We’re on our way to the hospital… Can’t wait to meet you!!!

LOVE YOU!!
Mommy & Dadddy

You’re not here yet!

We ended up getting a phone call from the hospital at 5:45pm last night saying they were too full. We needed to wait another day. Your Dadday and I were sad we wouldn’t get to meet you, but we understood that the doctors needed to focus on people who were higher risk than us. You are so healthy that no one is really worried about you. Isn’t that great?!?!

So then, this morning (3/15) our doctor called me at 8:15am and said that they were in the midst of a “flurry of deliveries” and she thinks there will be room for us mid-morning!! I was so excited!! I re-packed our bags (we have packed and unpacked these hospital bags 3 or 4 times now) and called your Daddy at work. The doctor said to sit tight and wait for her to call back… so I did. She asked a nurse to call at 11am and let us know that they are still too busy. They will see what they can do for tonight.

So, we are waiting for the final call for tonight. Within the hour, we expect the hospital will call and let us know whether or not we will come in tonight. If so, off we go!! If not, I will get to sing with my gospel choir at practice – which is ALWAYS a good thing… quality praise time with God and really great people. I’ll write more later when we know more.

All this fuss… isn’t it fun? All focused on precious little you! You are SO WORTH every bit of it!

One more thing… my dear friend Jon and his family also had a little girl around this time about 16 years ago – she was born on 3/16. Sadly she lost a battle to cancer and is now in heaven. Jon asked that we remember Meagan this week as we excitedly welcome you into our world. (I have posted her 6-day picture here so we can all remember her.) Jon finds news of you and your coming arrival to be a source of hope and peace in his life… Isn’t that wonderful?!?!? God is already using you for amazing purposes! You willl certainly be a LIGHT in this world!

Meagan Margerum-Leys at 6 days old

Loving you,
Mommy

Here is the emial we sent out just a few minutes ago to friends and family… Looks like you might be coming tonight or tomorrow, Little One! We can’t wait!!!

Love you!
*Mommy & Dadday

Greetings Friends & Family once again –

A few weeks back, when we heard we were “guaranteed” a c-section delivery, I was a little sad and emotional – Jonathan, my dear friend from my Gospel choir, grabbed both my shoulders, looked me square in the eyes, and said strongly, “April, we can’t stop trustin’ Him now. We’ve been trustin’ Him all our lives. He is always faithful. We can’t stop trustin’ Him now!!” Jonathan was so right… The peace I felt immediately was ‘beyond understanding,’ simply wonderful.

Well, here we are again, at a moment of transition, and we can’t stop trustin’ once again.

This morning’s doctor’s appointment began with Dr. Coral Surgeon walking in the room saying, “Well, we’re scheduled to go in tonight, right?” As this was news to us, she realized we hadn’t actually scheduled it yet, but through the conversation with her, we realized going in to be induced was probably the best and next thing to do. (Much more time past my due date, and there become increased concerns for the little one.) The plan is that we will call the hospital at 6pm and go in at 7pm. They will administer Cervidil near my cervix at regular intervals tonight to help it become more dilated and effaced by morning. Then in the morning, if I haven’t naturally gone into labor, they will kick start that process with some Petocin. If all goes as expected, we will have our little girl in our arms tomorrow.

Here’s the catch. Later, when the nurse called, we were told that we are “6th on the list.” What does that mean, you wonder? (As did we.) Depending on how many women naturally go into labor today, they may or may not have enough beds and/or nurses for us to go in tonight. Hehehehe. And the adventure continues. : ) So, we call at 6pm and find out whether or not we go in at 7pm based on their best guess. I asked if 6 is a lot (since we have no clue), and the nurse said, yes, that means it’s a busy night… but we won’t know for sure until we call at 6pm. If we don’t go in tonight, it will be tomorrow or the next day for sure.

The next email you will receive will be from my sister (Amy Strande) as soon as our little one arrives (probably tomorrow, maybe longer, maybe shorter).

How’s that for clarity? We can’t stop trustin’ now. It is all good. We are so thankful for this blessing and this adventure! And as much fun as it has been so far, we really can’t wait to meet our Little One!!

Thanks for your continued love, support and prayers!! As always, they mean the world to us!!

Love,
April & Adam (the very excited, soon-to-be parents)

Here is the email we sent out last Wednesday…

Greetings Friends & Family –

Just thought we’d give you an update on the most recent Tatemann family adventures. As you know, last Friday we were scheduled for an on-time arrival of our little girl at 9:30am via c-section, but she decided she would prefer to hang out for a bit longer in exchange for a natural childbirth – sometime in the previous 12 hours or so, she had turned from the breech position she had been in the previous 9 or so months. Amy (my sister from Seattle), Adam and I left the hospital disappointed to not be leaving with her but grateful that she was doing so well – strong heart rate, lots of amniotic fluid, cord only loosely around her shoulders.

Since Friday we have been expectantly hoping each day would bring about her arrival, but so far we are still waiting. We had a doctor’s appointment Tuesday with our good friend, Dr. Coral Surgeon, who was quite surprised to see us (She was on vacation last week when we were scheduled for our c-section). At that point I was about 60% effaced and ½ cm or so dilated. She chuckled at the very rare circumstances and told us we just need to wait. We told her we were trying everything we had read or heard to kick-start the process (walking, spicy food, breast pump, etc.). We learned there is no magic to getting the process started – it’s a mystery that is still not well understood. We also learned that the onset of labor contractions are not connected to the progress of my cervix (effacement, dilation). They did another “non-stress test,” and again Little Baby Tatemann continues to earn high scores – her heart rate and reactions are “great.” So the adventure continues. As of yesterday, I have been experiencing much more frequent contractions, but they haven’t been consistent beyond about 4-5 hours.

The doctors do not want us to go beyond 41 weeks (I guess there is risk that my placenta will not continue to do a good job of giving her the nutrition she needs after that), so next Monday we will have another doctor’s appointment to schedule the induction.

Sadly, this afternoon we said goodbye to my sister as she boarded a plane to fly back home to be with her family. (Thanks so much Hakon and Elisabeth for lending her to us for the week – it was AMAZING to have her support, love, help, generosity, laughter, hugs, company, etc. during this emotionally challenging time!!!!)

We will continue to keep you all posted. Thank you still for your ongoing love and support! We really appreciate it!

Love, April & Adam

This is the email we sent out to friends & family on March 4… the day we thought you would be born:

Dear Friends & Family – An update on our little one’s progress…

As most of you knew, I was scheduled to deliver this little one this morning at 9:30am by c-section because she was (and has been) breech for the entire duration of this pregnancy. Some of you also know, Adam & I went to great lengths to help this little one turn right-side-down (prayer as well as acupuncture, moxibustion, exercises, extra-enthusiastic Gospel choir input, etc.). A little over three weeks ago, we learned that the cord was around her neck which meant it was no longer safe to hope she turned. None of the doctors thought she would turn b/c she hadn’t made any attempt and b/c of the cord, so they were certain we would need to deliver her by c-section. They wanted us to wait to until the 39th week so she would have adequate time to develop her lungs. Today marks the end of her 39th week. And, up until yesterday, she didn’t budge.

Today we went to the hospital as planned, checked in at triage, put on the gown, and then they did a little ultrasound check to make sure she was still breech (pretty much just as a formality). And guess what? Yes, sometime between our doctor’s appt. yesterday at 1pm and going to the hospital this morning, she decided to turn. Nobody, especially my doctor, could believe it. They did MANY tests to make sure the cord (which was wrapped around her neck) was not causing her any stress – it is still there, but loosely laying on her shoulders. Her heart rate is great, my fluids are great – so now we just wait until I go into labor the old-fashioned way.

As you can guess, it has been an emotional ride, but we are so thankful she continues to grow and is happy and healthy. (They gave us this AMAZING 3-D ultrasound image of her – she looks like a real baby – totally beautiful!!) Her scheduled due date is Monday, March 7, so who knows? She really could decide to come anytime.

We’ll keep you posted…

Thanks to all of you for your ongoing love and support! It means the world to us!!

*April

Dearest Little One –

Today is your day! We can’t tell you how excited we are to meet you!! We have been smiling big smiles since we woke up this morning! You are the miracle we have been waiting and preparing for!! It’s amazing how a little person like you, who we have never met in person yet, can be such a source of joy to so many people before you even arrive!!

The dogs are very anxious to meet you…. We can’t wait to watch your friendshp with them grow!

We wish for you on this birthday, and all those to come, everything life can give you:
A strong intimate relationship with God – your Source of true happiness
That you feel the love that we and so many others have for you
That you feel empowered to be strongly and beautifully you wherever you are
That you are our little “Stargirl!”

WELCOME HOME!! We love you… always,

Mom & Dad

Hey Sweetie –

Good morning! It’s Saturday, February 19. We learned more about your upcoming arrival this week – let me fill you in. First, as you know, you have been hanging out right side up (which technically is upside down with respect to being born in the safest possible way), so your Daddy & I have been doing ALLLL kinds of things to hel p you turn – the Gospel choir has been praying for you, Toussaint plays the drums a little louder for you, St Margaret Mary’s has had you on their prayer chain, I started acupuncture and doing a bunch of strange looking exercises, and your Daddy and I have being doing moxibustion!! Want a funny visual image? Moxibution involves burning an herb wrapped like a cigarette near pressure points on the outsides of my pinky toes WHILE I lie upside down on a board and hold ice on the top of my uterus!!!

A traditional Chinese medical practice that involves the burning of herbs to stimulate acupuncture points (moxibustion) is found to be effective in stimulating fetal movement and in correcting breech presentation, according to an article in “The Journal of the American Medical Association” (JAMA).

What a funny site to see! Daddy & I did this at 5:30am and 10pm every day – the heat and burning frequency were supposed to help you turn, upside down to help you come out of my pelvis, and the ice to help you to go the other way. However, as we have learned, you knew better than to turn…

This Tuesday we learned that you have your umbilical cord wrapped around your little neck (which is actually quite common), and it is not really safe for you to turn upside down. Look how smart you are already!! And strong! Good job! So we now know that we will have a c-section to bring you into the world. The cool thing is we get to pick your birthday (unless I go into labor before then – let’s try to hold off, okay?). We chose Friday, March 4 for many reasons:

1. Your birthday will be 3/4/05… How cool is that?!?

2. Technically your due date of 3/7 was 5 days premature based on your first measurements, so technically 3/4 marks the beginning of your 39th week of growing in me (which, they think, is the ideal time for delivery by c-section).

3. Daddy has a very important test to take on 3/1, and once you arrive he will have a MUCH harder time concentrating. You and I already know that he will do a FABULOUS job!

Anyway, so we are now planning a little pre-birthday party for you for 3/3. I can’t eat after midnight that night (in preparation for the surgery), and your Auntie Amy will be in town, so we thought we would have a feast! Again, more celebrating of the miracle God is making called You!!

(If any of Little Raz’s local friends have some time Thursday night, 3/3, and would like to join us for dinner the night before the surgery for a little pre-Birthday celebration and to meet my sister Amy, please do!! We will have dinner [AND DESSERT 😉 ] at Pomodoro’s [Pomodoro’s -1290 University Avenue, Rochester, NY 585.271.5000] at 7:30pm. We would love for you to join us… Just add your numbers to the reservation for “Tatemann.”)

Well, Sweeite, lots to do before you arrive. Keep growing beautiful and strong, and we’ll see you VERY SOON!!

All our love,
Your Mommy & Daddy

Hey Baby Girl –

As we are thinking about your arrival, we have been contemplating, researching, debating so many beautiful names! We want to give you a name that is as special and strong and beautiful as you. Check out this site that your friend Alan sent us… It’s very cool!

http://babynamewizard.com/namevoyager/lnv0105.html

The name we are leaning toward most means:

divine creative force in everything

I also heard your name used by someone from work who was talking about a teenage girl who had this name. The girl was described as…

the breaker of all official silences

Do you think we are asking for trouble in choosing this name for you? 😉 We hope for you strength and beauty and connectedness with God. God will use you in wonderful and miraculaous ways! We can’t wait to see how!!!

We love you, Little Raz!
Your Mommy & Daddy

Hey Sweetie –

Just wanted to let you know that you will have a couple furry friends waiting for you at home when you arrive. Jake (1.5 yrs old) and Macy (4.5 yrs old) won’t be able to come to the hospital to meet you when you first arrive, but they will be there in spirit.

Here is a recent picture of them so you know what to expect. I know they’re a bit hairy, but they are very lovable. They will make GREAT playmates for you!

Talk to you more soon. We love you!!
*Mommy

Dear Little Raz,

This is your Mommy writing. We have been together now for a little over 34 weeks! Can you believe it? I have loved hanging out with you for all of this time! Though quite strange at times to feel you roll or kick, when I saw your picture last week on the ultrasound printout, I cried. You look so beautiful, so real, so fully formed, so our little girl!

I loved singing in the Gospel choir with you last night. Do you know you danced in my belly to the music the whole time? They call you “The Gospel Choir Baby.” They are so excited about your arrival! I don’t know if it is a realistic goal or not, but I’m hoping you’ll sing with me once you arrive. We’ll see how you react to all of the craziness!

Anyway, 5.5 more weeks and you’ll be here! We really can’t wait! Keep growing, and remember to turn head down soon. You don’t want to wait too long, or you’ll be too big to turn… so turn soon, okay? And if you don’t mind, slide down a bit so Mommy can breathe. 🙂 Thanks Sweetie.

Have a good night Little Raz. Keep kicking! I love knowing you’re there!

Your Daddy and I love you very much!!
*Mommy