'Tis the season for miracles.....

December is the month we celebrate miracles. Especially the miracle of birth. A week ago today we celebrated the birth of our new son. And there are too many miracles to count as we rejoice in his birth.

We were supposed to be at the hospital by 10am. We got there just in time. Everything was going smoothly and I wasn't even nervous as noon rolled around. That was the time I was supposed to walk into the operating room and be prepped for my 10th c-section. As noon approached, the nurse came in and said that Dr. Chambers was held up in another surgery, in another hospital. But plan on 1pm. 1pm became 2pm. The nurse joked that it was all hurry up and wait and watch... as my doctor gets there, something will come up and I will be waiting for anesthesia. Funny how her prediction came true. By 3pm I was nervous and not very eager to go face the knife (so to speak) and had completely scared myself silly. But it was time to go face the music. Thayne and I were taken to the operating room where I climbed on the table and waited to become numb. It didn't take long and everything seemed to be going smoothly, except I was scared to death. I was shaking. And so, I started doing what I always seem to do when I get scared. I pray! And I pray, and I pray. And soon this wonderful calm came over me and I knew it would be okay. Though Thayne did say what he always says before my c-section begins. He said, "You cannot do this to me again!"

My doctor had expected the surgery to take a while. I have never actually watched a c-section but I could see everything reflected in the light above me. So I watched. I was very removed from the whole thing since I knew in my mind they were cutting on me, but since I couldn't feel anything it was easy to convince myself that it was some gross episode of a Baby Story or somehting. I just couldn't help myself. Dr. Chambers kept commenting that there wasn't as much scar tissue as there was last time (yes, because SHE did the last c-section and actually takes pride in her work and didn't leave me a mess!!!) and how easy this was. She said the incision on my uterus was thin, she could see baby through it, but it was holding tight and she commented more than once how she couldn't believe how well I hold up. :) I didn't tell her that this was just one of the many miracles that we have seen in our lives having children.

Nathaniel was sideways (though he had moved several times that I was being prepped.... we saw that thanks to 2 ultrasounds) and his back was up, in a position they say is most difficult to deliver by c-section (I would imagine it would be completely impossible to deliver naturally.... but that's another story!). I could feel a lot of pressure. It felt like somebody was jumping on my belly. It felt like the most wild roller coaster ride ever. Again, Dr Chambers continued to comment on how well it was going. I watched as they were able to get his head out. He had a head full of dark hair and the most adorable little face. I told her to make sure she really cleaned out his lungs. I have had amnios with kids at 38 weeks that showed the lungs weren't mature and honestly, that was my biggest fear knowing I would have to deliver before 37 weeks. At 3:32pm our amazing Nathaniel Adam was born weighing 7lbs 5oz and 19 1/2 inches long. The cord was wrapped all around him, his arms, shoulders, stomach... he moved around way too much before he was born. I heard him cry, and they were cleaning out his lungs good, but I still heard him suck fluid back in. Thayne went over to take pictures of him because our kids were making us crazy waiting for us to send them pictures. What a world we live in today. We can be 3 hours away from our kids, but because of a little thing called a cell phone we are able to take pictures of their brother only seconds after birth and they can receive them. They were jumping for joy. He has the most beautiful features... in a wonderful, handsome sort of way! But he was having problems breathing and they wanted to get him immediately to NICU. I was heartbroken.... but knew he had to get help. I told Thayne to go with him, I would be fine. And I started praying again. We had prayed for weeks that his lungs would be mature and that he could come home with me. I had prayed that after having him on Monday, we would be able to come home on Thursday and all would be well. Yes.... we got that miracle also. When I finally heard anything from the NICU they said that he had been on 58% oxygen, but had weaned down to 21%. But they were talking about him being in the hospital through Christmas. So I prayed harder. Thayne stayed in the room with me (if you knew how bad Thayne hates hospitals, you might even consider that a miracle!). He got up the next morning to go check on Nate while I showered. I was going to see my baby and nobody was going to stop me! They wouldn't let me go the night before. Thayne called me and said that they told him I should get right down there so I could try to nurse him for the 8:30am feeding. Wild horses couldn't have kept me away! I fell in love all over again looking at his sweet face. He is amazing. I am always amazed when people tell me I can't possibly love so many children the same. I think they are silly. I don't love them the same. I grow a new heart everytime I have a new child. He doesn't share my heart with any of the other kids.... he has one of his very own. I sometimes feel overwhelmed, humbled and in awe that I have 15 hearts walking around on the outside of my body. Oh, and by then, he was completely OFF of the oxygen and they were going to watch his blood sugar, wanting me to come every 3 hours to nurse and if we could keep that stable he would be coming to my room that night. They finally brought him to me at 9:30pm Tuesday night. By Wednesday morning his doctor said he looked fantastic and didn't think it would be a problem for him to go home Thursday morning! Still another miracle.

The nurses couldn't believe when I told them I wanted to get up and moving. They said they liked to wait 12 hours. I finally told them I would get up with or without them, but I was washing my face and brushing my teeth. And I wanted to eat. They were worried that I would be sick. I wasn't and ate like I hadn't in days! The kept telling me that people did not recover from a c-section the way I recovered. They couldn't believe how I was up and going. I told them I always did that. That is another miracle. Everything about this pregnancy and birth are miracles. I know it! We have been so blessed. This wonderful little man is so loved. His brothers and sisters fight over him, beg to hold him... I have to get up before the birds if I want to bath him, otherwise his sisters think he is their personal doll and they fight over what outfit he is going to wear and who gets to bath him today. The most beautiful sight happened the other night when Tanner (17) came in at about 10:30pm. Everyone was in bed except Nathaniel and me. Tanner asked if he could hold him while I got myself ready for bed. The lights were all out except the lights from the Christmas tree. I came out of my room and there sat Tanner... holding his little brother, looking at his face, stroking his ear (Nate has Tanner's ears... there is a little bend at the top of their ears and Tanner thought it was awesome that his brother has the same thing!) and talking so sweetly to him. A newborn baby brings a touch of heaven to our home everytime!

So tonight, the night before Christmas, the night we celebrate the birth of our Savior, I am celebrating the birth of my own newborn son, and I am so grateful for the miracles I have seen this month. The house is quiet. Everyone is asleep, or pretending to be asleep waiting on Santa's visit. But my heart is full as I think of all the gifts I have been given. And no amount of money could have ever bought these gifts. Tonight my parents are asleep downstairs and will be here to witness the joy of Christmas morning with my family. My children are safely tucked in bed (except Garrett, but I look forward to his call tomorrow afternoon) and I am married to the most amazing man I know. And by faith miracles happen.... and I knew that it could be this way!