Waterford, Virginia
Our daughter Kaylee was born on December 19, 2005. She is the youngest of our 4 children, younger than the others by more than a decade. We have a 14 year old son and twin daughters who are 12.
I found out that I was pregnant in the spring of 2005 and I honestly don't think that David and I could have possibly been more shocked by the news. We had just returned from our first trip alone since the birth of our son 12 years earlier and we were thrilled to have the new found freedom that belongs to parents of children old enough to leave with grandparents for a few days. My kids were excited to find out that we were going to have a baby in the house and their enthusiasm was infectious. I realized on the day that we told them that everything was going to be just fine and that we all had room in our hearts for the beautiful new baby that would soon be joining us.
My pregnancy was uneventful, I knew that at 39 I was considered an "older" mother but I was strong and healthy and there were no medical problems in either my nor my husband's family. Our insurance company refused to pay for an amnio so we opted out knowing that any information it may have provided could never change our decision to have our baby. My doctor said not to worry, the AFP came back a little funny but factoring in my age probably influenced those results and a level 2 sonogram at a geneticists office did not reveal any problems at all. "You worry too much, she's fine". His words echoed in my ears as Kaylee was delivered by emergency cesarian section on the morning of December 19. The pediatrician on call spent only a minute with her before calling my husband into the hall to speak to him privately. I could see them talking through a window in the door as my ob/gyn finished stitching me back together. I knew immediately what was going on...
I didn't know it at the time but that day was the first day of the happiest time our family has ever experienced. Our hearts overflow with love for this beautiful little girl. All of our fears and sorrow melted away with each moment that we spent with her in the first few weeks after her birth. As a family we faced her heart surgery together and as Kaylee's heart grew stronger we realized that our family bonds were growing stronger too. I wish that I had known all of this on the day that she was born. I wish that I could have looked ahead and known that everything was going to be okay, that our family would remain unchanged with the exception of all of the additional love that she has given us.
My pregnancy was uneventful, I knew that at 39 I was considered an "older" mother but I was strong and healthy and there were no medical problems in either my nor my husband's family. Our insurance company refused to pay for an amnio so we opted out knowing that any information it may have provided could never change our decision to have our baby. My doctor said not to worry, the AFP came back a little funny but factoring in my age probably influenced those results and a level 2 sonogram at a geneticists office did not reveal any problems at all. "You worry too much, she's fine". His words echoed in my ears as Kaylee was delivered by emergency cesarian section on the morning of December 19. The pediatrician on call spent only a minute with her before calling my husband into the hall to speak to him privately. I could see them talking through a window in the door as my ob/gyn finished stitching me back together. I knew immediately what was going on...
I didn't know it at the time but that day was the first day of the happiest time our family has ever experienced. Our hearts overflow with love for this beautiful little girl. All of our fears and sorrow melted away with each moment that we spent with her in the first few weeks after her birth. As a family we faced her heart surgery together and as Kaylee's heart grew stronger we realized that our family bonds were growing stronger too. I wish that I had known all of this on the day that she was born. I wish that I could have looked ahead and known that everything was going to be okay, that our family would remain unchanged with the exception of all of the additional love that she has given us.
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