What a night!!!

• Well, in my last post I was talking about going to a "routine" doctor visit.   Karah had some blood work done and an ultrasound.  We left the hospital and Karah was feeling great.  We had dinner at Mi Zuppa in Vail.  On the drive home, we got a call from the doctor asking us to turn around and come to labor and delivery STAT. 
• Turns out that Karah had HELLP syndrome:  HELLP syndrome is a life-threatening obstetric complication usually considered to be a variant of pre-eclampsia. Both conditions occur during the later stages of pregnancy, or sometimes after childbirth.
  HELLP is an abbreviation of the main findings:
  Hemolytic anemia
  Elevated Liver enzymes and
  Low Platelet count
• Karah got a magnesium IV (to prevent seizures) and a nice helicopter ride (Donald Trump style) over the Rockies to Presbyterian St. Lukes in Denver.  I drove home, grabbed some things, and hit the road to Denver (long, lonely drive).  At the time her flight left, it sounded for certain that she would have a c-section as soon as she arrived in Denver.  I wasn't sure I'd be there for the delivery.  
• Karah arrived  in Denver and the doctor decided that because her symptoms were minimal that they could try induction.  If that didn't work then Karah would go the c-section route.  I arrived a couple hours later.  Things stayed calm and the doctor was optimistic that we may be able to deliver naturally at 3 or 4 AM
• Karah started getting strong contractions about 11 pm.  At 12:30 the nurse checked her dilation status.  The look on her face was one of shock.  She checked again.  She went in the hall and asked another nurse to check.  Yep, she was ready.  An army of nurses and the doctor marched in.  Karah made it look so easy.  No drugs.  No problem. 
• At 12:54 Bennett Davidson Maloley was born.  6 lbs. 15 oz., 20 lbs.  The cutest little thing you ever did see.  Quite large for his premature status.  It was a day of a lowest low and a highest high.  When Karah left for Denver I never could have dreamed it would end so sweet and easy.  I know there were lots of people praying for us . . . thank you, it worked!    
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  Mama is doing great and baby is too.  All 4 grandparents got to see him today.