Happy First Birthday Daniel

I can't believe you are one today....
It sometimes feels as though it were just yesterday that I was holding you for the first time; At other times it seems like a eternity.
The day you were born, we had everyone praying for your safe arrival into this world. We had learned just days before that your lungs were not ready but we were going to have you make your entrance whether you were ready or not. We had gone 5 days past your due-date and the doctors said they didn't want to risk both of us.
As a measure of faith we got special steroid shots to help mature the lungs but they didn't have any proof to say it would work. I said do it anyway!
We were very scared to think about the difficult road we were possible going to face in the NICU. We made the hard decision that if you spent any time in the NICU that we would not breast feed. It would've been just as difficult as when Jonathan was in the NICU and we didn't want to have that kind of battle.
We had a wonderful support person by the name of Julie Morris. She is a DOULA. We decided it was worth it even if we delivered by c-section. and she totally was worth it because of the value of emotional support (especially at the end).
She even reminded us that God was there with us if we were going to go through the NICU and told us how to prepare ourselves emotionally and even found us a lady who would donate breast milk if that's what we chose.
I woke up at about 4 am that morning and all I could do was pray. My prayers we simple. Please Lord, help Daniel come out and be okay in his lungs. Please Lord make him scream good when he comes out.
As soon as Andrew and Jonathan got up and my mother-in law showed up (late as usual)
Andrew put everything in the car and we headed to the hospital with books we had borrowed from the Doula. Of course Andrew was hungry and I couldn't eat due to the fact I was going to have surgery. he stopped and got himself a biscuit. (which was ok as long as he wasn't eating beef jerky behind my back.
I was not feeling well and later found out I was having low blood pressure.
Julie me us at the hospital as we were supposed to get there early to speak with a member of the neonatology team as to what they were planning.
We talked a lot about our fears and even managed to get unhooked from the stupid monitors(that btw weren't picking him up really great)



We talked to a nurse about our last experience and she made sure Andrew got scrubs instead of the plastic yellow gown we had worn in the nicu with Jonathan. That was not too hard because they wanted great memories of this one.
When I got to the OR I was scared so bad I was freaking out. I needed to know that I was completely numb before they cut me... I HATE surgery on me.
This made everything go slower. That and they had to do a couple of extra things so they could easily get to Daniel.
We also had to wait on the neonatology team.
When everything was ready They got Andrew and brought him in and sat him down at my head. he just looked in my eyes and said "I love you". all I could think was Praise God, after this I won't hurt as bad... Please Lord make him scream.
Daniel had been completely breech since 34 weeks...We would find out shortly why. He was feet first and his head was in my ribs.
Pretty soon they said pressure and out he came... Soon I heard something I had been praying for for like forever. He had come out screaming and even bofore they had a chance to suction him :). His cord was super LONG and wrapped around his neck 3 times which explained why he was breech.
I began crying such happy tears and I thanked God out loud and went back to crying.
Everyone became concerned that I was in pain so they stopped and asked me... I said no I was crying because I am happy although in a slight amount of pain. They said ok and continued.
He continued screaming... I was so happy this is still one of the most awesome moments in my life... I am crying as I write this just remembering. I love you God for that.


Daniel Screaming at birth

Andrew went over and took some pics and spoke his name into his ears and welcomed him into our family. It was his job and he would later tell me something in recovery. He cut the cord... we were totally in shoch as he doesn't do blood, but lets just say we were beyond proud of him.
He came out screaming which was a total miracle and he was breathing fast. The NICU team was there and they were able to bring him over to me so I could touch him and tell him I loved him. They said they were taking him as a precaution and to watch him and I was like ok because I knew the same folks would be taking care of him as they did Jonathan.

Andrew was able to take pics of them putting him in the nicu transport while they finished me up and transferred me to a bed and took me to recovery...
Here were your Stats:
You were Born at 1:07 pm on July 25th
You were 10 pounds 7 oz. 20 1/2 inches long...


All to Say:


You have continued to make us proud every day, and you are such a sweet and fun BOY!
Happy Birthday sweetie!

Love Mommy- and Daddy