Our beautiful miracle made her way into the world, not exactly in the way we planned, but Deianarra Louise Swearman is all the more precious to us. She was worth every last effort and I find myself staring at her with a love that I have never known before for another being and undoubtedly will never feel again. I never believed parents when they said that there is an instant love, unlike any other when one becomes a parent.
Now my husband Chris and I both know...there is. Our daughter was conceived about three days after my husband and I moved back from South Carolina. I had accidentally packed my birth control pills in a box, and we could not find them. Oh well, My pregnancy was pretty uneventful, I enjoyed daily walks with Chris and our boxer Noodles until the last few weeks before my due date.

Unexpectedly my blood pressure began to creep up about my 37-h week of pregnancy. From there I was in every few days to Mercy-Jeannette for fetal-non-stress tests. Gretchen and Sandy wanted to make sure that Deianarra was doing just what she was supposed to. Each and every time her heart beat was beautiful and we were sent home relieved.

By the week of October 18, 2004 my blood pressure was still high, when we talked with Gretchen who let us know that since my blood pressure was higher than we'd like that induction may be the best route to go. So after talking it over extensively with Gretchen and with Chris, we decided to be induced.

On October 22, 2004 we arrived at 7:30AM at Mercy-Jeannette, and I was started on Pitocin. At 12:30PM Gretchen said that I was progressing nicely, effacing a bit more and dilating to two centimeters; we decided to break my water. It was odd; after it was done I felt this immense responsibility come over me, as if this was really going to happen. I was going to be responsible for this little person and I suppose it began to sink in finally. I have to admit as the contractions grew in intensity, 1 felt that I wouldn't be able to handle them. My family began to arrive, and I could not have gotten through the evening without my dad, whom offered his hand that I could squeeze as they built. My husband was afraid of me breaking his hand and I think I would have! My progress was slow, and at 10:30PM Gretchen came in and asked me how I wanted to proceed. I was at a standstill, and had been for about two hours. We decided to stop the Pitocin and get some rest. In the middle of the night, however I started to have contractions on my own, but they were irregular. By morning, she called Dr. Khalil to assess my situation, but by that time I was so exhausted, Chris and I discussed and decided on having a C-Section. I got a shower as the O.R. was being readied, and I was taken in. At 9:10AM our baby girl was born. I don't remember much about everything going on, just a pure giddiness when I heard that lusty~cry from behind the sheet.

Even thou'gh we hadn't planned on our birth the way it happened looking back all that really mattered was having a healthy baby. We thank from the bottom of our hearts Sandy, Gretchen, Sue and Dr. Khalil and all of the wonderful nurses at Mercy-Jeannette. Also my wonderful husband Chris, he made laps with me along the hall, and was with me throughout the whole labor. Without everyone, I would not have had the nurturing care that I desired when looking for someone to deliver our baby. We owe our family to all of you !