Our little boy

Our little boy
Our Little Miracle

Saturday, January 15, 2011

What a long strange trip its been.............

"Sometimes the light is shining on me..........other times I can barely see"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pafY6sZt0FE

I was just sitting here thinking that......well the title says it all!

So I thought I would take a little trip down memory lane, join me if you wish. Tears may be shed, smiles will be mandatory, and even a laugh or two. It just hit me as I was looking at him that it was time for this kind of journey.

Away we go!!!!!!!!!!

Remember this?
That was the miracle night. The night that God held Julie and Mason in his loving hands and delivered them safely through the times that "I could barely see."


First day was a tough one. Lack of sleep and uncomparable stress (at least to me) led to our first meeting. There were 4 of us that first day and Julie was still layed up in the hospital. Lorna told me I could put my hands in the incubator and touch him and I remember breaking down and having to be coaxed by my Mother to actually do it. I later learned that the rubbing I was doing was not something I should have been doing due to his skin being so thin. We learned that about 2 weeks later and ceased all rubbing at that point. No damage done from this, so were okay!

Julie got to meet him about 48 hours after his birth. She was not allowed to check out of the hospital due to the operation to extricate him from her womb, so she got photos and videos to familiarize herself with what was going on with Mason. She was amazing through this all. Those that don't know Julie are really missing out. She is a strong, beautiful, loving person. She is the best thing that ever happened to me and she continues to blow me away every day. This first meeting also produced the photo below, shot only for perspective.

That ring fit all the way up to his shoulder. What a long strange trip its been, indeed!


Seeing him under the blue lights was so "sci-fi" it is hard to convey in photos. He tanned under those for a while and the day he didn't need those lights again was one of the first visible successes along the path home. Thank you Lord for those stories!

The first time he was out of the incubator was an amazing moment. Julie just glows in this video. It was one of the more important moments of my life. Julie really loved her time holding him and it really created the bond and promoted breast milk production, just like it was designed to do!

Remember the C-Pap fiasco? Little man just needed some time to get used to breathing on his own. He eventually got used to it and didn't require that help any more. I see the feeding tube in on this photo too..........what a long strange trip its been!


This was a very important video. I was not there for this one live, but seeing it brought a smile to my face and joy to my heart. Latching and sucking was vital to his development since it was critial to his feeding properly.

Watching his growth was incredible. I remember thinking that he had no chance of surviving that first day and that his size was just never going to change. Then he started growing and has not looked back yet.



Little man's first bath. Another landmark day for Mom and Dad. It was kind of a step by step deal for me, the reality of it all, but the bath was one of those days that just said "he's going to be a regular kid, no worries" to me. Julie did great and I think that she liked giving him his bath as much as he liked getting it.



My first feeding. I love to feed him. The sounds he produces when he is feeding are some of my favorite sounds ever.


He was getting so big.........he really started to look like a different baby all the way around.

Our last day in the NICU was Dec 17th. 3 months TO THE DAY from his birth. It was a very special day!
Since he has been home, he has been developing well. He has slept well, ate well, and is even learning to swing!

He is also starting to "track" well with his eyes. He locks onto objects and can follow them as they move.

So we put a mirror in his sleeping space and he "discovered" that he is not alone. It was so darn cute watching his brain process a new friend that wasn't there just a few moments before.


Wow.................what a long journey this has been. Reflecting back has been a blast. He has really come a long way and, Lord willing, he will keep progressing and grow up to be a big man!

Thanks for taking this trip down memory lane with me. It is just amazing the power of prayer!

3 comments:

  1. what a Miracle. He's so cute. To me he looks like a Foley.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Gah! I just love that little face!! I want to pick him up and smother him in kisses. Please tell him everyday that his Aunty and Uncle and cousins love him so so much and can't wait to see him again!!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Aunt Mary,

    Does he really? I want photos!!!!!!!

    Hey Tucus..........he told me that he loved talking to you guys yesterday. He was worn out today and needed some sleep to catch up from all the fun ha ha

    ReplyDelete