Amanda's Birth Story- Part I

Amanda is already 6 weeks old, so before time gets even further away I need to write down her birth story or else I'll forget even more details. What I write may be too much information for some people (it is about a baby coming out of my body after all) so consider yourself forewarned. Also this is my version of the story- if you ask Andrés or my mom they might remember things a little differently or from another perspective. Because things were so fast and I was under the influence of anesthesia some things are a little fuzzy to me and I don't feel like I was able to process everything that was going on.

Here we go!

6 Months

Up until week 29 we had a very healthy pregnancy. Amanda had been growing well, my amniotic fluid was plenty, the placenta was well attached, everything was good. But when we went in for our third (and I had hoped final) ultrasound my OB noticed that Amanda's abdomen was measuring small. It was in a very low percentile compared to her heart, head, and legs which were measuring larger and at a medium percentile. We were told not to worry and to come back in three weeks to have it looked at again. We tried not to worry and when we went back her abdomen was still small. Went back a week later and STILL small. We were given one more week to see if it would grow. I asked my closest family and friends to pray because I couldn't form the words. At the 34 week ultrasound the OB said her abdomen had grown and everything was fine! 

Photo Credit: Erica Work Gonzalez

We didn't have to go back to see the OB for another three weeks which seemed like a long time after we had been going so regularly. At 37 weeks he did another quick ultrasound and said her abdomen was still looking good. Then he said he'd see us in another week and if anything was wrong he'd do a c-section that day because he was going to a conference the latter half of that week. I was like, "Wait, what? You just said everything was good but are now talking about (what seems like a good likelihood of) a c-section next week!" This is why it's hard for me to wholly trust Chilean doctors because I've heard so many stories (especially birth stories) where they say one thing and mean another. Such as "you're completely healthy and the baby's great so there's no reason you couldn't have a natural delivery" and yet they're planning for a c-section in their schedule. But Andrés assured me after we left his office that the doc wasn't planning anything but rather just covering the bases in case something came up. Therefore I was still in my own little world preparing myself for a natural birth.

Photo Credit: Erica Work Gonzalez

On Friday, May 2nd my mom arrived in Chile! With an original due date of May 17 we thought we would have about two weeks to sit in cafes and do touristy things and then two weeks to relax and enjoy the baby once she made her debut. We were just a little off in our calculations. On the morning of May 6th, on grandma's fourth day here, on day four of week 38, we went back to the doctor. We put my hospital bag in the trunk with Andrés thinking there was a 50% possibility of us having to use it that day, me thinking there was a 2% chance, and my mom somewhere inbetween. The first thing my OB did was introduce us to his colleague, another doctor who was going to do a "second opinion" ultrasound (the sixth one we had had now). I was surprised because he had said at the last two appointments that everything was good. They didn't say anything to us during the ultrasound but I could see them repeatedly measuring her head, abdomen, and leg. We then followed the doctor into his office and he checked my blood pressure. He got a worried look but again didn't say anything was wrong but made me wait a couple minutes and then he took my bp again.

He then came and sat down at the desk with Andrés, my mother, and me and explained that both he and the other OB agree that Amanda's abdomen was measuring small again- about five weeks behind the other organs in her body. He said this could mean that the placenta wasn't delivering enough nutrients so they were all going to the important organs (brain, heart, etc.) and skipping over the less important (liver). Also my blood pressure had gone up. While it wasn't high on the charts, I usually have a lower bp so it was a concern. There was also something about the blood flow to Amanda's brain but that still has yet to be fully explained to me. With all this put together the doctor highly recommended we "take her out" that day because she wouldn't grow anymore and to keep her in would just be "risk, risk, risk." When you put it that way how could we do anything but decide...

...Amanda was coming that day!

Photo Credit: Erica Work Gonzalez

Read Part II here.

Lessons in Trust

I'm back from Steubenville and it was so fantastic! What a blessing from God that I got to go and visit. I shared with you last week about the possibility of putting off the move to Chile for one more year and also about some nerves about visiting my alma mater. Honestly, those two things (mostly the former rather than latter) caused me to worry and stress quite a bit last week. My parish in Wyoming is great, and Padre's deal seemed like a great opportunity, yet I didn't have any peace about taking it. On Tuesday morning I thanked Padre and told him I was honored that he held me in such esteem as to offer the deal, but then I turned it down.

One of the greatest things about this trip to Franciscan is that that decision was totally confirmed by God. I had been going back and forth in my mind and prayer about what God's will was for me. Was I supposed to go to Chile now? Was I supposed to follow my heart? Was I supposed to do what would be financially best? How does happiness play into this? What if we don't find someone to replace me at work? Etc, etc, etc. The night before the career fair I don't think I slept more than two or three hours because these questions were running through my mind and then before the career fair actually started I was little nervous. But then when things got going everything was okay! From that point until now I just felt God's hand on everything. Even if someone doesn't come to the parish from Franciscan, I do know that God will provide someone who will be excellent. And even if He waits to send that person our way till the day before I leave, I will still trust in Him. Also I felt a great sense of peace and excitement over being able to tell all my friends and household sisters that I was going to Chile. And lastly, the decision was confirmed through the words and prayers of many of my friends. God is good.

There's so many things I could share but I'll try and give you a shorter list about the exciting things that happened in just three days.

1. I had many visitors stop by my table at the career fair and there are two people who look really promising. They have a heart for catechesis, they have some experience already and I was able to do a short interview with each one and both went really well!
2. My two friends from Wyoming but had moved to Pennsylvania were able to come visit the University for a couple of hours with their children so we had a great mini-reunion and I was able to show them around campus.
3. I got to have a short visit with three of my old professors. It was great because they remembered me and I miss their classes so much!
4. I met a few of my sisters who are in household present. It was good to see the new faces and meet my sisters of TTM. I got to do night prayer with them and it was so nice. It was a little strange and sad because it wasn't with any of the sisters I remember yet it was still beautiful and wonderful because all the girls I prayed with are still my sisters.
5. I got to visit and catch up with about ten of my sisters from when I was there. This was probably my favorite part because I miss these beautiful, holy ladies so much!
6. I was able to meet up for lunch with four of the people who went to Chile with me the first time to learn Spanish. It was such a blessing to be able to catch up with what's going on in their lives now as well as to remember our good and crazy times in Chile.

And I'll leave you with just one last highlight of my trip. I stayed with my household sister Cruz and her new husband of four months, Josh. It was so good to be able to see them as newlyweds and to see the love and consideration they give to each other constantly. Fortunately for me, they are both musically talented and so we got to have a little praise and worship session in their house! Oh my, I miss being able to worship God this way and in community. Josh played the keyboard, Cruz the guitar and we all sang and praised God right in their living room. Then we ended by praying over each other (which once again was a confirmation from God) and I can't even put into words how much I needed that and how much God blessed me through this night with them. Thank you Cruz and Josh for your hospitality!