This verse applies to so many parents that we know. And for any parent whose prayer has been answered it is truely a joy to your heart. This is Li's story, it still brings tears to my eyes but they are tears of joy because the lord has given me 4 wonderful years with this little guy and for that we are so greatful.
Li's pregnancy was fairly uneventful until the last 2 months anyway! I began to develop preeclampsia and was put on bed rest the week before he was born. At the beginning of a pregnancy bed rest appears to be a blessing but at the end all I wanted to do was clean! That's where Nanna came in-she nested for me, all the way down to pulling the fridge out and cleaning behind it! I was able to use the toothbrush on the windows myself ;) That week was fairly eventful, I had been in the hospital twice for observation but since he was early they wanted to wait. Well on March 15 I arise and try to begin my non productive day with a sick stomach! Let me just say 8 months is not the time to vomit, extremely uncomfortable! My mom was cleaning the bathroom-told you she was the best-and Mr. Li had not moved this morning so off to the ob's we go. Well after some checking he decides I need to be observed at the hospital again because my blood pressure was up. I of course call Chris but tell him it's no big deal we'll be home later just go on home when you get off work. My blood pressure really must have been crazy because the next few days are fairly sporadic at best. Ultrasound lady comes in and says he's breech. Still nothing registering in my head. Nurse comes in snatches my water and tells me c-section at 5 simultaneously as husband walks through the door. All he could say was you told me to go home-at which point he gets details and goes home-he told me he was to dirty to be holding a new baby! I remember thinking that I hope Chris calls people because I sure haven't. Around 4:30 they take me back to recovery and all I could think was oh no he's not going to make it back. Chris makes it and without getting a speeding ticket thank goodness and at 5:19 p.m. on Wednesday, March 15, 2006 Li arrives. After my two minute introduction they wisk him and Chris away to the nursery. He began developing some breathing issues so they took Li to the NICU and I had to be put on medication for my blood pressure and was not supposed to be moved. So I did not get to see him until about 1:30 a.m. and that required major begging on Chris' part and major crying on my part. You see in the delivery room Chris forgot to put my glasses on me so I really could not see Li. I initially thought he was a good size baby because my ob held him up to show me after delivery, well Li was spread eagle and Dr. M really isn't that big so in that position he looked at least 6 pounds! Once Chris arrived by my side with him I could tell he was really small only 4 lb 15 oz, 19 inches long. Looking at him today you really would have thought he would have been bigger! So I finally saw him at about 1:30 and then at 3:30 a.m. the neonatologist comes in to tell us that they had to ventilate because he was getting to tired. Not very much memory for the next two days, I was fairly sick and nauseas and obviously distraught.
Finally getting to hold him at 4 days old.
Like I said bits and pieces. I can remember a member of our family getting very upset with me because we would not let her see him. Our first tough decision as a parent. On Friday they told us that he was doing better and they would attempt to take the ventilator out but they had to decrease his ativan-which suppresses their breathing before they can place him back on cpap. So no one saw him on Friday not even I, Chris would go to the door and look at him but would not get close. And then blood pressure back up for mom-I remember getting in trouble by the nurse at this point-all I could say was it wasn't my fault! Li only had to stay about 1 1/2 weeks in the NICU and then we got to bring him home. He weighed a whopping 4 lb 12.8 oz that morning! Needless to say he did not look very secure in the carseat. Leaving the hospital the Sunday after he was born was one of the most heart renching things I've ever done.
One of our friends has told me that the one thing they remember about Liey is that he had to much skin for his body. He had hardly any fat. The pediatrician told us that it would take about 8-12 months for him to catch up with his peers. Nope not our Liey by 4 months old he had reached average weight and height and now at 4 years old we are way past average!
6 weeks
This is my heart and soul. It's amazing how much a mom's heart can expand and fill with joy with each child she bares. You are our miracle Liey and we love you more than words can say.
This is such a sweet post Crystal! Thanks for sharing it with the rest of us. :-)
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