A Week of Memories

If you're not ready for a very long story, you might want to skip reading this entry and just scroll down to look at pictures! This is more for me than for anyone to read. I realized that I never recorded all of the events leading up to Joshua's birth. Already, some of the details are fuzzy and I don't want to lose any more! Pete is going to add some of his comments in red.

One year ago today is when the reality hit me that Joshua was not going to wait until his due date of June 2nd to enter the world! May 2nd, 2006, was a normal day...we had training at work for a new database program. I was preping for a normal Wednesday night service. We had just completed a long weekend hosting a dinner theater fund raiser with the students. Now I was craming as much of my normal prep time that had been taken up the week before with painting props and making sure students knew their lines. Since I was leaving in four weeks to have Joshua I was not worried about retaining any of the information...I guess I should have paid attention because now that I'm going back to work I need to know how it works! (When Minnie figures it out she is going to teach me.) The training was long and boring and I was very glad to be able to prop my huge, swollen feet up on a chair and relax while everyone else tried to pay attention.

I left work early to go to a regularly scheduled check up. Dr. Clark was keeping a close eye on me because I was starting to exhibit signs of preeclampsia and he wanted to make sure everything stayed under control. Two weeks before at the previous visit, he told us that we would be doing another sonogram at the next appointment, so we were really looking forward to that. Because I was behind at work I debated skipping the visit. We had been going every week but when Minnie reminded me that we were doing the sonogram I decided to go at the last minute. We were running late (about 30 min...my fault) so I drove fast. We didn't know this was "it" and Mel didn't wake me in the middle of the night with the words "it's time". We didn't have the drama like you see in the movies, but we did get to experience rushing to the hospital. At the appt. on May 2nd, Dr. Clark stared an awfully long time at the sonogram machine, and finally told us that it looked like there was not enough amniotic fluid surrounding Joshua. He said that he wanted to get a second opinion to make sure. If we had arrived any later Dr. Clark would have been out the door and we would not have known there was a problem. (speeding effectively justified) So we immediately went upstairs to another doctor's office and got another sonogram, that was even clearer. We got a great picture of Joshua's face. I really loved getting sonograms, so I was not really bothered that we were having to do another one. This doctor confirmed that there was not enough fluid, and that I should not be "out walking around." The recommended level for amniotic fluid was a "10" and I was at "5". I thought, okay, now I have to be on bed rest. But no, he said that I needed to be admitted to the hospital right then. My knees started shaking. No preparation time to get mentally ready for this...no clean clothes to change into...no toothbrush, shampoo, or deodorant...no makeup! These were all of the things running through my mind. I was also sad because I was supposed to go out for my birthday with many of my sweet friends. I had been looking forward to that for several days and had scheduled my doctor's appointment so I could get back to Irving in time for dinner. Once I was moved to a room, I was immediately put on an IV because they thought that might help increase the fluid level. They also hooked me up to a fetal monitor, so we were able to constantly hear Joshua's heartbeat. They said that I would stay overnight and then they would take another sonogram in the morning. While all this was going on my mom called and said to turn on the news. There was going to be a crash at IAH where my dad was in charge of the rescue unit. I was slipping into this surreal state of mind. Was I dreaming?

Peter left to get some stuff from home and I just rested. I was watching the news and saw that there was an emergency situation at Houston's Intercontinental Airport. A plane's landing gear was not going down correctly (I think that's right...I'm a little fuzzy on the details) and so the plane was circling to burn off some of the fuel. I was glued to the tv because Peter's dad was a firefighter at the station on the airport property and he was on duty that night. The situation ended safely, but I was able to see Bill on tv after the plane landed. It was really cool to see him and a great distraction from what was going on! It was a relief to see the plane land safely and see my dad checking out the landing gear.

Wednesday, May 3rd - In the morning, I was wheeled in a wheelchair back to the specialists office to get another sonogram. It was at this point that another realization hit me. There would be no more modesty in this hospital visit. They wheeled me in my hospital gown out of the hospital wing and into the doctors' offices wing. Normal people were walking around and I was being wheeled in a hospital gown! May not seem too traumatic, but I knew that I was not looking so hot without a shower and a frumpy gown on. The sonogram that morning showed that the IV did not help increase amniotic fluid. In fact, the fluid level fell to a "3"...remember "10" is ideal. They told me that I would have another day of rest and IV fluids and they would check again in the morning. I will take this opportunity to mention that my husband was so great through all of this. He was at the hospital at all times, unless I sent him out on an errand. He missed church that night to be with me...I think everyone understood though! There was a rumor flying around after he missed church that the baby was coming any day now. I tried to dispel that rumor, but I guess they knew better than I did!

Thursday, May 4th - During that morning's sonogram they didn't bother taking me to the office...they wheeled a sonogram machine into my hospital room and found that once again, the amniotic fluid level was lower. Dr. Clark came by later that morning and told me that at this point it would be much safer for the baby to be delivered. It was not an emergency situation since they were monitoring his heartbeat and other vitals, but they were going to induce starting Thursday night. At that point, we called all of our family and told them that now was the time to come! My mom was already on her way and got there Thursday afternoon. The rest of the family arrived Thursday night. The anticipation was great, knowing that Joshua would be with us by Friday morning some time. Dr. Clark said that the delivery would happen around 7 or 8 on Friday morning, if the labor went normal. Thursday night, before all of our family left, we told them that we were going to name Baby Boy Murrell "Joshua William." We hadn't told them this yet, because we weren't set on the name. I finally convinced Peter that we needed to be set since he was coming very soon, and he agreed. It was a very sweet moment that I will treasure when grandparents and aunts were able to call him Joshua. We had another sweet time of prayer as a whole family. They started the induction process at midnight, with a pill placed next to my cervix. Without being too graphic, I had pretty big doubts that the nurse actually got the pill placed correctly when she was looking at her finger to see if the pill was still there or somewhere in my body. Two hours later and there was no change, so we repeated the process with another pill...still no change another two hours later.

Friday, May 5th - I was so sad because I was anticipating calling our families early in the morning to tell them to come back to the hospital, but instead the call was to tell them that there was absolutely no change! Dr. Clark came by the room around 11 am (which for me was way too late...I was ready to try something else!) and told me that they were going to break my water, and start me on an IV with medicine (why can't I remember what these things are called?!) to induce labor. He came back several hours later and I was 1 cm dilated...I was really hoping for 4 or 5, but no such luck. He came back again later and I was 2 cm dilated. At this point it was around 4:00 and he discussed all of our options with us. He told us that a c-section might be eminent if the labor didn't progress. I was feeling some cramping that was pretty intense, but no contractions were registering on the monitor. I was worried what contractions were going to feel like if I was already in pain and wasn't having any yet! Mel is the toughest person I know and to see her in this much pain without any sign on the monitor I was scared for her. Later the nurse came in and adjusted the monitor and all of a sudden we started seeing huge spikes which showed that I had been having contractions after all. Peter and I had another time of prayer together for the Lord to show us if we should go ahead with the c-section. We decided that was the best option, and by golly, after 3 1/2 days of laying around, I was ready to meet my boy!

As soon as we made the decision, we were put on the list and it was about 6:30 when they took me across the hall to the operating room. I had to go in first to get drugged, and Peter came in once everything was set. At 6:55 on the dot, Joshua was pulled out of me and what a sweet sound that cry was! Wow what a miracle!! He was finally out! They had the sound system on in the delivery room. Watermark was playing, "Jesus, light of the world, shine on us shine on us!" I still tear up every time I hear that song. As soon as they were able, Peter brought Joshua over to me and I was able to look at him and kiss him on the head. What a precious sight to see him for the first time. While I was in the recovery room, Peter went with Joshua to the nursery so they could get him cleaned up. He weighed 6 lbs. and was 18 inches long. After seeing that Joshua was o.k. and in good hands I rushed back to the recovery room to be with my precious Bride. I was a little overwhelmed. Melissa was doing fine but it was weird seeing her drugged up. I was holding her hand and praying for her. My phone rang. It was our dear friend Durham. He came into the delivery room and prayed over us. It was only 5 years ago that he had prayed for us when we were married. After about 45 minutes, they wheeled me out of the recovery room and to my regular room. Praise the Lord they had to wheel me past the nursery so I was able to see Joshua again in the window. I expected them to bring him to my room soon after that, but instead they had to take him to the NICU because he had labored breathing. Back to the sureal state of mind. I was too out of it to really know, but Peter spent a lot of time with him in the NICU. It was so hard to see Josh there all wired up. They kept poking him with needles. I vaguely remember him coming back to my room to tell me what was going on. At midnight, the nurse came in and told me that I needed to walk around. Really?! Five hours after major surgery and I have to get up and walk. It was probalby the best thing for me, but definitely painful. It was worth it because she took me down to the NICU to see Joshua. It was my first time to be able to hold him and those were precious moments for me. Because of all of the medicine in my system, after about five minutes I was practically falling asleep with him in my arms. I hated that, but we had to go back to my room for some sleep. I spent the rest of the night until the next morning going back and forth from Joshua's bed to Mel's bed. The nurse made me wash my hands for like 5 minutes every time I returned to the NICU. I couldn't do anything to help Joshua except wash my hands so I washed the best I could. I don't remember a time in life when I prayed for 6-8 hours straight. Walking the halls, sitting by their beds and washing my hands were just physical motions I was going through while I was spiritually bowing before the throne of God on Mel and Joshua's behalf. It was sometime just after day break when I noticed that Joshua was looking up at me as I stood over his bed. I don't know what he could have been thinking or if he could see me, but I told him that I was his Dad and that I loved him. He just looked.


Saturday, May 6th - Because the NICU was still monitoring Joshua he had to stay there until 2:00 that afternoon. Peter and I were able to visit and hold him in the morning, but then had to wait in the room for him to be released from the NICU. Melissa was such a trooper. They kept giving here these little hurdles to clear (drink this much water, pee so many ounces into the hat on the toilet, change your dressings). She wanted to be as strong as she could when they brought Joshua to the room. I was so anxious to have him in my room and actually feel like his mother. Saturday and Sunday we had so many wonderful friends come by to see us. I loved showing Joshua off!

These birth day pictures are a few days early, but I want to be able to talk about Joshua's first year on his birthday.