Welcome Benjamin

March 14, 2009

It is my pleasure to introduce my son, Benjamin Thomas who arrived Friday, March 13 at 1:17am. Did you think we were due in late June? So did we! Benjamin is 15 weeks early, 1 lb 9.6 oz, and 12 3/8" long and very attached to our hearts already.

On Thursday just before 5:00pm I started feeling mild cramping, which later became stronger and by 7:00 was a little stronger cramping and starting to become regularly timed. Being that I started the pregnancy with concerns and seemed to call my doctor often, I dismissed this and just decided I should get home and get my feet up. By 10:00 things were starting to get pretty uncomfortable and by 11:00 I told Brian that we needed to get to the ER right away. Just over two hours later, I delivered my sweet baby boy, whom was whisked away to a special room where a team of wonderful, highly trained doctors and specialists worked to stabilize him before transferring to a larger hospital. I praise God for the amazing group of doctors and nurses that surrounded both us and Benjamin that showed so much love and compassion for us.

25weeks along is not very far for a baby. Their lungs are underdeveloped, they have very little fat, their skin is thin, and there is much that can go wrong. After spending some time talking to a doctor from Emmanuel, I learned that the difference between 24 and 25 weeks along is often a difference between survival and not. I was encouraged to hear that 70% of baby's born at 25 weeks survive and my little boy was looking good so far! Of course he needs help breathing and getting nutrients and hydration and will for a while, but he is ALIVE and appears to be a fighter!

I was discharged around 1:30 or 2:00pm later that day (it would have been about 5:30am if it were up to me!) I feel amazing and physically am doing fantastic. We quickly ran home to clean up, change cloths, grab a camera, and headed off to see Benjamin. Though we briefly were able to see him right before he was transported, I melted when I saw him for the first time in th NICU. He was so very tiny and had cords & wires all over, with some very fashionable sunglasses to protect his eyes from the light used to help out with some jaundice. But he was our sweet little boy. I got to touch his tiny little hands and feet and stocking covered head. He is too little to hold, but just getting to see and touch him is enough for now. He even has the most precious tiny cry that I have ever heard (he does not like diaper changes or to have his tubes & wires messed with). We were pleased to also find that he was upgraded from a ventilator tubing down into his lungs to the next step, which is tubes that go into his nose and ensure that his lungs always have some air in them. Though this helps to keep his lungs open, he is actually breathing on his own! Praise God!!!

We are asking that you join us in praying for our little Benjamin. Please pray that he continue to stay strong and have a little warrior-like spirit, that he will gain weight and develop at a supernatural pace, that he is comforted and feels the love of his parents and all those surrounding him, that he is free from pain, that all those who provide care to him will be alert and have wisdom to see into any potential problem and will be blessed for their service and love to tiny babies like Benjamin, that his mama and daddy will be at peace when they cannot be by his side and for wisdom on what to do now.

I have attached 4 pictures (thanks for taking them Steph!) that were taken last night.

The first is the most full view we have seen of him, but he is not happy since he is getting cleaned up and having some of his tubes reset. The second is closer to a typical view without his sunglasses, the third is taking in some rays and holding on to mama's thumb, and the fourth of course is his proud parents looking on.