By Nici Holt Cline

Ruby’s unexpected stay in the hospital pushed her birthday into distant memory. But it wasn’t that long ago and a day worth celebrating even more now. Girlfriend needs her birth story written.

12/14/09

Dear Ruby,

It is a very snowy, very dark morning. You are three weeks old. You are asleep next to me on an industrial table in the pediatric ICU. We’ve been here for 11 days. And, guess what? Today you are no longer an intensive care patient and they are bringing in a bassinet. You are about to go home. To your home. Not today but soon. I hope by Margot’s birthday (I not-so-secretly hope it will be tomorrow but everyone is just so cautious with what they promise around here). Right now you are on .5 liters of 30% oxygen and breathing 41 breaths per minute. Three days ago you were on 8 liters of 50% oxygen and breathing 130 breaths per minute.

Your plight, your fight has inspired a world of people, including me. I love you so deeply and I just can’t wait to see how you insert yourself into this life.

1/1/10

Dear Ruby,

You did indeed go home the very next day and home, or close to it, is where we have been since around 1pm on December 15. There are intense feelings and fears we are working through as a family but, on the whole, we are whole. Cheers to 2010 little girl. Love you so.

:: :: ::

A crazy alignment of stars allowed me to attend an all day mama retreat on Saturday, November 21. I spent the day with 12 incredible women doing yoga, making art, meditating, writing and dancing. We danced to beautiful African inspired rhythms and it culminated in a magic four minutes when my 200 pound body jumped around to Justin Timberlake and Madonna. When I was leaving, my dear friend, Jennifer, turned to me and said, if Justin and Madonna don’t make you have this baby tonight…
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