Number 5

The last couple of days have been hard. I am still physically and emotionally drained from all of the events.

It's been a couple days since Laney went missing, and early yesterday morning Vinny and I started our search for Laney once again. We had no intentions of allowing her to spend the Holidays alone. Plus it started snowing a couple of days ago and for all we know, Laney could be lost somewhere out in the cold and her jacket is back at the orphanage.

My desperate hunt for Laney has kept me distracted from the burglars as well as my pregnancy. I didn't think it was possible but Laney almost kept me too distracted from my pregnancy.

It was about 2:30 yesterday when it started snowing. For the first time since I've been pregnant, the temperature dropped below freezing, so I wasn't quite sure how to dress. I put on my maternity jeans over a pair of fleece leggings, a long sleeve shirt, one of Graham's sweaters, a peacoat that barely covered my belly, and a scarf. I figured I would be plenty warm and if it got too hot I would take off some layers.

Boy did I take of layers! It wasn't until I broke out in a sweat wearing only my long sleeve t-shirt that I noticed something wasn't right. I sat on a bench in Sherwood park next to Vinny watching all of the people skate on the lake that had frozen overnight. I began to feel nauseous and I was going in and out of consciousness. I started to forget where I was and the last thing I remember was waking up in the Hospital surrounded by co-workers, Graham's parents, and Vinny.

Vinny said that I wasn't responding to him and that I just randomly went unconscious. He called an ambulance and they rushed me to the Hospital.

After the burglars broke into my apartment, I took a couple of days off of work just to regroup. I also skipped my last doctors appointment which I probably shouldn't have done. I just didn't feel like facing all of my co-workers quite yet.

Paige dismissed everyone from my room and told me what was going on. She began with a serious tone. Her doctor tone, one that I never get to hear since we're always just joking around. Her tone of voice scared me. I didn't know what was going on.

"Riley, you almost died. If it weren't for Vinny and his fast response to you going unconscious you may have joined Graham in heaven."

"Well, well whhaa, whatt happened? Why? I just don't understand!" I replied.

"Riley, due to the fact that you skipped your last doctor's appointment, you wouldn't have known this. But your child's blood supply was almost completely cut off due to a compressed umbilical cord. We were able to go in a open the cord back up so that your child didn't pass. And you're lucky you didn't either."

"I just can't believe this! This is my job, this is what I do for a living! How did I not know?!"

"Riley everything is okay. You just need to forgive yourself. This isn't your fault. I'm going to need you to stay at the hospital for observation for the next week. You're going to be a mom sooner than you expected. We should have your child delivered in the next couple of days."

I panicked, "I'm not ready for this! I need Graham! I don't have anything ready! No house, no nothing! Please No! I need this last month to prepare! And what about Laney?"

"You're going to be fine I promise, now there are some visitors waiting patiently outside for you."

And that is how my yesterday went. Hopefully today serves me better. I'm just sitting here in this hospital bed waiting on the arrival of my child and praying that Laney is safe.