I never posted about the events leading up to and after Maya's birth. And If I didn't thank you enough for being there for us (Oh, you know who you are) then a thousand times thank you.
She was a fussy thing even while still inside me. She would get the hickups daily (which I was told was a good sign) and wiggled every moment she was awake. Every time I went for a walk or exercised in the slightest I got the feeling that I was disturbing her sleep in that grumpy dog lying in the sun for an afternoon nap doesn't want to be bothered kind of way. I think in many ways she was ready to be out and be independent.
September 30th I got out of bed (at noon) and went to the bathroom. On the way there I noticed a trickle of blood following me on the floor. Then a rush of blood started running down my legs and pooled at my feet. My cell phone was dead. Ido was at Steve's house playing Dungeons and Dragons. (dork) I was panicked. I started talking to my unnamed belly saying it was going to be ok; we would be at the hospital soon.
They admitted me right away. They attached a baby monitor and did an ultrasound that revealed a partially abrupted placenta. I was so confused that I called John's cell and told him to tell Ido to come to the hospital when he finished his DnD game. I was a bit insane.
After five long days in the hospital, Dr. Partida, Ido and I decided it was time to meet this little girl. I had a positive amnio and was prepped for a Cesarean section. One hour later, at 8:31pm October 5th 2007, our beautiful screaming girl was born.
In her first 24 hours I held her whenever possible. I couldn't stand to have her more than a few feet away from me. She slept in my arms when she wasn't in Ido's. We had so many visitors and friends in the hospital. The room was filled with hope and love and things to welcome Maya. Around 40hrs after Maya's birth the resident pediatrician came by to give her an exam. He asked about her passing her meconium plug and we told him that she hadn't passed anything other than urine. A few xrays later he decided she had enough symptoms of hirschsprung's disease that he felt she should transfer to Children's hospital in Seattle. They took her away to prep her for transport. The next two hours were a blur of pain and tears. Ido and I sat on the bed crying without speaking. I was unable to focus on anything other than wanting to go back to before when we were all three in this room together celebrating Maya's new life.
We called Sarah. And as great friends always do, she knew exactly how to help. She cleaned out our belongings from our hospital room and made sure that everything else was taken care of at home and with contacting people that needed to know what was happening.
I rode with Maya in the ambulance while Ido followed behind us in our car. Maya stayed in the hospital in Seattle for two nights. She had a colon biopsy and several different invasive tests to determine whether or not she had the disease. After a lifetime of waiting (three days and two nights) they concluded that she did not have hirschsprung's, but that the problem was either constipation, or she had an even more frightening disease--Cystic Fibrosis. She was transferred back to Evergreen in Kirkland for monitoring until she could regulate her temperature, eat a meal without a tube, and test for Cystic Fibrosis.
Cystic Fibrosis was ruled out after Dr. Partida gave me my records indicating I am negative. Except for rare cases, both parents must be positive for the offspring to be positive. I am negative!
After 11 days in the hospital Maya was released and Ido and I were free to endure the natural panic that goes along with being new parents. We were elated, exhausted, relieved, frightened, grateful, happy. She is a happy, healthy bundle of independence. She is the love of our lives.
