6 pounds 1 ounce - 1:39 AM on May 12th, 2010 :)

Dearest family and friends,

This is Tim writing. Forgive us for taking so long time to update information here, but I only had time (and barely at that) to post pics the other day. Here is the situation:

On Monday the 10th, Haleigh had strong contractions that were 1 to 3 minutes. We rushed to the hospital only to be discharged 4 hours later with the infamous 'false alarm' diagnosis. Haleigh wouldn't dilate because the contractions weren't strong enough. Fast forward 18 hours and 4 hot baths later, the contractions still had not subsided but grew more intense instead (keep in mind Haleigh's only 36 weeks and 5 days).

We rushed back to the hospital and learned that Sophia's heart rate was very high, the contractions very strong and frequent, and Haleigh had a mild fever. She still would not dilate after all these hours of strong contractions. Dr. Rojas first concluded that these unproductive contractions, together with Sophia's heart rate and Haleigh's fever, were a result of a uterine infection (Choreo-Ammionytus). Dr. Rojas became very concerned for the mommy and daughter's health. Upon this conclusion, the wrist bands were slapped on us and we knew then we wouldn't be going home without a baby.

Dr. Rojas's original plan was to treat Haleigh with an antibiotic and bring down Sophia's heart rate. In the meantime we would wait until the strong contractions finally caused dilation. He agreed to grant Haleigh her number-1 wish then and there- an epidural. :) Unfortunately, when the good Dr. checked her again several hours later, she was still not dilated. Dr. Rojas was perplexed. After staring silently (for what seemed like an eternity) at Sophia's heart rate and Haleigh's contractions and examining Haleigh's pelvic bones, he believed that Haleigh's pelvis was too small to deliver a baby even as small as six pounds. Instead of delaying the inevitable and also to rescue Sophia from a stressed environmment (her heart rate had come down but was beginning to increase again), he decided to conduct a c-section immediately.

Haleigh then gave birth at 1:39 AM on Wednesday the 12th. Now we are waiting for Haleigh to finally see her very own baby, Sophia Hayden Rice. In the hussle and bustle of transferring Haleigh from the OR to the recovery room to the materninty ward room, only I was able to go to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Haleigh has been a fighter and hero through all of this. Hey pain and discomfort are often high but her spirits remain high always. On a personal note, my mind was going 90-miles-an-hour through all of this. Seeing my beautiful, amazing and precious life-partner being cut open with 6 medical staff surrounding her was almost unbearable as I felt as helpless as ever in my life. Additionally, I could barely manage after realizing that our new baby Sophia was experiencing breathing problems. When the Neonatalogist found me and asked me for consent to perform a spinal tap on our baby, I almost collapsed. I was not prepared for this.)

Sophia's complications can be summarized with the diagnosis of pneumonia and persistent pulmonary hypertension (PPHN). For the pneumonia the doctor has her on antibiotics for at least ten days, and for the PPHN Sohpia is intebrated with a ventilator going down her throat into her stomach. Apparently her lungs did not develop enough to know that they were supposed to be receiving blood and passing it along (since the placenta does this for the fetus). The result then is respiratory stress syndrome. Dr. Blackman (what a cool name!) administered a protein chemical called sefactint (sp?) to which Sophia's lungs responded positively, but the Dr. still assumes there is pneumonia given her X-rays.

Needless to say, this is a happy but hard time for us. While we understand the conditions could be much worse, the babies I see in the regular nursery when I pass them on the way to the NICU remind me that conditions could be much better as well. Even so, we are nothing but thankful for the beautiful blessing we now have the privilege to call our daughter. We are ready to welcome her into our home, coddle and spoil her, and ask Sophia what she thinks about her nursery.

I want to thank all of you for your prayers, love and support. While we may be far from all of you, we know we're not alone.

Dear God, we ask you to bless our little Sophia and restore her to full health in mind and body. In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, Amen.

So as not to end on a negative note, Haleigh and I believe Sophia has Haleigh's nose, eyes and ears and she carries the characteristics of my chin and ...bottom lip? (hal's words, not mine) We'll keep you updated!