Happy Birthday Levi.

A year ago today I was at home passing the time, not feeling so good, but looking forward to the next day when my induction was scheduled since our baby was 8 days late. Shortly after 2:00pm I was putting something into the microwave when my water broke. Now no one had ever shared with me what that experience was like, I do remember possibly hearing about a slight trickle or something to that effect, but let me tell you this was not the case. Once I got over the initial shock that the our baby had it's own agenda as to when he was coming I started the frantic phone calls, to Roy of course, who was thankfully on his lunch break or I would have never reached him, to the hospital to warn them of our impending arrival, and to my dear sister-in-law Erin who was on reserve to watch our dogs, she says it was a hilarious message, because she could obviously hear my frantic excitement about going into labor, but I was clearly taking care of business by reminding her to leave the porch light on, etc... We did have some comic moments as we readied for Levi's arrival, me waddling all through the house trying to bring our bags to the driveway while I was soaking wet and Roy driving like a CRAZY man all the way to the hospital, riding cars, honking his horn & flashing his lights eager for them to move over and not so worried about the fact that if he caused an accident or got pulled over we would be late to the hospital anyways.

Shortly after getting settled into our labor room at St.Joes the contractions were increasing in strength and frequency, but I was still only at 3cm. Then at once the fetal heart monitor made a strange alarm noise and we heard three pairs of nurses shoes walking very quickly back into our room as one of them was reading the print out another was yelling(from my sensitive, contractual state mind you) at me to get on all fours and take the oxygen mask she was thrusting into my face and the third was calling across the street to get an OB from the practice I belonged to to come over. I instantly began sobbing and saying who knows what, Roy was praying, rubbing my back and making sure I was okay in the midst of his own fears(my rock:), and someone was talking to me about needing to get the baby out. I was scared to death, I didn't' want a c-section, I was so terrified of them, and thought for sure there must be some other way...keep in mind while this excitement is going on I am still IN LABOR and the contractions still were quite painful. Finally the doctor arrives, checks me out and says that due to only being dilated to 3cm it was most likely that our baby would not survive the amount of time nor stress on him that it would take to have a natural labor, hearing this we both agreed instantly and gave the whole situation to God( whom had already been overseeing Levi from day one since we weren't even supposed to be able to have children w/out the aid of fertility drugs, but that is a whole different post).

With in minutes we were on our way to the emergency room, people soothing me, getting Roy dressed in scrubs, explaining the procedure and possible risks(I didn't' hear one word they said) and Finally getting some pain medication so the contractions and everything else from my waist to my toes would no longer be painful. What happened next can only be described as surreal, I could hear the doctors behind the huge green tent talking about Mexico and other beach side vacations they have enjoyed, Roy is holding one had and a nurse had the other and was very nicely explaining everything that was happening on the other side of the curtain. Roy was poised to take photos, but had a quick glimpse beyond the green barrier and quickly decided to wait until Levi made his appearance since the sight of all the blood made him a little queasy:)

Once they got Levi out the room turned still, he wasn't breathing, the vacation chatter had stopped, I was sobbing again,Roy was still praying and we were all waiting....It seemed like Forever (they suctioned him out, put him on oxygen) before we finally heard it-his first cry-the most beautiful sound I have ever heard. I got just a quick peek at him, the nurse laid him on my chest for a quick kiss and photo before he was taken to the NICU. The next time I was able to see him was 8 hours later...and he was so gorgeous. Levi ended up contracting a virus that required him to stay in the special care nursery for four days..Roy and I saw him every three hours for about an hour, he was hooked to wires, leads, and couldn't be out of his isolette for too long due to his temps being so irregular. Those days passed in a blur, then we were all moved upstairs to pediatrics for seven days while he finished his meds & they ruled out anything more serious. Those days were so precious, besides the fact that someone brought me all my meals and I had a bed that moved up & down it was great to be able to hold him for as long as we wanted, to see him in the daylight(the nursery was dark at all times), to introduce him to family & friends, and to take some time out getting to know our son.

I am so thankful to be Levi's momma, and so grateful that I am able to stay home and spend my days with him just enjoying him and his easy and constant smile, his contagious laugh, his amazing appetite(takes after me:), his love for any & all music to rock to, his curiosity, his little voice he is finding, his will and determination(check back w/me in a few years to see if we are still enjoying that), his love of people, and how he will sometimes crawl over to us and lay his head down in our lap for a quick second before he is off again. Momma loves you Levi~Happy Birthday!!!