4 Months of Pure Joy

Graham turned four months yesterday. It's hard believe it's been that long and then again it also feels like he's always been with us. I wake him up at 7:00 am every morning and can't wait to see his smiling face. He is such a joy and the time we get to spend with him is so special to us both. We are still in awe at the gift we've been given. Being parents is better than we ever expected and I can't wait to have more! More on that next year. ;)

A lot has happened since I last posted. He now weighs 17 pounds (official weigh in will be Monday at his doctor's appointment), he dropped his swaddle and is rocking his sleep sack (I may have cried) and he had his first haircut! He gets another round of shots on Monday and we can't wait to see if his pediatrician will allow him to start on baby food and/or cereal. We are thinking it might be a no since he still has trouble with holding his head up on his own but we are hopeful. This kid LOVES to eat as you can tell!

He also loves playing his piano, singing, books, loud toys with lights, stroller rides, bath, naps, milk, his pacifier, his changing table in the pack n play, fans and overhead lights. He doesn't like tummy time (although tolerating it a little more now), diaper changes after naps and strangers. We are planning on starting him in the church nursery this Sunday to see how he does. He's a mama's boy so we need to get him used to other people and at four months we feel it's time. Speaking of time, it's going WAY TOO FAST! Slow down buddy. We waited 10 years for you and we are trying to soak up every second.

My Perfect Life

Graham is now 12 weeks and life with him has been absolutely perfect. I always worried that when you wait for something for so long that it's not always what you dreamed up in your head but it's actually been even better! I anticipated that the newborn stage would be sleep deprived and extremely  difficult but it hasn't been that way at all. He started sleeping through the night at 6 weeks and takes plenty of long naps so I'm essentially getting more sleep than before he came. He's happy most of the time and we are loving every minute with this sweet boy. 

He likes to smile, read books, babble, take baths and listen to music. His favorite songs at the moment are "Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile" from Annie (not sure how this even started haha!) and "I am a Promise." I think it's very fitting that these are his favorites because he smiles a lot and was the biggest promise fulfillment that ever was. I am trying my best to thank God every day for this huge blessing.

He does not like late afternoons and cries sometimes so we go for walks which normally calms him. But to be honest, his crying doesn't upset me. I know he is taken care of and just needs to expel his energy at that time and I have waited 10 years to hear that cry. I know there will be days ahead that will be hard but right now every day is a complete blessing, crying or no crying. I can't explain how thankful I am to God and all the people it took to get him here. Graham you are more than we could have ever imagined and we are so glad we waited for you. You are the baby boy that we were always meant to have. 

May 25, 2018-The Day of the Dance

Since it was so close to a holiday weekend, we had to leave our condo at the beach and move to an Airbnb in Beaufort. It worked out perfectly though because the house was bigger and by this time Brad's mom and sister joined us. They were super glad Graham decided to stay put until they arrived.

It was now Friday morning, Graham's induction day! The day we have waited over 10 years was finally here! Katie had an appointment at the doctor's office for one last checkup and then we were sent over to the hospital. They started Pitocin (poor thing!) and before too long they were able to stop it because she was producing her own contractions. The doctor broke her water and we were on our way to meeting our son!

Leaving for the doctor's appointment and hospital

I ended up with a TON of tally marks. I'm so excited to meet my baby boy!

We were in the delivery room mostly but came out to wait a bit with family

Katie was now dilated to 9.5 centimeters. We knew it wouldn't be long. Brad and I were behind a curtain at this point because they were flipping Katie around so much due to the contractions causing decelerations in Graham's heart rate. I knew it wasn't good but didn't realize the actual severity of the situation because I couldn't see the monitor. Finally the doctor came behind the curtain to tell us she would have to go to the operating room for a c-section because Graham's head was too large (in hindsight this wasn't the case but a way to keep us calm). We were upset for her but understood. I went over to talk to Brian, Katie's husband, and told him he could go in the operating room rather than me like we had talked about but he insisted I go.

But when it was time to suit up the doctor said no one was coming in. Talk about panic time.

Graham's heart rate decelerated into the teens. I'm so thankful I didn't know this at the time because I probably would have fainted. Because it was so low, the doctor put Katie under general anesthesia which is why no one was allowed to go back to see the birth. Katie said it was one of the scariest moments of her life when they were no longer able to monitor him until he was out. Brian, Brad and I were waiting outside in the hall but Brad and I didn't know how bad things really were. I see this as a blessing.

They took her back at 7:05 and Graham was born at 7:28, a perfectly healthy baby boy weighing       8 lbs 6oz and 21 inches long. The umbilical cord was causing all the trouble. It was wrapped around his neck but the real reason for the decelerations was because he had it piled on top of his chest. So with every contraction the cord was causing all that pressure. Katie's doctor said as soon as she made the incision the cord popped right out first.

We had the absolute best nurse ever who when she found out I couldn't go back asked for my phone and took it into the operating room so that I wouldn't miss his first moments of life. Not only did she capture his first moments but also our reactions to seeing him for the first time!

We never dreamed he would come by an emergency c-section but we are so thankful that the Lord protected both of them and wouldn't let Satan turn this dancing back into mourning. We realize this could have gone a very different way and we are so thankful that Katie's doctor saved him just in time. We understand the sacrifice Katie made and now it is an even bigger one.

After we knew everyone was safe and sound, it was time to enjoy this most precious gift! I'll let the pictures tell the story of the joy brought about by this long-awaited baby boy. Thank You Lord for this dance and for sending all the people in our lives that made this possible. You are greatly praised today and forever.

Not the ending we predicted but a perfect ending all the same.