A lot of you reading this probably know about Ella's birth story, but I am sure a lot of you probably don't. I was really sick while pregnant with Ella, and had major complications due to my diabetes and high blood pressure (not a great combo!). I went into the hospital twice before I had her. Once at 26 weeks and once at 28 weeks. Both times my blood pressure was really high, but thankfully both times the dr was able to get it to come down and we prayed that she would just stay in a little longer. Well at 31 weeks I went into the doctor again and had protein in my urine which is a sign of preeclampsia (along with my ever present high blood pressure). She sent me straight to the hospital. They gave me awesome medication which made me super sick, although kept me alive! They also gave me a steroid shot to help Ella's lungs develop faster. After 48 hours (to almost the minute...the amount of time the steroid took to work fully) they took Ella via C-section. She was surprisingly big at 4 lbs 8oz (diabetes is good for making big babies 😉) and they rushed her to the NICU. She is an amazingly determined and strong girl and blitzed through the NICU in 2.5 weeks (the longest of my life!). But the steroid worked and she didn't ever need oxygen! I, on the other hand, was still quite sick. My body started shutting down due to delivering too early and went into something called hhelp syndrome. Obviously I made it through and am healthy now, but it was a close call for a minute there.
Erik was ready to be done having kids right that second, for obvious reasons, but it was a lot harder for me to come to the same conclusion. (Some might say I'm stubborn 😉). So after a few years we tried again, and again, and again. All ending in miscarriage. Looking back, I feel strongly that my life was being protected, and while too stubborn at first, came to the same conclusion as Erik.
After much prayer and time at the temple I finally feel so much peace at the decision that we have come to to adopt, and think it was the right decision all along, I just needed some time to get there.
We are So excited to adopt and find and raise our baby!
We have already started the process, and have our first meeting with the adoption agency on Friday! We will continue to keep you posted!
Thank you for all of your prayers and support! We really really appreciate it!
(And for those of you who have asked, there is a link to our gofundme account on the blog under funding or click this link: https://www.gofundme.com/cbhnyxbw)
Ali
I know Eric because my daughter was in Les Miserables. Adoption has been the best thing EVER in our lives. Both of my children are adopted and we are so grateful to have them. It's a hard journey, but SO worth it! (My daughter played Fantine.)
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