Sweet 16

 On this day 16 years ago I became a mom. I was so clueless. I was afraid to touch little Rachel because she was only 5 pounds 12 ounces and I thought I might break her.

Rachel was born via an emergency c-section because the doctor could not hear her heartbeat when I was in labor. It was the most surreal experience of my life being rushed to the OR and in labor pains.

Time stopped and I woke up to a nurse telling me I had a baby girl. Rachel had to be resuscitated several times because her blood had drained into my body through the umbilical cord. They let me see her briefly through the nursery window (of course I was in lala land with all the meds and just coming out of surgery) and she was as white as a sheet. She wasn't doing well. She had almost no blood in her system and the doctors weren't sure if she'd make it or not and if she did they expected some brain damage.

Rachel was rushed to a different hospital and they had to resuscitate her in the ambulance again along the way. Chuck and his mom followed in a car while my mom stayed with me at the other hospital.

Checking Rachel in to her new hospital, they wanted to put "Baby Schumann" on her crib. Chuck insisted that they write Rachel Schumann on there. She was the only baby in ICU whose first name wasn't Baby. :)

The doctor injected blood into her umbilical cord and Chuck said he got to watch her turn pink right before his eyes as the blood spread through her body.

Little Rachel had to stay in ICU for 10 days before I got to take her home. They still weren't sure if she'd have brain damage from the lack of blood flow to her brain for so long. Premie diapers were too big for her.  Today she's taller than me and such a sweet, beautiful, smart, talented girl.  I'm so proud of the woman she's becoming. I was worried about the "terrible teen" years but she's been wonderful and doesn't even pretend that she doesn't know me when we're in public!

Saturday we had a birthday party for her at Splashtwon ($$) and she got to invite a few friends and have a blast.

Today, June 6th, is her actual birthday and I had planned to take her shopping to spend some gift cards but my van is in the shop. :( Vincent Van Go is on thin ice here.

So today we'll hang around the house and take her out for a birthday dinner tonight.

Happy Birthday to my sweet Rachel. 16! How did it go by so quickly?!

Sorry I haven't been posting much in the past few days. To say we've been busy would be an understatement. I'll do better. :)

Hope your summer is going great so far!