We have no pictures of her after her birth...we forgot the camera in our hurry!Emma Leona Greene
This little girl has brought excitement to our family since the moment we found out we were expecting her. I was certainly in denial that I was expecting, especially since Julia was only 4months old! I began to not feel very well around my birthday last July which got me thinking, "Could I be...." Nah, couldn't be! The pregnancy test didn't agree and threw a plus sign at me! (The nerve!) Almost immediately I experienced some bleeding and I assumed I had miscarried. However, when the problem continued I thought something very wrong was going on...cancer, soft spot, unexpelled tissue.... So I marched right into my doctor's office and told him something was wrong...I had obviously miscarried and still felt awful, something was wrong!!! Apparently, I was to be the day's entertainment.
I was immediately sent for an ultrasound. And the ultrasound tech said, "Uh.....uh.....let me check....Uh, there's a baby here!" She laughed and jokingly called me Myrtle, "Ya, know like Fertile Myrtle!" Oh, I knew what she meant....I just wasn't in the mood to laugh. After a few minutes alone I had composed myself when in marched the Great Bald Wonder, "Priscilla! You really do love me, don't you? You just can't stay out of my office! Before you tell me you aren't sure how this happened, I have charts and diagrams....I can explain." Like I said, I was entertainment. Honestly, babies are great news. I was just overwhelmed with the idea of how to care for 2 babies since they would be less then a year apart. I also felt bad that Julia was getting shortchanged on her babyhood. My worries seem so ridiculous now, because 2 babies are my new normal! I can't imagine my days without them!
The arrival of Emma had surely surpassed the excitement of the knowledge of her impending birth. Just after Christmas we learned that I had placenta-previa. This is a potentially dangerous condition where the placenta covers the opening of the cervix. My condition can be blamed on the repeat C-sections from Zane, Sophia and Julia's births. I was immediately put on bed rest....and blamed for the further balding of the Great Bald Wonder...it was the LEAST I could do! Bed rest was exciting (not) and I learned how to let go, let others and trust that God knew better than myself of how things were to work out. I also learned how loved I was by so many. I had more helpers than I could schedule, more phone calls then I could answer, and my fridge was always full!! I was able to see how seriously my extraordinary husband takes his roll as caregiver and provider. I hated being dependent, but I grew t0 cherish the experience and the new perspective it brought me. I was scheduled for my C-section on February 10th, and couldn't wait!
Really. I couldn't wait! I woke early in the morning February 5th, in labor and bleeding very badly. We kept calm and quiet as we got ready and found a friend to come be with the kids. Tim rushed me to the hospital, while I made a few phone calls....the doctor, my mom, my besties. So, I had the hospital on standby, my mom "in-the-know" and calm, but no answer from either of my best friends. I did get a text from Emily's husband, Jeff, asking if all was okay. Strangely, it brought me peace as Jeff went through all the "doctor" questions and then insisted on waking Emily so she could call me. I was in some strangely calm, quiet place. All I could keep thinking about was whether or not I had felt the baby move. I wasn't sure, and I kept praying.
Once we arrived at the hospital and made our way to the maternity floor, the rush kicked into overdrive. The first thing they did, because I started to panic because I could not remember feeling the baby move, was to put the baby heartrate monitor on my belly before I had even sat down on the bed. What a huge relief to hear that heartbeat!! I settled back and let everyone do their thing while I gazed back and forth from Tim's face to the heart monitor. As long as both were there, I could remain calm. Tim kept things very calm and constantly reminded me that we were in good hands. As soon as enough fluids were forced, in to surgery I went! I didn't realize how much pain I was in from being in labor (I had other things on my mind) until the spinal was in....o sweet medicine!!! Forty-five minutes after our arrival at the hospital, a very uncomplicated section was performed and Emma was born!! How sweet the moment was and how beautiful this little girl was!! We knew what she had overcome to get here, and we were all the more appreciative of our Heavenly Father's plan for us, our family, and for our little Emma-bug. The whole experience made us sincerely grateful of the time and place in which we live. Emma and I faced a potentially deadly situation and were fortunate enough to have been led to great doctors and facilities prepared to handle our crisis.
Emma is a great baby, with a beautiful spirit. We are honored to have her here in our home!
Zane and Julia
Sophia and her baby!
She eventually likes the bow...when she's asleep.
Julia at 2 months old, and so super sweet!
Wyley instantly took to Julia and has been her #1 fan....and mommy's #1 helper!!
Daddy and Julia at family pictures in Pennsylvania.
This is why we always called her "Big Eyes"....and Zane called her "Code Name, Big Eyes"
All those training sessions Julia sat through in utero have inspired her
Julia LOVES her blankie!!!
Yes, that a fruit loop on her 10month old noggin!
"Uhhh. What do you mean, I'm not the baby?"
Julia, 13months, at Easter....with Zane and Sophia!
