June 15, 2015
Our beach vacation was interrupted with the news that Memphis Belle would be arriving six weeks early. Tuesday, a call from our daughter, Danielle, informed us that she had severe preeclampsia and they were planning to induce labor as soon as possible. Medicines began and the news was that Memphis Belle would probably be born Friday or Saturday.
My phone is not attached to my side at every moment, as a rule, but I was checking it constantly and waiting for news. It was always within reach this last week. Saturday morning Dave and I got up at four thirty to pack up things and help Jon-Michael and Emily start back early. They had a graduation party to attend that evening.
Then I checked my phone for messages. Danielle delivered at 4:45 A.M. Our third grandchild, Memphis Belle, was born weighing four pounds two ounces and measuring sixteen and a half inches long. She was healthy and doing great. Danielle said Memphis didn’t want us to have the party we were planning without her.
Danielle’s blood pressure has been elevated the last couple of weeks and they are still working on getting it down. The nurse said it usually goes back to normal within a week or two after delivery unless there is a family history of high blood pressure. There is not so we are expecting that it will return to normal soon.
Danielle has been puffy and swollen with water weight for a few weeks now. She is anxious to shed the extra fluids and get back to her normal size and good health. Who wouldn’t be?
We returned home safely about ten-thirty Saturday evening. Sunday morning, Dave and I went to the hospital to see both of them. Danielle’s face looked less swollen, but she seems to be having more problems than Memphis. They did a cat scan to see what was going on with her lungs. They were afraid there might be a blood clot, but it apparently was fluid built up around her lungs causing breathing difficulty. Hopefully, that is better today.
We both got to hold Memphis. I did not want to put her down but needed to take pictures! Dave held her while I took a few dozen photos! Tiffany took the picture above with my camera. As you can see in the picture, her little forearm is about the size of my thumb!
The nurse said her lungs are working at one hundred percent capacity and she is eating well. Danielle chose a strong name for a strong little girl. If the name sounds familiar, it is the name of a B-17 Bomber based in Britain during the Second World War. The Memphis Belle inspired the making of two motion pictures. We will probably have to hunt down those movies now!
At this point, we don’t know when Danielle or Memphis will be able to leave the hospital. Hopefully, they will improve each day and be home soon. We have a lot to do now in a short amount of time to help Danielle and Kris prepare for Memphis Belle.
