You were born on Sunday 15 February 2009 at 20h08. You weighed 2.9kg and were 49cm in length. Your nose was a little squashed but you had no other marks on you. You were beautiful – and you still are.
Although I really loved being pregnant again, it had been a tougher pregnancy than with Ella. She started school in October 2008 and started to get sick quite often, Dad and I got sick too and I just couldn’t get better. We were also having a tough time financially and were both very stressed. With a much busier job this time around - and a toddler to consider, I didn’t have a lot of time to relax and really prepare myself for the fact that you were on your way. So when I finally finished work on Friday 13th I was relieved and thought that I would have about a week to take life easy before you arrived. That night we were at Granny’s house and I told Dad that I needed a break – I just had to chill and spend some time thinking about you. It was Valentine’s Day the next day so there were lots of Valentine's Day promotions. Nanna did some phoning around and managed to find us a great deal at a hotel in Sandton - it was also really close to the hospital in case I needed to get there fast! It was great to spend time with Dad, to relax and eat well. After dinner we sat outside enjoying the gorgeous evening, and for the first time in a long time, I felt comfortable. I spoke to you and told you that I would be ready whenever you were. On Sunday morning I felt much better, although I didn't feel much like eating. I had a little snooze on the couch in the afternoon and at 16h20 I suddenly felt a strange pressure in my tummy. I couldn’t sit still and needed to walk around. Even though we had been through it before I didn’t know if this was labour as, once again, I had not had Braxton Hicks contractions so didn’t know if this was them. I started to feel the pressure more frequently and I eventually spoke to Aunty Gill (who is a doctor), she said that because Ella’s birth had been so fast, we should probably just go to the hospital. We phoned Nanna and Granny and arranged to leave Ella with Granny for the night, just in case you did arrive. I started to make Ella dinner but decided it wasn’t a good idea. I just wasn't feeling great at all - so we loaded everything into the car, dropped Ella off with Granny and drove like crazy to the hospital with me, once again, gripping the door handle with every contraction.
By the time we got to the hospital at around 19h00, I was in full-blown labour. One of my biggest fears was that Dr Cameron wouldn't be available at the time of your birth, but luckily he was on call that weekend and he was already at the hospital with another patient. As soon as he saw me in the corridor he started to prep me. It all happened even quicker than before, I was rapidly dilating and my entire body was shaking. It was time for Dr Cameron to do the epidural. Not long after that they wheeled me into the delivery room and I could still feel the contractions, there hadn’t been enough time for the epidural to take full effect – they weren’t painful, just uncomfortable. It was 19h50, after a few deep breaths and one huge push you were born. It was 20h08 - a little more than an hour since we had arrived at the hospital. Dr Cameron handed you to me – all white and wrinkly, and Dad and I both looked at you in utter amazement. Our second little girl. Just because we had been through it before didn’t mean that the experience was any less incredible – and it had happened so fast that it just didn’t seem real – and again, Dad still had his sunglasses sitting on his head!
The nurse took you away to weigh you and wrap you up and then gave you back to me for your first feed. Again, we were lucky because the hospital was quiet and so we were able to spend lots of time in the delivery room without any interruptions - just the 3 of us. Dad and I falling more in love with you with every second. When we were finally taken to the ward, I was so hungry but it was late and dinner had already been served. The nurse managed to organise some toasted sarmies - we sat eating them in the dim light of my little area in the ward, chatting quietly while you lay sleeping beside us. Those were the best toasted sarmies ever!
The next day Ella came to visit you, she was so excited Jem and couldn't wait to hold you. She has just turned 3 (as you have today) so was still really little. She sat beside me on the bed, holding you and just staring at you, trying to get you to hold her hand. While you were still in my tummy, she nicknamed you Baby Roo, and so that's how you became Jemma Roo.
That, my sweet girl, is the story of your birth. It's been an amazing 3 years with you. You're such a chilled little chick - but you're also fearless and funny and fiercely independent, and you get really mad when things don't go your way! But you don't hang onto stuff, you get over things pretty quickly and go back to being your cheery self. You love school - you get cross with me because I take Ella to school first instead of you - and when you finally get to school you run off to look for your friends. You're really affectionate - it just comes naturally to you. I love holding your hand - I always give it a little squeeze and you squeeze mine back. You love books and Hello Kitty and Tinkerbell and Smurfs. In the mornings, driving from Ella's school to yours, you love for me to make up a 'Once Upon A Time...' story about you and Smurfette, and you always giggle at the end.
Sweet Jem, you fill our hearts with joy! We have great adventures to embark on with you. We're so blessed to have you with us, and we love you with all of our hearts.
xoxo
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| 38 weeks... |
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| Your birth day. |
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| 3 months |
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| 9 months |
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| 1 year |
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| 2 years |
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| 2 years |
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