The Smarts: Torah Dylan Smart

Born January 26, 2012 @ 9:19pm at RAF Lakenheath, UK 5lb 11 oz, 18.5 inches long

I am pretty behind in my blogging but I'm guessing you all understand since it has been a crazy month. Our little girl made an early appearance. She was delivered at 37 weeks, due to complications they felt waiting any longer was just too risky. We went to my 37 week appointment knowing I might be induced early, I had a growth scan that morning, to check a few things and access how she was doing. Luckily Brandon was let off work to go to my appointment to hear the results because the doctor said she thought I should have her right away, I wasn't even allowed to go home and get my stuff, I went straight to labor and delivery! Although I was so ready to be done being pregnant, when they said NOW I was totally freaking out! So that was 1pm on January 25th. After 30 hours of labor it was decided that a C-section was necessary, which by that point I was all for! Of course once they said ok lets get you prepped I started panicking, never had surgery before so no clue how I would handle it! Luckily a friend who is a surgical tech volunteered to be a part of my surgery so there was familiar face in the room during the prep till Brandon was allowed in! I won't lie it sucked, but it was so great to hear my little girls first cries! Unfortunately I struggled with the effects of the spinal and was having breathing problems and getting sick so I didn't get to see her right away! I was blessed with a great team of doctors and my anesthesiology was the best she helped keep me calm when the asthma flared up!

Through most of my pregnancy the doctors were worried about one thing or another. I was high risk, and therefore seen quite a bit. At 24 weeks I had a growth scan to determine gender and of course fetal growth. After this scan we were told they thought she had cleft lip/palate, we were so upset, not because it could ever effect how we would feel about our daughter, but because we knew it would mean surgeries for our baby! Luckily God blessed us, and as it turns out there was nothing wrong with her! The last couple months they began to worry about her amniotic fluid levels, and my asthma control. In the end it was the amniotic fluid that prompted the early delivery! Though it was a stressful pregnancy in the end everything turned out great, and we were blessed with a beautiful and healthy baby girl! God was so good to us!

We spent 4 days in the hospital, and I was nervous about leaving, but once I got home I couldn't figure out why I would have wanted to stay it was SO great to be home again! Torah was a bit jaundice when she was born so she had some light therapy and had to go in 3 times the first week home to be checked but at almost 3 weeks old she is above her birth weight and the Jaundice is significantly improved! Now if only she would sleep better at night, we would be great! Thank you to everyone for you love, support, and most of all for the prayers throughout the pregnancy and delivery. Please continue to keep our little family in your thoughts and prayers!