Well hello my friends! It feels like it’s been forever yet time hasn’t passed at all. Isn’t it funny how that happens? If you follow me on Instagram (@beautifully_candid) then you’ve probably heard the news that our sweet baby boy has made his arrival. I’ll back up for a minute and pick up where I left off.
His due date was 11/23 but I’ve never really been one to get too hung up on due dates. Babies come when they want to and with both A and little nugget they wanted to sit snug and came after. This time around, since we knew baby boy has a cleft lip and palate it was suggested that if he didn’t come that weekend before, then I did have the option to be induced on 11/20 so that all doctors could be prepared for us. I also think it was a convenient way for most of them to enjoy their Thanksgiving without chancing him arriving then. I can’t blame them though. Because realistically, we wanted that, too.
That whole weekend before I was having contractions. In fact, I thought there was a possibility he was coming on that Friday night. I was having contractions for three hours and they got as close as two minutes apart. Then out of no where they just kind of fizzled out. I was so confused because that never happened before. Both A and little nugget came super quick so I wasn’t sure what to think. I had contractions here and there throughout the weekend but nothing really substantial.
Fast forward to Monday and I went in for my regular Dr’s appointment and to discuss our options. He told me there was definitely something going on and that if he didn’t come that night he would see me in the more to be induced. Well that night the contractions started up again. They were more consistent but not as close together as before. We were supposed to be at the hospital at 6am but didn’t make it there until around 7:30am because I had to keep stopping to breathe and get my act together since I was still having contractions. When I got to the hospital I was already 4cm dilated and they let me contract on my own. They did give me pitocin to help regulate things but I wasn’t officially induced (I guess) because I was already in labor. I didn’t plan on turning this into a birth story, but here we are. I eventually got the epidural and got a little rest.
As time went on, I started getting a little nervous just thinking about all the what ifs with him and if I could be the best mom that I could be for him. I started to tear up and ended up breaking down to Eric and my sister (who were both there for his birth) and reassured me that he was going to be perfect. I knew deep down that he would be fine and that God was carrying us through this. Spirit Break Out by Kim Walker-Smith was playing on my Pandora in the background and in that moment, I knew all would be ok. Shortly after, my doctor came in the room at 3:20pm and said, ok we’re going to have a baby between 3:25pm and 3:27pm. We were all like, wait what? It’s go time??? I started pushing and sure enough he was born on 11/20 at 3:27pm. When they placed him in my arms the only thing I could do was smile at him with tear filled eyes and say, hello handsome.
And that he was. Just tiny and perfect in every way. My heart filled with so much love and every doubt or idea of what I though things would be like seemed to melt away. It almost seems silly now looking back that I even had so much worry. I guess that’s the fear of the unknown though. The doctors did take a quick look at him and let him stay with us for an hour or so before they needed to take him up to the NICU. That was hard for me, because here you just have a baby, but he can’t stay with you. The only reason he was there was so that he could learn to feed. Which he took to like a champ. I started pumping for him and was running milk (well I wasn’t, Eric was) back and forth to him. The next day I was up walking around and going up to visit and learn how to feed him. We had to scrub in every time and only the two of us were allowed in to see him. It was so eye opening seeing these teeny tiny babies in there fighting for their life. And let me tell you, almost every room and incubator was full. We felt incredibly blessed yet heartbroken at the same time for these other families going through so much.
We were so incredibly thankful that by the next night he was able to come down into our room with us, and that all of us could be discharged on Thanksgiving. We were so happy to be able to go home to introduce him to the boys and enjoy a turkey dinner.
The boys were so amazing with him from the start and could not wait to meet him. When they first saw him all they could say was, he’s so cute! A told us that he was a little nervous because he thought he was going to look scary, but what he told us was, he’s not scary at all, he’s the cutest thing he’s ever seen. They’ve had a special relationship from the start and he’s always asking to hold him, hug him, help and feed him. I truly could not be more proud of how both of them have been with him. They’ve also been very protective and will be sure to tell anyone not to cough near him or dare to come close to his soft spot.
Our days have been all over the place and before we know it we’re looking at the clock realizing we have to go pick up A and little nugget from school. I seriously don’t know where the time goes. You would think that being home you could do a lot more, but no way, not over here. I’m pumping every few hours, then feeding him a certain way with a special squeeze bottle, and if he want’s to snuggle, well everything else stops.
Our dinners lately have been eaten in the living room with baby gadgets all around us, and coaty has snuck one too many treats off of our plates. We’ve been back and forth to different doctors visits and meeting with his craniofacial team. This week he will have further hearing screenings and will be getting fitted for his NAM. This is all a learning process for Eric and I, but from what we understand, it’s a device that will help shape and prepare his nose area for surgery. On top of all of this, we have some exciting news to share soon, and let’s just say, it’s never a dull moment around here.
I can’t believe that he’s already going to be two weeks old. It’s been two weeks of so much love, snuggles, joy, and just being in awe of our little man. He’s such a little sweetheart and has captured all of our hearts in more ways than we ever imaged. We are so blessed and thankful to have him here.
