On the 18th day of December…..a memorable Christmas Gift

For today’s daily December Christmas blog post (yes, I have already done SEVENTEEN – where have you been?) I want to share a most memorable Christmas so I am also taking part in {Sincerely From Me To You} for the first time.

This is also my Show and Tell for There’s No Place Like Home – I have never shared these precious first photos before.

This day 11 years ago (1997) I was in hospital in Belfast at 36 weeks pregnant with my first baby suffering from pre-eclampsia.

Our obstetrician Consultant told us he recommended that our baby was delivered by cesarean section the following morning. He said we could wait another day or two at most, but although the baby was not due until 21st January, he definitely needed to deliver me sooner, and if we proceeded then we could both be home for Christmas.

Whilst as a first time mum the thought of labour terrified me, a cesarean section was even more scary.

I remember lying in the ward that night listening to the radio and two songs came on. The first was the Christmas song “When a child is born”, and the other was in the charts at the time “Baby, can I hold you tonight”. I lay there feeling surreal about the prospect that within 12 hours I would be a mum, and would meet my baby.

When our eldest daughter was born, and 1.01pm on 19 December 2007 she weighed 7lb 2oz, and although 4 weeks premature, did not need any additional medical attention. She lay there with her eyes wide open, staring intently at me.

Both these photos were taken within minutes of her birth.

I had a rough night and proceeding day with my blood pressure remaining high, and was quite sedated. I would be vaguely aware of a baby crying, and would ask the nurse “Is that my baby?” Next thing I know, I am conscious again, and I am breastfeeding with the help of a mid-wife! I dozed off in the main ward, and woke up again in a side room, and our minister was chatting with my husband!

We were declared ready to discharge on Christmas Eve, and so had that first traumatic jouney home with our daughter lost in her snow-suit and car seat. I remember little of Christmas Eve night, but there was little sleep. On Christmas morning, our first visitor, after Santa, was our local mid-wife!

I will never forget the image of our daughter in her car seat, sitting by the Christmas tree on Christmas Eve.

Scanner is not behaving, so I have attempted to photograph some of the photos.

And here she is today, still a precious gift.

I made this layout for a new photo frame which was chosen to match her made-over bedroom. That was what she asked for this year – new bedding, curtians, desk chair etc. and a digi-layout to match the decor!

For more {Sincerely From Me To You} visit We are That Family