Julia Rose

On Monday (7/30/01), I just didn't feel right (I have felt that something just wasn't quite right for a period of time yet I just couldn't put my finger on it). I hadn't noticed the baby move for a small period of time and so at night I ate dinner and laid down and still nothing. At that time, I knew there was something very wrong. I had a prenatal visit the next day at 9AM and I couldn't sleep all night. I knew what we were about to face and I just needed someone to confirm it. I talked with the midwife who was convinced that this was okay because I was 25 weeks and movement is so sporadic. I, however, knew. So after the 3rd doppler where she couldn't find fetal heart tones they sent me for a stat US where they confirmed the inevitable -- fetal demise at 25 weeks. I had to go through labor. They started to induce me on Tuesday (7/31) w/laminarya (Not sure of the spelling) and sent us home so we could come back the next morning and they would start the Cytotec. We delivered our baby girl yesterday at 11:15 am. The cause turned out to be a cord torsion (It was wrapped like sausage links -- tight), and the cord around her neck twice (tight) and the cord was wrapped around her foot (so tight that if she went to term, I think she may have lost her foot) Her name is Julia Rose (Julia after Joe's grandmother and Rose after my Aunt Barb - both deceased). She was perfect! She had all 10 little fingers and 10 little toes w/black hair. My mom bought her an outfit and, coincidentally, it had a perfect little rose on it. We had all the things that a "normal" birth had. They weighed her - 2.2 lbs. They measured her - 14 in long. They took the pictures as they normally would and then we took another roll w/everyone that wanted a picture. They also provided us with a memory album that encompassed the footprints, stuffed animals, bib, little ring, and a lock of hair. We had her with us until we were discharged at 8pm taking turns holding her for all the time we could. Leaving was hard even though we knew she was already gone -- it was like leaving a funeral home. She was buried on August 4th on top of my grandfather at a graveside service. We put in 5 or 6 family pictures -- some from our wedding w/all the family, one of Connor, and one of Madison (our dog). We also put in a medal, a rosary and a rose from our yard. We believe that this just wasn't meant to be and everything happens for a reason even though we may not know what that reason is just yet. We were told by so many people that "we are such special people". I guess we really are because not everyone can give birth to an angel...........