My daughter has a newborn daughter. What an honor it was to be a part of it all.
It’s been a very long time since I helped care for a newborn for days and days.
Because a newborn requires so much attention, it was all hands on deck after my daughter Abby, had to have an emergency C-Section.
First, I flew to Orlando on September 22nd. Abby wanted me to be there early in case she went into labor.
Therefore, I got to spend time with my 9 months pregnant daughter and her husband James for 4 full days before she went into labor at 2 am on September 27th.
To see my only daughter this pregnant and go to a doctors appointment with her, was very special.
Abby’s good friend and her mom were vacationing in Florida, and came for dinner that weekend before hand.
The photo above is of Abby, two days before going into labor and her friend Andriana.
However, as Abby’s labor progressed, she wasn’t dilating, due to scar tissue from a surgery she had many years before.
As a former nurse, I watched everything closely.
For instance, at hour 18 of labor, Abby requested an epidural. Thank God she did!
Because 6 hours later, fully dilated and pushing for 30 minutes, the baby was in distress. Her heart rate was dropping. It was clear the cord may be wrapped around her neck.
Due to having the epidural already in place, Abby wasn’t put to sleep.
Consequently, the baby, my new granddaughter, Elianah Mary Pauline Anderson, was born quickly and is doing well today. As a newborn, she was calm and peaceful.
If you have had a C-Section or you know anyone who has, it is major surgery, and recovery time is at least 8 weeks.
Hence, this momma/ grandma, stayed on lots longer to help after they all returned home.
What I discovered as I spent so much time staying at their home, Abby’s husband, James, is a very competent, hard worker, pitching in doing whatever needed to be done. He’s a wonderful new daddy with my granddaughter and takes so much stress off of my daughter.
When I felt confident they would all manage without me, I flew back home to Minneapolis.
As a result of spending every waking moment, helping and doing everything I could to help all 3 of them, I knew why we don’t have newborns at my age!
I found myself falling into bed each night completely exhausted, happy and satisfied I did as much as I could to help that day.
Above all, I was a part of this glorious time in their lives. I was allowed to be a part of the fears, tears, joys and elation, that comes with having a newborn.
I studied Elianah’s face, body, expressions and even got to watch her smile and have her first laugh. She changed each day.
As I sang my silly songs and rocked and held her, she loved it. So did I!
My daughter has wanted to be a mommy for many years. At over 37 years old, her greatest desire came true. She knows that lack of sleep is a part of she and James’s life for a while now. A newborn changes everything in their parents lives. No one can know ahead of time how devoted you need to be.
It’s truly all-consuming.
I won’t see them again until Christmas when we will meet at my Dad’s home, where I grew up, in Toledo, Ohio.
Abby is texting videos every day. My dream is to find a winter place not far from them in Florida, and get out of the cold and snow here, from January through March!
Finally, it’s an odd feeling for me. I want to be here with my husband Hale, who is not ready to winter in Florida, and be here, near our other 4 grandkids. And I want to be there to watch this precious newborn granddaughter grow as well.
For now, I’m grateful I had the time with them I had, enjoying the precious first couple weeks of her life.
Have you experienced living far away from grandchildren?
If so, please email me and give me any tips you have!
With love and great appreciation,
Connie
PS. Here is a website with many great tips when you have a newborn:
Elianah on her 15th day of life!
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