Today was spectacular. So spectacular. I watched a baby being born today- a baby that we all love so much already. She has so many wonderful things in store for her.
I know I have mentioned this, but I haven't talked much about how our friend Kim came to stay with us in December. She found out she was pregnant during her last semester of college in Buffalo, and was unable to go home and couldn't stay in New York, she came to Arkansas. She spent the holidays with our families, and has gone on so many adventures with us between December and June, and we've watched her grow and change from 15 weeks to today, when she had her daughter.
Last week at her doctor's appointment, the doctor told Kim that there was a chance she might give birth early. Her actual due date WAS June 19th. This morning, though, after we stayed up far too late last night watching Girls on HBO, Kim knocked on our bedroom door and told us that her water had broken just a few minutes before. It was 5 a.m.
We packed everything up as quickly as possible (since although we had bought the things we needed, we hadn't gotten it together yet- since we thought we had so much time!). Kim had her first contraction in the car and we checked in to the emergency room at the hospital at 6:01 a.m.
Lindi's mom was Kim's birthing coach, and she was amazing. Kim had planned on doing the birth without an epidural, and she got through more than six hours of labor without any painkillers before deciding she wanted an epidural after all.
She was born at 4:02 p.m. today, after 12 hours of hard work by her mother. Tiny and beautiful and perfect. It was breathtaking.
I know I have mentioned this, but I haven't talked much about how our friend Kim came to stay with us in December. She found out she was pregnant during her last semester of college in Buffalo, and was unable to go home and couldn't stay in New York, she came to Arkansas. She spent the holidays with our families, and has gone on so many adventures with us between December and June, and we've watched her grow and change from 15 weeks to today, when she had her daughter.
Lindi's mom was Kim's birthing coach, and she was amazing. Kim had planned on doing the birth without an epidural, and she got through more than six hours of labor without any painkillers before deciding she wanted an epidural after all.
And then... oh, then. She was born. It was one of the most miraculous things I have ever witnessed.
5 pounds and 12 ounces. 19 inches long. And she is already so very loved.
About three months after she moved here, Kim made the incredibly hard and brave choice to give her daughter up for adoption. She chose what seemed like an amazing couple from New Jersey named Nikki and Stephen, and they have been talking ever since. Earlier this month, Nikki sent Kim this email, which made all of us cry:
"She will be so loved, Kim. I hope you know how much we appreciate you. I don't know if you can ever really understand it, but when you can't have a child and you try so very hard, you just feel so lost. We are so grateful and so overwhelmed. I hope it is okay to say all of these things to you. I just can't stop thinking about you and what you are doing for our family. You are such a gift to our lives and not just to Stephen and myself but to my mom and dad and Stephen's parents and our siblings. My sister is so emotional about it, she can't speak without crying. She has wanted to be an auntie for so long. My best and dearest friends are so ready to love her. They want to hold her so badly, they call me every single day and ask if I have heard from you or how you are doing. I hope someday you will come and meet the people who will love you for what you have done for us. They will embrace you as a part of our family and this I can promise you. I know your life will be busy and you have so much to discover and accomplish but maybe someday, you will come visit and let my mom give you the biggest hug. My family wants to thank you in person, so as time passes, maybe you will consider a visit here? Certainly no pressure but if you ever feel like you might like that, my family would be honored to meet you."
As soon as we were all checked in to the hospital this morning, Kim let Nikki and Stephen know she was in labor, and they rushed to get plane tickets to fly here as soon as possible. They got same-day flights and they got here tonight a little after 8 tonight.
And I thought the day was already so full of emotion that it couldn't possibly fit anymore in, but it somehow did. I met them at the door of the hospital and walked with them back to Kim's room, and when they saw Kim and her little girl for the first time? They were radiant. They were practically vibrating with joy. The moment they held her for the first time, and the looks on their faces, was one of the most profoundly moving things I have ever seen. It makes me tear up a little just thinking about it.
And they seem so good and kind and wonderful, and they are being so wonderful with letting Kim decide how things go this week.
I'm sitting in the post-partum room right now with Kim and Lindi, about to go to sleep, and I am just so grateful to be here. Kim is so amazing, and so brave, and it is so special to be here with her and her daughter. This is a hard thing, a huge thing, but so incredibly beautiful. There is so much joy here, and so much love.
Life is such a stunning, amazing thing sometimes.
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I love that second to last picture. I could look at it forever and not absorb all the emotion there is. So much love and excitement and joy. What a lucky little girl to have so many people so in love with her.
ReplyDeleteAll the tears!
ReplyDeleteVibrating with Joy is a good way to describe them! I wish I'd thought of that ;)
Emma Grace is a rock star. She let me hold her without crying and let me watch her dream and smile. Love all around.
ReplyDeleteThis is such a bittersweet post, but is filled with so much love. What an amazing thing to have been present for...and what amazing friends you both are.
ReplyDeleteThank you all so much. <3 <3 <3
ReplyDelete