doc was suited up. (Well, in his casual clothes with the labor and delivery outfit hurriedly placed on top). She moved the bed out of the way, he stepped forward - still about six inches away and said "Okay, on the next one you can probably push."
The next one had just started, so I obeyed and his eyes widened as Cora slipped easily out. He caught her just in time, although the umbilical cord was wrapped around her a couple of times and kept her from going very far. (Not around her neck, just her body).
She gave us all a good wail of frustration a moment or two later and off she was whisked to clean her up while the doctor finished with me.
Soon after he got the placenta out she was rolled down the hall to the NICU and I looked around. "I don't feel good."
The nurse snapped her attention to me, "What do you mean?"
"I don't know. Super tired." So I closed my eyes.
Next thing I know the nurse what shaking me awake and calling my name. Apparently I had passed out several times and even began to seizure, but came out of it quickly and with clarity. I looked at the alarmed faces of everyone in the room and answered their questions easily. For me it had been a very short nap, I even had a dream though I can't remember the details.
After that I was under much more scrutiny. Although my new little one was cleared from the room by 9, I was stuck there until at least ten thirty as they watched and monitored to make sure I wasn't going south again.
After eating a small sandwich and some crackers I was finally moved into a new room and soon after I was asleep.
That didn't last long of course, but I got in a few sporadic bursts throughout the night. Headaches (side effect of the magnesium), discomfort, dizziness, and even nausea have been my friends throughout the day, but that's the worst of it. The bleeding isn't bad, although my hemoglobin levels were down earlier. I feel good though, especially after being allowed to take a bath/shower and get cleaned up.
Cora was released from the NICU after 12 hours of observation, but stayed for a few more due to my condition. Now, however, we're together and loving it. She's strong and healthy. Beautiful color with only minor lethargy probably due in part to the magnesium. She's eating well, and latches well, and her grip is strong.
Little Cora, I hope you never have to wonder how much you are loved. I was so worried for you, I could not bear the thought of losing you before I got to meet you, and now that I have I love you even more. Thank you my precious daughter, for joining our family and putting up with my health issues. You never once showed signs of strain. I sense that this is part of who you are, but only time will tell. I am excited to meet you as you learn everything I can about you. Have patience with me, I think we'll both need it  :)