Elijah Korban

There is no way around it, this has been the worst week of my life...and it's nowhere close to being done.
I wish I had the time to sit right now and write all about everything, but that will have to wait a few days, as the to-do list today is long and tomorrow will be too consuming. I will give you a quick recap, though, and would like to share some pictures of our precious little man, who left us too soon.

When I last posted, we had spent a wonderful family day at the children's museum. That night, William woke up with the stomach flu and was sick all through the night and into Monday.  We had a challegning day, as most are with a sick 2 year old, but he did pretty well. Tuesday morning, I woke up around 7am very sick. I had feared vomiting so much, because with such a tender belly, I didn't know how much more painful it would be. Fortunately, it wasn't much more painful, but unfortunately, a day of vomiting left me feeling sporadic contractions by 4:30pm.  I thought surely they would subside, but they continued through the evening. After going to bed, they woke me up around 11:30pm, and got much closer together. By 12:45am, I was in lots of pain so I called my Dr. He said it could be dehydration, or it could really just be labor.  So, I turned to my husband who was now in the midst of severe stomach flu symptoms, apologized, and said I had to go to the hospital.  We held a small amount of hope that it was only dehydration, though I packed everything I wanted to have for Elijah, and I called my best friend, April, to see if she would come get me and take me to the hospital and try to give Kyle at least a little bit of time to rest, even if I was truly in labor.

We checked in at the hospital at 1:35am with contractions 2-3 minutes apart.  After going through the massive amount of questioning once I got into a room, she checked me and I was 4.5cm dialated and 75% effaced.  We called Kyle to let him know to get ready and come on up. Very, very quickly, my pain shot through the roof and I began begging for an epidural. I was told it would be about an hour before I could get one because they had to do blood work first, which they couldn't get through my i.v. since I was so dehydrated.  I told her I couldn't handle the pain for an hour and asked for something to knock off the edge of the pain.  A few minutes later, she came in with Staydal (no idea how to spell the name of this pain med).  From here, it gets a little fuzzy for me because of my intense pain and eventually the meds, which made me a bit (ok, a lot) loopy.

Right after she put the meds in my i.v., I told her I felt lots of pressure and the next thing I know my body started pushing. April called Kyle, who was on his way. They called the Dr., who was on his way.  Less than 30 minutes after being checked initially, at 3:02am, I gave birth to Elijah Korban.  It was wild, bizarre, terrifying and certainly unforgetable.  The Dr. hadn't had a chance to even get there, nor had Kyle.  Those sweet nurses and April did a great job. And, my best friend, bless her heart, got to cut the cord. Just a few minutes later, Kyle and the Dr. arrived.

We had one precious hour with our Elijah.  He was tiny. 3 pounds. 11 ounces. 16.5 inches long.  He hardly made a noise or any movements, but in that hour, he was fiercely loved. He was prayed over by our head pastor via phone since he was in South Dakota. He was dedicated by one of our other precious pastors right there in the hospital room.  And come to find out later, our head pastor also dedicated him, from far away, at 4:06am, right around the time that Elijah went from our arms into the arms of his heavenly father. 

It was a time I had feared, not knowing what condition he would be in, if we would have any time with him, if he would suffer, and it comes as no surprise to me that God allowed it to be a peaceful, beautiful time that we will always cherish.  Elijah's poor little body was badly bruised, due to the lack of fluid cushioning, and some of his parts were a bit smooshed, like his nose, since he was so compressed, but otherwise, on the outside, he was perfect.  No physical defects at all. He was beautiful and precious. He had his brother's lips, and hair like his sister's when she was born...blondish and peach fuzzy.

We said goodbye to Elijah officially at 4:15am, though he stayed with us in the room until just after noon that day.  We held him all day and just loved on him.  He and I even snuggled up and napped together.  Many friends and my mom were able to come and spend time with him and us. It was heartbreaking, but also very wonderful to finally have him with us, though no longer with us.  I knew that I didn't have to fear anymore. Elijah is whole and healed and perfect and gloriously happy with Jesus.  As Kyle and I sat holding him just before we said our final goodbye, Kyle said something like, "you know, he is in the most amazing paradise now. We can't even imagine how incredible it is.....And we are stuck in Indiana."  I said, "yep. We seriously got jipped. We got the really raw end of the deal."  And, it's true.  He's in glory with the Lord, and we are left to mourn. Never, ever again will we think of Heaven the same.  It is our home, and we are just anxious to get there. We are anxious to be with those we love in the most amazing party we'll ever know.  The path to gettting there is a relationship with Jesus. And, dear friend, if you don't know Him, I beg you to find Him! He is waiting with open arms to welcome you into a relationship with Him. He loves you! And wants you to live for Him here, so that you can have eternity with Him there.  It's beautiful.  And, there is no other hope aside from Him. I promise you that.

Well, as you can imagine, we have tons to get done today in preparation for Elijah's visitation and Celebration of Life service tomorrow, so I have to wrap up. I will write more when I have time.

Services for Elijah

March 3

Visitation: 10:30-12pm

Celebration of Life Service: 12pm

And, here are a few pics of our angel.

Being Dedicated by Pastor Judy

Maggie got to help do his footprints later that morning.

My daughter is my hero. She came in that hospital room with a grace, poise and love I could not have imagined. After being awakened way before dawn, she spent over an hour loving on her baby brother, playing with his little toes and fingers, doting on how wonderful he is, and loving her momma well. She truly is a little woman with a mighty dose of Godly character.