Caitlin Erica Kobelia, Part One

Caitlin Erica Kobelia, born April 11, 2010 at 1032am. She arrived at 36 weeks and 5 days. She weighed 5lbs 9 ozs. Caitlin is named after my brother Todd, whose middle name is Eric. He suggested Erica.

I woke up with a terrible migraine headache. I had already taken at least 3 hot showers in hopes that it would relieve some of the pressure. Didn't help! I decided to get up and start some cleaning thinking that if I was doing something maybe it would go away. Tried to fold some clothes, but the longer I sat there the more it hurt. So, I thought, maybe if I just sit on the couch and don't move, then maybe it would go away. That didn't work either! I knew I was in trouble when Nick wandered down and I couldn't take care of him. I went out to the garage, in tears because my head hurt so bad, and told him he might need to take me to the hospital. I have only had to do that one other time and I found out I was pregnant! I called my mom...someone would need to take the kids. And thankfully, being Sunday my father was home also. I called the doctor to find out what I should do. After many questions, he felt I really needed to go the hospital to rule out pre eclampsia. It was a very long ride to the hospital! Every bump made my headache worse! I was biting my lip not to cry I was in so much pain! When we arrived at the hospital, I felt a bit of relief...like we were safe now. Within an hour, I was in the OR! My blood pressure was 151/98! All signs of preeclampsia. I was so scared I was shaking! I kept praying to try and calm myself down. The nurses were yelling at the doctors, the doctors were yelling at the nurses. They couldn't find a vein to put the IV in! And the the nurse that was standing in front of me gave me a hug and whispered that everything would be okay, she was here to take care of me. I felt a little better! When Caitlin was born, they immediately took her to the NICU for a full heart scan. She stayed there about 2 wee ks before she was transported to Rochester Children's Hospital at Strong Memorial.