Dear Maverick,
You were born on Sunday, March 30, 2014 at 1:48pm. You were 8 weeks premature and weighed 4lbs. 2oz. and were 17.5" long.
Here is the story of your birth into this world...
We woke up on Sunday morning and got ready for the day and headed downstairs. We made your big brother Graham's breakfast and started his favorite show, The Wiggles, on TV for him. Mommy started making a nice Sunday breakfast for Daddy and me - rice, bacon, and eggs. I started feeling contractions so Daddy told me to time them. I used an app on my iPhone 5 to time the contractions. Around 9:00 am they were inconsistently 13 minutes or so apart.
Daddy kept asking if I was okay and asking if I wanted to go to the hospital. I said, "No, I'm fine. I'm probably just dehydrated or it could be Braxton Hicks contractions."
We finished breakfast and Lola came over to help watch Graham so Mommy and Daddy could finish up cleaning the garage. We started cleaning it the day before and made a lot of progress and just needed to finish up.
While in the garage, I noticed the contractions were occurring more and more - about 8 minutes apart. They were getting stronger too. Daddy noticed I was in pain and insisted we go to the hospital. I asked him to get me water and told him not to worry and that I would just breathe through them. Lola came out to check on us too and she noticed they were more often and said we should go to the hospital too, but again, I insisted on staying put because we couldn't be in labor... we still had eight weeks to go! I told them both I would take Graham upstairs and put him down for a nap and lay down and rest with him.
While laying down, the contractions were about 4 minutes apart. I still didn't think we were in labor because it was too early. But I went to use the bathroom and saw my mucus plug and knew we needed to go to the hospital.
I could barely walk down the stairs at home because the contractions were so painful and were even closer together. Daddy and I rushed to the car and drove to the hospital.
The ER staff met us at the car and wheeled me through registration where I flew my Kaiser insurance card at the clerk. They whisked me upstairs to labor and delivery and got me in bed and strapped the heart monitors around my big pregnant belly so they could monitor your heart rate. Daddy was downstairs parking the car and finishing paperwork with registration.
Dr. Healani McConnell was on duty. She was the doctor that was on duty the month prior when we were admitted on February 22nd because Mommy caught a stomach bug and was severely dehydrated as well. At that time, they gave me IV fluids and let me rest there and then sent me home. Perhaps that's why I didn't want to rush to the hospital this second time around.
Dr. McConnell did an examination and told us my cervix was fully dialated, which meant that you were ready to come out! And boy, the contractions would not let up! As soon as Daddy arrived, Dr. McConnell advised her staff to call the OR and cancel our somewhat planned C-Section and to prepare the room for a vaginal delivery. I told her to stop because Dr. Newman said if we wanted a VBAC, it would have to be done on Oahu. She said she knew that but the baby (you) were coming now and I need to get ready to push. She broke my water bag and Daddy held my right leg and a nurse held my left leg and at the start of the very next contraction I started to push as hard as I could. Then another contraction came and I pushed again and out you came!
I suddenly felt a sigh of relief and couldn't believe how fast it was. From the time we arrived at the hospital until the time you were born was no more than an hour.
I looked over at Daddy and told him that Lola didn't even know we gave birth!
I heard you cry for the first time and it was the best sound I had ever heard. But the nurses immediately whisked you away to tend to you. I didn't get to see you or hold you yet.
I delivered the placenta then they stitched me up. After that, they left me and Daddy alone for a bit. We had so many emotions running through our heads. We were so happy to be blessed with you, but worried that you had come too early and just hoped and prayed you'd be okay. We called Lola and told her we gave birth and she couldn't believe it. She rushed over with Graham. Papa Allen couldn't make it because he was on duty at the Firestation.
After a couple hours, the Hawaii Life Flight Air Ambulance crew arrived from Honolulu to transport you. They needed to intubate you because your lungs weren't fully developed and you were retracting. At one point, you stopped breathing and they had to stabilize you before they could even put you on the flight.
Mommy and Daddy got to see you for a little while before they were going to take you. You were laying in the incubator, so tiny and small and working so hard to breathe.
The air ambulance team arrived at Kahului airport and was greeted by your Papa since he was on duty. He helped load your special incubator into the plane. They let him see you and take a picture of you before they took off.
Once you arrived at Kaiser's NICU and got situated, Dr. Boloker called Mommy past midnight to let me know you had arrived safely and were now under their care.
Daddy and Mommy stayed back on Maui until I was released from the hospital. I so desperately wanted to be with you but it is standard hospital policy for a mother who just gave birth to stay at least 24 hours before discharge.
The next morning, Mommy got cleared for discharge and made arrangements to come be with you. Daddy and I packed up a suitcase and headed for the unknown. One of the hardest parts was having to leave your big brother Graham behind so we could come and care for you.
And so, your Journey Home began...
