Whirlwind - Update 1

We woke up at 5:30am anxious and anticipating a long day. We never could have imagined what was in store for us.

I showered, shaved, and finished packing; I’m a notorious procrastinator when traveling. Carly cooked sausage and made herself a yogurt parfait. I made my high-maintenance coffee and we ate our breakfast while reviewing a list of last minute things to pack.

When done the car looked like we were on our way to the Beach for a week. Complete with Coffee supplies, cooler, two pillows, two computer bags (like either of us would have time for work), two clothing bags, A snack bag, a large diaper bag, and a purse that would put Marry Poppins to shame. We were prepared. But no amount of packing could have prepared us for what was in store for us. 

Carly woke Fielder and we said goodbye. In true-to-form Fielder fashion, he was energetic, borderline spastic, and quickly ran inside after saying goodbye. We tried to prepare him for what was in store, but nothing we could do would prepare him for what was in store for us. 

We hugged Johnny, Wanda, and April. We set off for the Hospital. We didn’t get out of the Driveway before Fielder thundered through the door and exclaimed, “Mommy!!!!!! You left your bottle of water inside.” He delivered his find, and ran back inside, oblivious to what was in store. I envy his childlike enthusiasm, lack of worry, and ability to live in the moment. We are living through an incredible moment in time, and I’m learning from him just as much as he is learning from me. We must be present in this moment. 

We arrived at the hospital at 7:30am and took our snacks and Marry Poppins bag up to Labor and delivery. We met with the Care team. They were confident, seasoned, and did their best to prepare us, but nothing could prepare us for the whirlwind. 

Whirlwind

They administered 2mu of Pitocin. The medicine is a synthetic form of the hormone Oxytocin. It causes contractions and can help speed laboring along. They increased the dosage by 2mu every 45 minutes or so. We finally started having serious contractions around 2:00pm. Carly felt a pop, we assumed it was her water, but couldn’t be sure. We ordered an epidural and tried to steady our nerves and get ready to meet the Girls. 

Shortly after the epidural things changed in a hurry and for the worse. Suddenly many more nurses were entering the room. Baby A’s heart rate was responding negatively after the epidural. It was dangerously low. We had hoped to avoid a C section, but I looked like that was were we were heading. The surgical Generalist came and attached a cranial heart rate monitor and the news was bad. We quickly pivoted away from a vaginal delivery and Carly was rushed into the OR, put to sleep, and the babies were delivered at 3:54 and 3:55pm. 

Carly was surrounded by Doctors and Nurses. I was alone, in our room, doing my best to cope, and trying to prepare myself for potential outcomes. No amount of preparing could have prepared me for what was in store. 

Time slowed down. I ate a whole pack of Mentos. I stress eat candy if I’m honest. But soon enough Baby B was brought in to meet me. She was awake and alert. I felt like I was looking in a mirror that blended Carly, me, and Alie together. She is Beautiful. 

We went to the nursery and measured her; 5 lbs 4 oz and 19.5” long with a full head of sandy blond hair. She was Wide eyed and ready to tackle life outside the womb. I fed her 26ml of formula while mom and sister were recovering and tried to figure out what name suited her. Little did I know that their names would come to me in the next instant. 

While feeding, the NICU neurologist interrupted with our L&D Doctor. She had bad news. Nothing prepared us for these words: 

“Baby A’s Umbilical cord detached from the placenta. Her blood supply of oxygen rich blood was impaired, and she now has a condition called hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy(HIE). Her blood is acidic and can have potentially catastrophic impact on her brain. We are treating her with the best care possible, but she will need to be transferred to Gwinnett Medical for a form of therapeutic hypothermia. We have cooled her core temperature to 33 degrees Celsius, 91degrees Fahrenheit, and given her new Oxygen rich blood. Potential outcomes are numerous and fall along a wide continuum. Children with HIE may develop Cerebral palsy, epilepsy, or could have little-to-no-ill effects. It is too early to tell anything. She will receive the treatment for the next 72 hours. And we will treat any issues that arise but for now it is a waiting game to see how the brain responds to the therapy.”

I tried to be courageous. I took a deep breath and tried to process what she was telling me. I didn’t ask questions. She asked what the baby’s name was. I paused. The moment was still. Quiet. I looked into Baby B’s wide open eyes and thought to myself. “What’s your name?” 

We had picked names prior to labor but hadn’t assigned them. Miller Brooks and River Claire. I’m that moment a childhood hymn rang in my head:

“I’ve got a River of life flowing out of me
Makes the lame to walk and the blind to see
Opens prison doors sets the captives free
I’ve got a river of life flowing out of me
Spring up a well within my soul
Spring up a well and make me whole
Spring up a well and give to me... 
that life abundantly.”

Baby A is River Claire. Baby B is Miller Brooks. 

Please pray for River, Miller, and Carly. We believe in the power of Prayer. Please pray for her Care team both current and former. An event like this can negatively impact everyone involved. They need our prayer too. 

Feel free to comment or ask questions here. We will do our best to respond and keep everyone updated as best we can. The best way to understand and cope our way through this time is to be open and honest about our feelings. We are hurting and burdened by the complications with River, but hopeful. We are full of joy that we have a healthy baby in Miller. 

We also have an album of pictures if you would like to follow along with us as well. 

https://photos.app.goo.gl/dxcpqqGLHe7dxYDE8