7.8.11

The eve of our son's first birthday...

 

Wow...has it really been a year?!?!

I remember this day one year ago like it was yesterday...

Eight days before my due date and one of the hottest and driest summers on record.

I had worked two 12 hour shifts in a row and was home resting to get ready for my last 12 hour work day of the week.  I had been having horrible headaches for 3 days and my hands and feet were soooo swollen (Josh said I had the biggest cankles he'd ever seen -- thanks honey!!)

I was trying to motivate and prepare myself for what was going to be the busiest work day of the month (clinic day!) --but I wasn't doing a very good job of it...

The doctors said our baby boy could come at any time so I went to bed early that night praying you would soon make your appearance (and I prayed very specifically -- I wanted to hold you in my arms ASAP!)

When I woke up the next morning my head was still pounding and I felt awful...Josh told me to call the doctor and since I really didn't want to go to work, I gave in and made the call (hoping maybe I could just get a sick day out of it!)
Little did I know my blood pressure was through the roof and I had developed preeclampsia.  You'd think since I work in ultrasound I would've recognized the symptoms -- but I sure didn't.  I was trying to tough it out and didn't want to be a complainer...looking back I should've complained.

Anyway...I talked to Dr. Wright on the phone and he told me to come straight to his office.  He took one look at me and sent me straight to the hospital - I was being induced immediately and our baby was coming soon!!

I called Josh, who was in a meeting at work, and told him to come to the hospital!  On his way, he got lost (no big surprise since he has absolutely NO sense of direction, I mean NONE at all!!) and I had to tell him how to get there :)

The doctors started me on pitocin to induce my labor and then we waited!  The nurse gave me a pill to help me get some sleep and it made me have the craziest dreams of my life!  Josh said I was talking about being attacked by werewolves and I was saying something about a bologna sandwich!  He got a few good laughs at my expense -- I'm glad at least one of us was smiling, while the other one of us was in pain!!

In the early morning hours, I was having pretty bad contractions and the epidural I was given was causing me to shake uncontrollably.  I had also developed an infection and had a 104* fever.  The doctors were getting worried so they said it was time for a C-Section...

Around 11:30 on a Friday morning,
Mason Brooks arrived
weighing in at 6 lbs 13 oz and 20 inches long.
You had a head full of beautiful dark brown hair and a complexion I would love to have (due in part to being jaundice.)
You immediately cried when you were born and when your Dad went over to see you and talk to you -- you looked up at him and stopped crying instantly! 
You recognized his voice :)
Your Dad's heart melted right then and there and he was the first to get to hold you!!
I asked him what you looked like and he said:
"you were the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen!"
We were so in love with you...and still are!

But we weren't out of the woods yet...you were rushed straight to the Critical Care Nursery (I didn't even get to see you) where you were given IV antibiotics and fluids.  You also had a fever and couldn't keep your blood sugar up or maintain your body temperature.  I didn't get to see you for several hours and was so worried.  Your Dad stayed right by your side in the nursery until you could come stay in our room!
After a few days of medicine, the doctors said you were doing much better and we were ready to take you home!


One year later...it's hard to remember what our life was like without you.  Now, we sit and talk on our porch and wonder what you will one day become. 
We wonder if you'll be a doctor or a lawyer or an NBA player (your Dad is really hoping for this one) or something else altogether.
We talk about who you look like and who's personality you have -- will you be quiet like Mommy or will you be more like your Dad and have the gift of gab??
We talk about what you will be like on your first day of school...which will be here way too soon.
We look forward to watching you grow up (I'm sure more at certain times than others) and we are so blessed to have you as our son.