Monday, January 25, 2010

Birthday Boy


Today my baby boy turns 9. Nine. NINE. How did this happen?! I guess it happened the same way in which I turned 30, but still!
Every year I am amazed by God's faithfulness as we watch Jackson grow. and grow. and grow. The kid is big!
Here is the story of how this sweet boy surprised us by his early arrival. For those who don't want details, feel free to skim and skip to pictures! :)

Nine years and one week ago I was shopping in Sioux City with my girlfriend. Finally getting to the stage where I could enjoy this pregnancy, at 28 weeks, had been quite sick through the first 4 months of it! Then, something went wrong, and I started to bleed, and felt umm.. yeah. A lot of pressure. We swiftly left the mall and went to Lisa's apartment, up 3 flights of stairs and called my doctor. He told me to go to the hospital there and that he would be calling them to tell them I was coming- it was then that I really knew that all was not well.
I don't know how we got to the hospital so fast, but Lisa drove like a crazy person and there we were. I called Steve on the way and he left started heading out, although no one really believed anything would be wrong. Wrong. I was already dialated to a 10 and had a bulging amniotic sac. His cord was wrapped around his neck, and all was not well. I was immediately placed in a trindelemberg position (upside down basically) and stayed that way in the hospital for a week. It was the longest week of my life! I couldn't get up, sit up, or bathe. However, being in that position did what it was supposed to do and the cord moved and was no longer around his neck.  Then on the morning of January 25, 2001, my water broke. 6 days of being in the hospital, and Jackson said ' enough! I am ready!" He was very healthy for his gestation - partially due to the fact that we had some warning and had steroids on board for his lungs. He weighed 3lbs 6oz and was 14 inches long.

He spent the first 8 weeks of his life in the Sioux City hospital surrounded by nurses who loved him almost as much as mom and dad! God's faitfulness was everywhere! Our home is 45 minutes away, but Steve was working in SC already on a job, so we were able to stay at the Ronald McDonald House together and he was still able to work some days.

Today Jackson is a 3rd grader who is bigger than most of the kids in his class. His side effects from his early start are limited to asthma.

Happy Birthday to my  little big  boy! We love you so much and are so proud of all that you are!


God is Good, All the time!

7 comments:

Deborah Ann said...

Aw, happy birthday Jackson! You're gonna be a real heartbreaker, I can tell from the looks of your picture!

Bina said...

Happy birthday, Jackson!! A handsome young man...and the apple of your mama's eye :) I pray it is a blessed day for you all!!

Much love,
Bina

Kimberly Rae said...

what a handsome young man! Happy Birthday Jackson!

Anonymous said...

What an amazing story!!! I can't even imagined staying in that position for a week! But your son is so worth it! He is adorable!!! Happy Birthday!!!

-Alisa Hope

Cherie Hill said...

Isn't it amazing how fast they grow!?! I keep telling my 9 and 11 year old boys to stop growing up...and then I tell them they don't seem to be listening to me to well! :) I continue to ask God to help me treasure each moment of their lives!
Happy Birthday Jackson! God loves you!
In Him,
Cherie

alicia said...

Thanks so much for the well wishes ladies! We had a pretty good day, considering that it was yet another snow day! Great neighbor invited all the kids over for an afternoon movie and popcorn while the mommies sat upstairs and were able to chat! Love it!

Jennifer @ JenniferDukesLee.com said...

Happy (belated) birthday, Jackson. Another Iowa mama here, wishing you blessing upon blessing.

-smile-

And Jackson? Give your mama extra hugs this week. It's obvious how crazy she is about you.