My story I am sure is like many others.
My husband and I tried for 2 months to conceive, we were more then thrilled when we found out we were expecting. My pregnancy was very normal. I took the AFP test and failed with a 1 in 174 chance of Down syndrome. My doctor explained to me that there are still very good chances that he would NOT have Ds. He told me to think of it like this:
Imagine you are standing in a room with 174 other people and someone throws a water balloon. You are not likely to get hit.
( I Must have worn my bullseye shirt
He asked me if i wanted an amniocentisis to be sure. I said no thanks, I will take what the Lord gives me, jokingly I said - even if its a third nipple.
So onward with the pregnancy we went. Our baby passed every test they took, measured fine, heart looked great. No concerns at all.
I went to my brothers birthday party at a hotel on August 13th. Swam around. No big deal. On the drive home I was having contractions, but really didnt think anything of it. At 3 AM I woke up and said "Its time!"
I called my doctor and he said my contractions were not far enough apart, and my water hadnt broken, to stay home. I did NOT take his advice, I KNEW it was time.
We headed out to the hospital and on our way my water broke. We got there settled in and I was in labor, I kept telling the nurses he was falling out. I seriously felt like his head was peeking out, but they kept checking me and telling me no. So when the doctor FINALLY got there, he crossed his arms and leaned against the wall and said, well try giving a push then, if you think your ready. ( What a smart ass!)
So I pushed.
He leapt off the wall and shouted "get my scrubs, hes coming." ( Imagine my face as I was thinking I TOLD YOU!) Jerk. Anyways. About 3 pushes later Dakota was here. The second I saw him I KNEW. The first words out of my mouth were, Oh My God. He has Down Syndrome, doesnt he? They tossed him on my chest and I loved and snuggled and kissed him. I caressed his body which was slightly off colored. They whisked him away from me and then it was silent. My husband ran into the bathroom vomiting so loudly we all could hear him. Then the whispers came. From my mom, from his mom. I started to panic. What is wrong with him, I kept asking...
Why is everyone crying, what is going on?? I was so scared.
My mom came in and held me. She kept saying its gonna be okay. GOOD LORD, woman, what happened to my baby???
She softly smoothed my hair, "Honey, they think he might have Down syndrome" "Well No kidding," I said... "but what else is wrong,why is everyone so upset?"
"Honey, did you hear what I said?"
"Yes Mom, I saw him plain as day"
"Are you okay, baby?"
"Mom, I am fine, is there something else wrong?"
"No, arent you scared?"
"No, I just want my baby, you guys are freaking me out"
My husband didnt come into the room for hours. He had a really hard time with it. But he came around. The way everyone was talking I thought my baby had died or something. I thought something was horribly wrong. Come to find out they were afraid of Down syndrome and what comes along with it. I was ready for the challenge!
The doctor came back in with him. He was the most beautiful boy I have ever seen.
It was just me, Dakota and the Doctor. The Doc sat and watched me as I went into mommy mode. Smoothing his hair, counting his toes, touching his face. Singing songs. The doc stopped the paperwork he was filling out and said, "I knew you were the right mom for this job, You are going to be so blessed."
And how right he was! ( For once)...
Dakota has been a huge blessing in my life.
He was born August 14th, 2005 at 8:40am. That is the day my outlook on life changed drastically. And I have no one to Thank other then God - Dakota! Love you baby!
Mon Aug 01, 2011 10:20 am
