Well...This is Unexpected

This whole pregnancy has been such a roller coaster ride of unexpected complications and emotions. My water broke on Monday about dinner time and we got to the hospital about 9pm. Other than Amber's initial diagnosis, this has been the most unexpected thing yet. We've been trying to process all the things that could potentially happen with Amber and her health once she's born, we never anticipated having to deal with all of that along with her being premature too. We weren't sure if we were going to deliver her on Monday night, which seemed to be the consensus at the time. But after lots of doc.'s meeting together it was decided we'd tried to keep me pregnant a little longer, hopefully to 34 weeks. Which might help Amber and some issues of prematurity.

So here we are in the hospital playing the waiting game. On the one hand it's been nice to just take it easy, I won't say relax, because I'm definitely NOT relaxed. On the other hand there are so many concerns and worries on my heart and mind, and nothing can be done about any of them until Amber makes her appearance and we know what we're dealing with exactly.

We had planned to get all our little ducks in a row with a 'birth plan', meeting all the doctor's and team of specialists who will help our girl once she's here, get a tour of the facility where she will be. Well, all of that went out the window on Monday night. We thought we had a few more weeks of planning and preparation  to work out details and our thoughts and feelings. And help Ethan and Abby understand what is going on with Amber. Heck, we didn't even get the construction in Abby's room finished yet.

So Tuesday was kind of a rough day trying to figure out our 'birth plan' (which inlcudes lots of details about how we want delivery to go...to how much medical intervention we want Amber to have once she's born. That by itself was hard enough and now with her being premature and having additional complications, makes it that much more difficult to know what the right thing is. Of course a lot depends on Amber which we can't know until she's actually here). We talked to our OB and the neonatologist (both just totally awesome) and we were able to come up with a plan that we feel good about. So that's one stress relieved, mostly.

So much is unexpected, unknown, complicated and just plain hard. But we have no doubt that our little girl is special, and choice, beautiful and strong and loved. While we don't know what the outcome will be, we know we have an uphill battle to fight and we plan to push forward in faith and hope and trust.

I have to mention that the doctor's and nurses and social workers and child life specialists and volunteers here at the hospital have been so amazing and caring and compassionate. I know our baby girl is already cared about and will get the best possible treatment here.

I also have to mention that I have some pretty amazing friends and family who are so supportive and loving and caring to my whole family during this hard time.We appreciate all of you!