Just briefly...

Just briefly, here's what's been going on with Tyson and me...Tyson and I are doing really well but just to recap a little bit...
On Mother's Day, 2009 I found out I was pregnant! I can honestly say it was one of the happiest days of my life. Tyson and I were thrilled. My due date was January 10. For some reason though, I always knew I would probably deliver a little bit early. Anyway, we were ecstatic when we found out we were having a girl! We both wanted a girl and I just KNEW it would be a girl.
On December 23, 2009 I went to the hospital to check on the baby because I noticed that she wasn't moving.
I was admitted right away and sent upstairs to have an ultrasound and search for the baby's heartbeat. I could tell right away that the nurses were stalling and searching. They kept asking me if I'd called my husband and if he was on his way. I assured them he was coming.
In fact, that day when I woke up I knew instantly that something wasn't right with the baby. Most mornings I was awakened by kicks but on December 23 there was nothing. I immediately said a prayer and asked my Heavenly Father to put my mind at ease and have her kick if she was alright so that I could go on with my day without worry. Only, she didn't kick right away. Instead, the phone rang and it was Tyson, calling because he had a feeling that he should call and "Check up on me". I knew right then that something was very wrong and I told him to meet me at the hospital. Tyson works out of town in Visalia, so he met me there within an hour or so.
The nurses and Doctors searched for her heartbeat but she was gone. We were terrified. We couldn't believe it.
I was induced right away. I was so scared. While in labor the Doctors warned me that the baby could be scary to look at, discolored or malformed. I was terrified of what might be wrong with her and so confused. How could this happen? I'd had a textbook healthy pregnancy. Everything had gone as planned. I was just waiting for labor to start. We were so close. I'd just been at my Doctor's office a couple days before and the baby was perfectly healthy. I was only days from my due date! Everything was prepared. I'd read all the books, been to all of my appointments, done everything right. I'd carried her for nine months. The clothes, the car seat, the adorable nursery, the cupboards were stocked, everything was perfect and waiting for her. I was horrified at what could have gone wrong.
I labored for over eighteen hours and delivered our precious daughter on Christmas Eve. She was perfect. It turned out that there was a very tight true cord knot in her umbilical cord. Other than that, she was just beautiful. She looked like a sweet little sleeping baby.
The Dr. Thinks that somehow, probably during her last active wake cycle she must of somehow pulled the knot tight and it cut off her oxygen. Plus, when I fell asleep and my heart rate dropped, my baby's heart rate also naturally dropped. Therefore, the combination of the knot, dropped heart rate and possibly some Braxton Hicks contractions were just too much for her and she died.
It's just devastating. So sad. We were so close. Already full term. She weighed 7 pounds 2 ounces and she was 19.75 inches long. We wanted to bring her home so bad. This type of umbilical cord knot is rare. My Doctor's compare it to being "struck by lightning". So, it wasn't something hereditary or something that could likely happen again and that brought a lot of peace.
Tyson and I arranged a small graveside service for her...we were so happy to be surrounded by so many friends and family. It was a beautiful service with singing, a beautiful poem, and a dove release.
We just finalized the design for her headstone. It says, "Our Precious Daughter Tatum Jane DeWitt December 24, 2009. I am a Child of God."
I just created a blog to record her story and our experience in more detail...but i haven't completed it yet. tatumjane.blogspot.com