...in the middle of nowhere. Oh
what a wonder... The month was July, when we finally conceived! This begins the story of Madison...
Mommy's pregnancy was very different
this time! They found out about me sometime in August but I think mommy knew from that very night!
Daddy & Mommy couldn't believe
they were having another baby after 6 years. My mom and dad decided to surprise Nana & Pop Pop by buying a pack
of diapers and delivering them to their house on the eve of my first ultrasound.
That first ultrasound found me
at 5 weeks. I was just a "little itty bitty black blob", as my daddy described it! Next, all the relatives were
told including my big brother, Christopher, who just couldn't wait to meet me.
Well, this was the beginning
of a very tough pregnancy for my mom. Poor mommy was so sick and she was in college full time. She first got the
flu, then bronchial pneumonia, it was cold after cold, fever after fever for my poor mom. Mommy went to the ER several
times due to stomach aches and vomiting. She was soooo sick.
In December, they thought they
were losing me because of Mommy leaking fluid. They got to see me a second time while in the hospital. They saw
my heart beating and me moving my hands.
Daddy and Mommy decided ~ that
night ~ that I was a boy! Silly parents they saw my umbilical cord not my privates. Well, the next day they told
everyone it looks like a boy! (HE ! HE!) They were so happy and soon they chose the name "Michael Richard"
after my two favorite Pop Pops. Mommy went shopping and bought some new boy stuff and some unisex stuff just in case!
In January, Daddy started to
work on my nursery! Mommy was nervous she wouldn't make it until the end of April, since my big brother arrived 6 weeks
early. Daddy ripped out the walls, the floor (literally) - there was dirt down there! He built me two new closets
and a book shelf. Finally, in February they were done. They put up my crib & dressing table. It looked
so pretty! They gave me my Bubbie's dresser! Mommy went shopping and bought a unisex comforter ensemble ~ it had
everything~ including a toy keeper, hamper, new lamp, horse & pillows!! I loved it. She bought a pink shade
and a blue shade just in case!!
Christopher & Daddy
went to Florida in February without my mommy because she wasn't allowed to fly. They were gone a week and mommy totally
got everything ready. She put new liners in all the shelves, cleaned everything (I think they call this nesting!) Daddy was sure surprised but he said my new room looked great!
My parents were getting so excited to meet me! Mommy couldn't wait any longer - she was still getting sick all the time
& she was so tired!!
In March, Aunt Chrissy &
Mom Mom surprised Mommy with a baby shower at the fire house. Mommy figured it out though, because they both live in
Florida and just happened to visit the same week (before me?!?)
Mommy & me got so many great
gifts, lots of people came! Daddy and Mommy were so happy that they didn't have to buy a lot of new stuff. The
baby shower really helped them get ready for me! Of course, I got lots of boy colors because of the whole "It's a boy"
prediction!
Mommy got really sick after her
shower and couldn't see, she had very bad eye infections and the doctor also noticed her blood pressure was very high!
They admitted mommy to the hospital a couple days later! Her doctors said she needed to stay on her left side and just
rest. Of course, mommy was panicked! She wasn't done getting ready for me. The doctors decided I would arrive
by C-section on March 29th!
Wow, it was finally here, Thursday
Morning, I would be coming three weeks early! The nurses started to get mommy ready for a 1pm arrival! Mommy told
daddy when to get there but, OH NO, THE OPERATING ROOM WAS AVAILABLE EARLIER! We tried to get a hold of daddy, he went
to the office in the morning to get a little work done. He was behind since Mommy was in the hospital for 10 days!
He was also taking care of my big brother Chris! Mommy finally got him and he got to the hospital just as they were
ready to take Mommy into the OR. Pop Pop was with him and Nana, pop pop Rabush and Chris would be coming soon!
Mommy was so scared she was crying,
she was worried about me and afraid I'd be sick and not ready to be born!
Daddy tried to calm her down
but she was shaking so much! The doctor's gave her a spinal and got ready to cut. Mommy thought she was going
to pass out (she didn't feel like this when she had Chris's C-section). She started to have some dry heaves right there
on the table ~ it passed shortly!
It seemed like it took them
forever to get me out, and when they finally did, Dr said, "YOU HAVE A DAUGHTER!" wow, I thought my dad and mom were
going to pass out! They had to see for themselves that I was really a girl!! Mommy cried, I secretly knew she
really wanted a little girl! I was just fine, breathing really good! Mommy was frightened because I was so small
(5lbs. 10 oz & 18 inches). Daddy said I was beautiful!!
He went with me and the doctors
to check me out! Mommy finished getting stapled up and she went to the recovery room. Daddy came back with me
a bit later but my poor Mommy was vomiting and so out of it!
She tried to nurse me, but she
kept getting sick! The nurses said it would pass and by the next morning Mommy was feeling much better! We had
lots of visitors, Daddy spent the whole day with us, and I got to meet my big brother Chris, he even held me! All the
relatives came and brought us flowers and balloons! Mommy and Daddy couldn't believe how perfect I was! I had
a lot of black hair too! Mommy even styled it!
By the time, I was ready to leave the hospital I was nursing
really well. I was a little jaundice so mommy kept me by the window in the sunshine. She kept telling me how much
she love me!
There was an awlful situation though, Mommy and Daddy were
prepared for a boy. My poor parents hadn't thought of a girls name. For the first two days of my life they called
me Nicole Elizabeth. I got lots of cards addressed to Nicole. Unfortunately, daddy didn't agree with the nickname
Niki (everyone was calling me this), so on Sunday before we left for home they decided to change my name to Madison Elizabeth.
I really was happy with the change and so was my Dad. He actually was the one who decided he loved Madison better!
Well, poor Nana had called everyone and told them about Nicole and then she had to call everyone back and change it!
OOPS!
A few days later, they got to
bring me home! It was great to have finally arrived! I am with a family who loves me so much and I know I will
have a great life with them. I am the luckiest little girl, though my parents think they are the luckiest!!
My new life began...
