I have several posts to do about this little guy, but I will start with how he came into our lives.
Lincoln Joseph Carpenter was born on April 30, 2010. I had a somewhat easy pregnancy. I worked all the way up to a few days before delivery when I was put on bed rest. I was a little annoyed with my doctors to say the least. Why is it that they do not listen to the patient. Don't we know our bodies more than they do?!?! This was my third pregnancy, so I think I knew a little something on how I was feeling. Towards the end I did not feel right. I went in on the 29th to be checked and was dealing with extremely high blood pressure. They sent me over to ER to be checked and
monitored. Right there should have told them something was not right. Once there for several hours, my blood pressure started going down, but I still did not feel right. I refused to let them send me home!! Unwillingly they admitted me and started giving me something(can't remember the correct term) every couple of hours to soften my cervix. This was the most uncomfortable thing I have ever endured! I seriously wanted to punch her in her face! No joke! She kept saying things like, "I know it hurts, but you have to sit still or it won't work" All of this while I felt her hand clear up in my throat!! Sorry for the graphics, but I want you to know how truly painful it was!!
Anyway, it wasn't until the next morning that I started to feel something. I opted for drugs this time. No need to prove I am strong!! I had the best drug guy(don't feel like spelling his correct title)! He was so soft spoken and kinda handsome! He was so reassuring, kinda wish he was my doctor and not the crab I had.
Things started happening pretty quickly, so fast that my doctor had made it across town and another doctor from another practice had to step in. At the time I was annoyed, but am so thankful for what she did!! Literally I was pushing one minute and told to stop the next. I will never forget the fear on my doctor's face. She immediately jumped on the bed with me and told me the cord was coming first. She tried so hard to push it back so that Lincoln's head would come first. I remember seeing random people coming into the room, then heard the call to get an OR ready. What!?!? I was so terrified! I looked over at mom and Dave, both with fear all over their face! I remember the whole ride to the OR, the doctor still trying to push the cord back....oh yeah, she was still on the bed...just going for a ride too!! The next thing I remember was being told to crawl up onto the bed, a rush of cold, wet liquid falling on my stomach, and Mr. Calming drug guy telling me to relax as he put a mask over my face.
5 hours later, I wake up in recovery! I still get sick thinking about missing that much of the birth of my son! Apparently he had a rough time. Dave told me later that he almost did not make it. At one point they were going to life flight him to PHX Childrens Hospital!! As I wake up in recovery, my mom is sitting to my left. I can only tell you that the feeling I had was indescribable! Even a year later you guys, I can barely talk about this without completely tearing up! I almost lost my baby and my life! It's hard to fathom!! Apparently he had some breathing issues and had to be intubated(sp). So thankful that Dave was with him the whole time!! I apparently suffered from a lot of bleeding and took a little longer to be patched up.
Dave came into the recovery room with Peyton and Carlee because they were worried! I remember the fear on their faces. Dave tells me that I kept mouthing the word baby. I was so confused, I did not know where my baby was! He said that Lincoln had a rough time and was in the NICU. He was hanging in there. He said the doctors did an amazing job working on him! I say God did an amazing job!!!! It took so long for them to get me to my room. I asked to go see my baby, and was told I would have to wait until I could stand and get in a wheel chair. I said, ok....let's go! Where's the chair!?!?! One nurse said with all the pain medication, I would have to wait. About that time, two young, sweet angels (nurses) came in with a wheelchair and asked if I wanted to see my baby!!! Um, yes please! I overheard them tell the other nurse that both the baby and I would benefit from allowing us to see each other! I wish I knew their names. They gave me a great gift that day!!
Once I laid eyes on him, my breath was taken away. To see him so fragile and with so many wires, I could only close my eyes as I touched him and thank God 1 million times for saving us!! Lincoln Joseph is one little fighter! He didn't give up! He fought to be with us:) That makes me a proud mama! Much later, I finally got to hold him. Everything else was a blur. I honestly don't remember much more. I know I had some close friends come and visit, mom and Dave stayed with me, Grammy watched my other two babies. God watched over us all that week. He put a wonderful Christian NICU nurse with Lincoln:) She took care of my baby when I couldn't! I will ever be grateful for Sally Prato from Mercy Gilbert and the amazing team of doctors that saved my baby boy's life!
It's hard to look at this little monkey today and know what a struggle he had. Maybe that is why he is so tough and strong willed! I will forever be thankful for God's tender mercies!! Lincoln has completed our family with such joy and love! Lincoln, mommy loves every part of you. I love to hold you and breath in every ounce of you:) You light up my life with that silly smile of yours! Thank you for fighting to stay with me.
It was a long week, but we both finally made it through!
