There’s very little I personally remember about Maxwell’s birth. Sometimes it makes me sad to not have those memories, but I know they live forever embedded in Zack’s heart, and that is good enough for me. After a very long labor I was wheeled away for a c-section, and shortly after that I remember the doctor saying, “he is a BIG boy.” He must have said it a few times because we kept asking, “just how big???” Zack cut the cord, brought our son over to me so I could give him mommy kisses, and then he went to the NICU where he spent five nights with a dream team of nurses. After I rested a bit I was able to hold Max for the very first time. He was swaddled up tightly in a hospital blanket, truly sleeping like a baby. But, I never had the experience of waking up to see my son in our hospital room. To see him we had to walk those long, glossy hospital halls. Multiple times a day, Zack, my mom, and I rotated visiting Maxwell in pairs. Now, four months later, when I wake up in the morning I see that same sweet boy, in the same sweet hospital blanket, but in our room. And as of lately he’s been greeting us with a gummy smile.
Maxwell is the sunshine to our day, really and truly. We are so grateful for his healthy 9 lbs. 7 oz birth weight, for the patience to wait for his [normal] test results to return, and for the gift of becoming a family of three on March 12, 2013.
Sending you love… NICU life is hard. My daughter was in for 2 weeks and my son for one month (twins). It was 11 days before I could even hold my sweet Benjamin. I still feel robbed, brought to tears even, 2 years later. Then my dynamic duo snap me back to reality with their antics!
The rearview mirror is so small compared to the giant windshield, right? It’s just hard not to keep looking back sometimes. xoxo
@Amanda, It IS hard to not look back. I try to remind myself that Maxwell being in the NICU for a few days is what kept him healthy so he could come home and be his best self. And the same is true for you. Sending an extra hug for you… :)
Your little boy is precious! Enjoy your sunshine.
My oldest son was born 6 weeks early and was in the NICU for 3 weeks. The hardest thing I have ever had to do was leave the hospital without him that first day. But it was all worth it to go home with a healthy baby. Time goes by so quickly! So enjoy those morning smiles and that quiet cuddle time, those are great moments to remember!
@Julie, They really are great moments. The best alarm clock to wake up to is his little self cooing and chatting…
Isn’t motherhood the best? :)
He is truly a gorgeous child!
I know the feeling of not being able to hold Kristy after having a C-section. She was 9 lbs 6 oz. and my mother in law kept asking the nurses to “re-weigh” her! They couldn’t believe how much she weighed. I was sad for a while, drugged up and feeling like I lost something special. Over the years of watching her grow and mature, God replaced those lost memories of childbirth with the joy of new memories. Thank goodness Max is a healthy, beautiful little boy and you’re an awesome family. Blessings…Diana
I had life threatening complications at 37 weeks, and underwent general anesthesia for my emergency c-section. When I awoke, I was so heavily drugged that I barely remember the first 36 hours of my daughter’s life. So I know how you feel. I just constantly remind myself that she’s here and she’s beautiful, just like little Maxwell! And he’s quite the cutie in the morning! :D
@Jessie Hanks, YES! Answered prayers for a beautiful, healthy daughter :)
Your story sounds similar to mine. I had a c-section and my baby girl was in the NICU for three days for low blood sugar from my gestational diabetes. I know what it was like going back and forth to the ward to hold my baby and try to breast feed her. I remember wanting her in the room with us so badly.
Despite the discomfort of recovering from surgery (and general anesthetic) I would relive that experience over and over again.
@Jessica, Isn’t it crazy how we would do that? Such tiny babies but oh, what great love we have for them already :)
What a cutie pie. My kids range from 13-26 now, and though you remember the experience, you truly forget the pain. I remember every single one of my kids arrivals into this world. Savor EVERY single moment, try to write down as much as you can, (one of my regrets). I re-read your posts of his arrival, you looked so happy and beautiful then, and even in your words today you can hear that same happiness. TY for sharing the photos today. :D
HUGS,
Kim H
@Kim Hogan, My midwife told me there’s a natural hormone released when we give birth that makes us forget the pain, and I totally believe it. I remember that the pain was intense and unique, unlike anything I’d ever felt before, but the uncomfortableness of it left me quickly.
Thank you for your sweet words, Kim :)
He is SO cute!!! I know everyone thinks their baby is cute, but you know they are REALLY cute when internet strangers affirm it.. :) Enjoy your sweet boy. Your love will just grow more and more each day and one day you won’t even believe he was once this small.
March 12 is my husband and I’s wedding anniversary. :)
Also, thanks for sharing. Both of my boys’ births weren’t the “norm”. With my second son I ended up in the ICU for several days and so longed to see my boy that a nurse snuck me out to see him!
You have the sweetest little family ever! I love reading your posts (and have been for a long time now!) It is really encouraging to hear your journey of longing to be a mother and God fulfilling your heart and making you one. :) Thank you for being such an encouragement.
@Jess, Thank you Jess :)
I have to giggle a bit. I had a similar experience with a “big” baby. I had an awful time with the spinal for my section (she was breech) and when they pulled her out they kept saying, “Have you ever seen such a big baby?” And I’m laying there, sick from the spinal, thinking, “Oh no, just how big is big???” I kept trying to get my husband to find out because I was starting to panic that none of the clothes we had with us would fit her. Thankfully she was only 8lbs 12oz, but gosh, they sure did scare me!
I’m glad your peanut is well! He’s so sweet. Congrats on becoming a mom. :)
@Erin, Ha, ha — I know exactly what you mean :) Maxwell hardly fit into his newborn outfit my parents got him. Let’s say it is a great keepsake rather than an outfit he was able to wear ;D
He was the same birth weight as I was. My mother was 5’3″ and 115 pre pregnancy pounds. YEESH! Super good that he’s healthy and by the looks of the last picture, happy too.
Gosh he is too precious.
Maggie, I had my two kids via c-section. They were both almost 11 pounds! Sometimes I feel sad about not having the natural childbirth that I wanted, but I’m SO thankful that we live in a time where medical help is available and our story had a happy ending. Maxwell is such a cutie pie! My two are 7 and 13, so I’m enjoying all the sweet baby photos. :-)
YES NICU life is SO hard.. I am currently living it. My little Bean was born at 27 wks 6 days 2 wks ago and also had an emergency C-Section as well my little girl was in a rush to come into the world and as “literally” kicking to get out (she was breech). So now my daily life has included pumping, taking care of our other 3 while trying to recover (which I thank our Lord has been good) & seeing our little Bean when Hubby gets home and even though it is hard I am so thankful for our Lord because the care she is getting is amazing and I already love the nurses/doctors who watch over here. I had a journal I wrote to her and have started to write her story so she could read it when she gets older. I also take a picture a day when I go visit her and do a little journal w/it. I know I’ll forget all the little details so I want to make sure I have them for her. Your sweet Boy is so handsome and makes me smile w/each picture you share!
@Ellie A., This is making me choke up. It’s only been four months but already Max has changed so much. I suspect the same is true for your little one. I love that you’re journaling to her… that has got to be the sweetest gift!
It’s truly God’s grace that allows our memory to skip over childbirth. :) It’s got to be the reason many have more than one baby!
Thank you for sharing. He is so cute! I had a similar experience with the birth of my daughter (5 years ago) but she wasn’t in the NICU. I was in labor for 3 days then ended up with an emergency C-section because I had a fever of 104 and was in danger. My daughter weighed 9 lbs 4 oz! I was totally upset that I did not follow my birth plan. I felt bad that things didn’t go as planned for a long time but I then realized that it doesn’t matter which way a baby is born as long as you both are healthy. I had my second baby (a boy) in December and I had a scheduled C-Section because they say that your 2nd baby is bigger than your first. He was 9 lbs 12 oz! He ended up having low blood sugar since he was so big. It was so sad seeing his little feet get pricked every few hours. Luckily we got to go home in 3 days because he recovered quickly. Also wanted to say that you are doing great job! He looks so big and happy.
You are so amazing, you three make the most perfect little family and I am nothing but thankful. I must say I hope it will work out “next” time that I can take a turn walking the halls with you all. This grandma is feeling so blessed and so thankful that God chose us to be Maxwell’s family. Sending hugs.
I have three kids 14,11 and almost 8. I’m always pretty sure I’m done having kids but every time I see pics of this cutie my uterus aches for another!!
@Cindy C., Awwww! ;D