ryan mitchell ragan...

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change of plans...

I put this picture at the front of our new baby girl, Ryan's, photo album, so we will always remember the unexpected events that led to her early arrival...

This is a view of our day on Monday, April 4th... Reese started early Monday morning vomiting, after catching the nasty bug that had been roaming around.  I spent what was supposed to be the start of my "last week of rest before the baby" by cleaning linens, cleaning my child, cleaning, cleaning, washing, sanitizing... for baby was due to arrive via scheduled c-section the following Friday, April 8.  Reese got some medicine and stopped throwing up, but never could quite get her strength back.  And by 8pm Monday night, my tummy had begun to take the familiar turn, and I could sense what was coming... I had caught it, too. 

By the time Tanner made it home from his Monday sale, I was in the bathroom permanently parked, and in agonizing pain - the dehydration had started my contractions, that got stronger and stronger.  So strong, that by midnight I was having a solid contraction every minute - not as much painful as just my stomach was as hard as a rock.  {Later they described them as "irritable contractions"} Anyhow, leaving my babies in the hands of my mom, and without a bag packed, or anything prepared for the arrival of this baby {remember... I was supposed to have a few more days to prepare and rest!} we made our way to the hospital.   Dr. Ram was contacted, and ordered the nurses to hydrate me, give me nausea medicine, and try to stop my labor.  (He had been gone like 10 minutes, from just having finished another emergency c-section... I think he delivered 10+ babies while I was in the hospital for 6 days).  It would not be ideal for me to have surgery while I was this sick, but none the less, they refused to let me eat anything or drink anything because they were leaning toward a c-section first thing the next morning.  I was in misery - nauseated, with monitors all over me, trying to rest with the thought of our baby coming emergently, plus the shot they gave me to stop my labor was painful, and caused my heart to race, which did not allow for any sleep that night.  At 5:30am, when they start to prep those first few for surgery, they came in my room and said that Dr. Ram would be in shortly, and that my contractions had slowed, but were still very regular.  After two prior c-sections, they did not want me to go into full-blown labor.  Dr. Ram came at around 7am, and said, "We cannot wait until Friday, but I don't think you are ready to undergo surgery... how about tomorrow morning? {Wednesday}"  I was made to stay in bed and rest, and rehydrate by IV fluids and liquid diet only, which was as closed to prepared as I was going to be before baby girl #3 made her appearance.  She, after all, was doing great in the belly, despite all of the craziness. Tanner got the girls by to visit me, he and mom prepared the bag that should have already been packed, and we got it in our heads that we would have our baby the next day!  By that afternoon, Reese was still not herself, I was only back up to par, and Tanner was coming down with the bug...  That's when the serious prayers kicked up!  As much as I would have loved to spent the evening with my family, I sent them home to rest in their own beds, including Tanner - got him some meds, and I was allowed to take all the monitors off and truly sleep on Tuesday night. 

Wednesday morning came without a hitch - Tanner was feeling better, my nurse Lea had rearranged her schedule from working Friday to working Wednesday, so she could be with me {for my third and last baby - she was my nurse with all of my girls and is the best!} and I was rehydrated enough to have surgery.  I had my scripture ready for the spinal - got Kevin as my CNA again, who, by the way, is also the best - and at 7:30am, was wheeled back to the OR.  My spinal was merely a needle stick - if that!!  Thank you, God, and for the promise you give in 2 Corinthians 12:9!!

At 8:07 am, on Wednesday, April 6 {one day after her great-grandmother's birthday, for whom she is named}baby girl Ryan Mitchell Ragan, weighing a whopping 8'14 and measuring 19.5" long, made her grand entrance into this big world, screaming all the way!  We named her in the OR, while her Daddy held her for the first time - the name, which was our "gut feeling" name the whole time...

Isn't she perfect?!  I adore her, as much as the other two!  My spinal and surgery went perfectly, and even more importantly, so did my tubal ligation! 

My nurse, Lea!  Love her :)  Forgive the way I look... hard few days!  This is in the recovery room, when I first held Ryan!

I am so thankful for a healthy baby, because it minimizes everything that happened after that... which was not so good...

The first day, I spent wonderfully medicated!  Thanks to all of you who came by and visited - not sure who you are, because the Demerol and Morphine were working well!  And as my friend KK says, who recently had her third girl, 13 months after her last one, just like us, "the warming blankets are pure bliss"!

The next day, the pain was ridiculous... by the afternoon, they realized that something wasn't exactly right with my stomach - it had distended to almost the size it was at delivery.  Dr. Ram consulted the general surgeon, Dr. Deniz, and sent me to x-ray to check for a bowel obstruction.  Do you know how hard it is to climb onto a 5ft-high, hard, cold, metal table 2 days after abdominal surgery?? Thank you, Blake Caldwell, a lifelong friend, for being my radiology tech - he is very strong - it took all of his strength to get me onto the table, AND lean me onto my back.  Painful, yet better than it could have been, thanks to him.  The silver lining to all of this, was the priveledge to meet a very sweet, comical doc (who said the word "fart" more than should be legal in the medical field!!), and Dr. Ram's continued concern for my well-being.  I really appreciate all of the people who took care of me.  Have I mentioned that Lea was my nurse at all of my deliveries, and Dr. Ram delivered our entire family - that's right, even Tanner and me :)  He is retiring this fall.

Long story short, thanks to my pre-op virus, my potassium had been depleted, and I had developed an ileus. It could have been worse- an actual obstruction or loop in my bowel.  I was immediately taken off all of my pain medications (fun times!) and given IV potassium and IV reglan to get my intestines working again.  After about 5 doses of reglan and 2 more days of IV fluids (me and that dang IV pole became very good friends... and I was never so happy to see it gone, and quit dragging it around!!), I was finally better. 

I stayed in the hospital all the way until Saturday.  Finally, it was time to go home!  It took a whole 30 minutes to discharge me, and I could not have been happier to get out of Post-partum Room C. 

Our family today...

Sweet sisters...

Reese welcomes her home...

Sleeping beauty...

Well... I will wrap up this novel - we are home, settled, and so very, incredibly blessed!!  I can't help but look around here at all of these healthy, beautiful little girls, and not almost cry at the thought of what precious gifts we have been given!  We have had three amazing babies who are calm, peaceful, and best of all - sleep!  She is a great eater, and when she is awake, she is alert, calm, and taking in all of her surroundings!  Reese and Ramsey are doing fantastic... Reese is such a big help - likes to push me a little and test how far she can go (similar to when Ramsey arrived), but overall, is adjusting wonderfully.  And Ramsey - is the same independent little tooter as before... still getting into everything, but LOVES to plant kisses all over her "bebes," as she calls her little sister.  She does sometimes grab Ryan's forehead and try to pull "bebes" down to her level, so we have to watch her, but it's only to give her sugars... so sweet - I am so looking forward to how their relationships grow over the years - I know they will be so close and love each other so much! 

It was a little crazy loading the back seat of my car with three little girls this morning... but amazingly rewarding!  This is only the beginning of many happy memories!

counting down the days...

This is the last weekend I will ever have a baby bump!  Bittersweet... As uncomfortable as things are becoming, I am sad to think I will never feel the miracle of a precious life growing inside of me again... The whole thing is truly a miracle, isn't it?  After church today, I have really had some time to reflect on what an incredible journey having children is... You pray for them, and for their health; you take care of them in the womb, by protecting and caring for your body; you get to know them and their patterns, recognize their different {and sharp!} parts, like elbows, knees, and heels;  and you love them, more than anything in the world, and you've never even met them!  Then you spend the rest of your lives, regardless of how long or short that may be, praying for them, doing everything you possibly can to guide them, teach them, and protect them... It's all a little overwhelming!

I also am in awe and so incredibly thankful for praying friends and family that surround us...  I had the sweetest message from a friend of ours that brings tears to my eyes every time I listen to it {I saved it}!  It is so encouraging to know that others genuinely care and love our family, and even more so, take the time to lift us up in prayer.  When I think about all of our family, church family, friends, Sunday school class, Bible study groups, social clubs, etc. who are praying for us, it really gives me a peace beyond description about having this baby - the anesthesia, the surgery, the recovery, and most importantly, for how we will raise her.  Even in the moments when I catch myself getting anxiety about having another c-section, or having a third child, I find a great peace in knowing others are praying with me, and for me.  Thank you, if that includes you! 

A lot of you know, my anesthesia with Reese didn't go so well, and since she was my first, it put a bad taste in my mouth for all future spinals... One of my great friends, Lacy Harry Coker, gave me a verse to claim in the OR when I delivered Ramsey.  I didn't feel my spinal at all... This pregnancy, I have gotten a verse from one of my great friends Natalie Price White to claim during my spinal... She recently delivered Mr. Mason Greggory White 8 weeks early, and just days ago, by the grace of God, got to bring her new baby home. Congratulations!  And once again - shows the power of praying friends!
The scripture is from 2 Corinthians:

"But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me." ~ 2 Corinthians 12:9

I will be clinging to that verse this Friday at noon, as I deliver our third and final baby girl... I ask you to pray with us as well!

Other things I am reflecting on and thankful for today:  my first and second baby girls, Reese and Ramsey... how blessed Tanner and I have been by them, how beautiful they are, how sweet and loving and compassionate, how different and distinct their personalities are, and how much love they have for each other.  I think they are what makes me most excited about another little girl... their baby sister.  And obviously, I am so incredibly thankful for Tanner, what an incredible husband and father he is... how helpful he is, and how much he loves me and his baby girls - regardless that he is wildly outnumbered :)  There is nothing sweeter than watching him with our children... It is hard to grasp that 5 {almost 6!} short years ago we were married and now, within the week, we will have a family of five - our complete family! 

Obviously, I am very hormonal and emotional today... closing a chapter in our lives {carrying babies} and moving forward {raising babies}... Thanks for being a part and sharing in the sweetness... 
My plans this week are to rest, rest, rest!  Ramsey is feeling like a whole new child... she is well, and successfully switched to soy milk, which has tremendously improved her allergies!  Reese is doing great - busy with softball, and highly anticipating the arrival of her newest sister {and getting to miss a day of school!}.   Hopefully, the next time you check for an update, we will have the arrival of a new little life to report :) 

Have a great week!

Our family today... four... soon to be FIVE!