After spending Saturday and Sunday nights in the hospital, I woke up Monday morning, showered and packed our bags ready to go home. That's when the bomb dropped. Isaac demonstrated very low oxygen levels in the night so the doctor ordered blood work and chest x-rays. The results indicated that Isaac had an infection, and more tests would be run to determine exactly what it was. He was to be started on intravenous antibiotics immediately and was to wear a pulse
oxymeter to measure oxygen saturation levels in his blood. When the doctor left the room I broke down completely. I held my baby as close as I could. Jeff's brother left work immediately to come help Jeff give Isaac a blessing. Then they started his IV.
For the next seven days I didn't stop praying. My life was confined to the walls of the hospital room, where I stayed with Isaac so I could hold him and nurse him. My world, however, was divided between my precious newborn and my family at home. Jeff was being the dad and the mom and trying to take care of Isaac and I too. We would have never made it had it not been for the prayers, love, help, and support of friends and family members. The nursing staff at the hospital was incredibly attentive and personal.
Being postpartum, I was already an emotional wreck. When I found out we would be spending the week in the hospital I came undone. I was a complete mess and spent my days crying and praying.
When Isaac was nine days old I was finally able to dress him in real baby clothes and he was released from the hospital. Now that we are home I am still trying to deal with the transition, and I still cry a lot and pray a lot, but it feels so good to have my whole family all together and to finally have Isaac home.
The longest week of my life was full of a million tiny miracles. I stood by as a witness time and time again as my prayers were miraculously answered. I could literally feel myself being buoyed up by the faith and prayers of those who love us. Now that we are home I find myself a little more thankful for the little things, and a little more humble as I recognize that I am completely and entirely dependent upon the tender mercies of the Lord in my life.
I'm not exactly sure what 'normal' is supposed to feel like anymore, but I think I would be safe to say that life around here is starting to resemble it. Today we had a picnic with our friends, the Bosh's. We had done the same thing just two days before Isaac was born, so doing it again today made it feel like I was getting back into the swing of things. It felt so good to be out in the sunshine and the kids had a blast just being kids barefoot in the grass.
Isaac is growing and changing already. He lost his umbilical stump today, which means he is not brand new anymore. At his two week check he had gained over a pound (woah!) and was perfectly healthy. He is such a good baby and we are all so glad to have him around.
Daisy and Levi both went with their dad on the first mountain ride of the season this weekend. Daisy came away with a few scratches from some ferocious trees they went through, but they both did very well and had a great time. I was a little sad to be left behind with Isaac, but soon enough we will all saddle up for a ride.
It was Daisy's year-end dance review last week. She was so excited to wear make-up and put her costume on. She had a big fan club there to cheer her on. All of our family was there and my mom and sister drove over two hours to watch her, then turned around and drove home that same night. She is by far the tallest one in her dance class and, I would say, the cutest too.
At 5:53, after just two hours at the hospital, our baby boy was born. It was a perfect delivery. I deliver my babies naturally and things couldn't have gone better. The staff left us alone and Jeff and I just worked through labor together. Words are insufficient to convey the emotions that accompany participating in such a miracle. I consider the ability to bear children one of the greatest blessings in my life.
