Day 3

It seems odd to be sitting here giving an update on our son so soon after we've left Hospital, but since I am unable to do much else, here I sit :).

Can I start by telling you what an amazing miracle our little boy is?

As most of you know, nearly 8 weeks ago, I was admitted to the hospital on two separate occasions because I had gone into labor too early. My Doc thought that I had a partial placenta previa (this is where the placenta covers the cervix and causes pre-term labor)...if the labor can be stopped the first time this is diagnosed, it will often correct itself by the 30th week because the uterus grows enough to have the placenta move away from the cervix. Well, assuming that we were safe because of how far along I was and because of the previous 7 weeks without an incident, Doc had okayed me to up my activities, and we expected to carry our baby to full-term, despite the continued contractions. Well, since the 30th week, I had been extremely uncomfortable with the pregnancy, unsure if it was because of my difficulties, or because I was being a wuss. I had been to the hospital on the 29th and 30th just to make sure the contractions were nothing to be concerned about and to make sure that baby was okay. After being monitored and being told that everything was "okay", I decided I would try to "truck through". So, on Halloween, while in some pain, I'd gone to JoAnne's to get the rest of the baby material for the nursery and to Fred Meyer to get candy for the kiddos knocking at my door. A girlfriend had visited me that night
and said to me, "If there is anything I can do for you at all, be sure to call me."

Well, at 3:30 a.m. I turned over in bed and felt something like a gigantic rip in the lining of my stomach. I knew at that point that something was terribly wrong. I had called my girlfriend and asked her to drive me to the hospital. I have not had such pain in my life. My contractions were getting more and more severe and more and more consistant. The pain was
unbearable. However, our Little Julius was still content in my womb and showed no signs of distress. After about 10 hours of this pain and contractions, I began to bleed. That is when the doctor told me that my placenta had had an abruption. The placenta is the place where little Julius is getting his nutrients from and if that detaches, he is unable to be nourished and can suffer fatally. The Doctor told me that we would have to do a C-section within the next hour or two.

Because Julius was still in good condition (not yet suffering the affects of a placental abruption), I was able to be awake during the surgery and Lumuli was able to be there with me. When Doc delivered my boy, he showed him briefly to me and said, "Hello Mama". Julius began to cry and never have I heard such a beautiful sound...

He was born absolutely gorgeous at a brawny 4 lbs 10 oz and 16 1/2 inches. Very big for someone who is over 2 months pre-mature.

It turns out that when I had gone into pre-term labor at 23 and 24 weeks, the placental abruption had begun. Most of the time, when the abruption begins, it only gets worse within a short period of time until there is no choice but to deliver the child. At 23 and 24 weeks, Julius may not have made it to the world. However, for some miraculous reason, my body was able to carry this little guy for another 7 weeks which gave him just enough time to develop big enough to be cared for successfully through the NICU. I am still in awe at the miracle...

Lumuli and I have spent the last few days in the hospital staring at our beautiful baby boy and thanking the Lord every two seconds for this little miracle. We were discharged this evening from Hospital. It feels odd to come home after having given birth and not have anything to "show" for it but a scarred tummy and painful insides. We so desire to bring our baby home, but we know it is only through a thorough recovery will he be well. He seems to be very well considering it is only his third day on earth and he is already breathing on his own; one of the three things they will look for before letting him come home with us. Please thank the Lord with us. It is only because of Him that Julius is with us.

Thanks again for all the support, prayers, letters of encouragement, dinners...we cannot explain to you the love we have felt because of you all.

...Every blessing You pour out, I'll bring you Praise; when the darkness closes in, Lord, still I will say, Blessed be the Name of the Lord...