Happy Birthday Sam!

Oh my goodness, I can't believe that my precious little boy is 1 year old! When I went to get him out of his bed this morning, I began to think about everything that was going on one year ago. Actually throughout the day I thought about how our lives were changing ever so quickly last March 31st. This could get long....I'm sorry.
I thought about how scary the ambulance ride was and not knowing what was going to happen with me not going back to work..because at that time I just thought they would put me on bedrest in the hospital for a while. Boy was I in shock when they rolled me into the E.R. at Baptist East and I met my consulting dr there and he said "we will probably have a baby in the next several days"! I can't explain all of the feelings and thoughts I had at that precise moment. Then that dr stopped and prayed with Jeff and me. I knew right then that I was where God intended me to be at that exact time in my life and pregnancy. As things became more serious with each passing day and I watched my family and friends try to keep themselves composed around me, I tried to stay strong and positive even though I was terrified of what the outcome could be but had an unmeasurable peace that God was still in control. March 30th the drs said that my 2oo something over 100 something ( I can't remember the exact numbers..I know my mama can tell you within secs) was getting very dangerous for Sam and me and that they wanted me to try to have the baby. The process began and around noon on the 31st they said a c-section needed to be done immediately. At 12:28pm my precious son was born into this world. I remember just praying that I could hear him make a sound, just one sound even though I had my doubts - but he did have a little cry when he came out. I saw him for about 5 secs before they rushed out with him.
I can't explain the happiness that came over me, just to know that I was a mom! The love I had for him just seeing him those short seconds was overwhelming. I waited for 3 days before I could see him again. You know you see all of these movies with these crazy people in the hospital who are really sick and they are mad about being there, so they rip all of the machines and ivs out and get up barely able to walk and push all the people down and escape the hospital. Deep down inside, I think I was secretly planning an escape route to the NICU. Since I was so drugged that I couldn't lift my legs and I had been laying in the bed for 5 days straight....I settled for some pics and videos of my sweet boy.
I could probably take you day by day through our 42 days in the NICU and minute by minute of our trip home, but I'll spare you the pain...just reread the older posts if you want to re-live those days with me. (: What I will tell you is the joy that it has been being the Mama of this wonderful little fella. He is so incredible sweet. He can be very serious at times but overall he is happy as can be and getting big! From 2 lbs 12 oz to 20 lbs! That's quite a bit of work! He is kinda crawling - maybe more of a scoot at this point. He tries to sing when music is playing (or his mama is trying to practice the Easter music in the car - he might be screaming at me to hush but we will call it trying to sing with me for now). We are trying some 3rd stage foods but the texture isn't the best thing to him right now. We are practicing on our sippy cup! Sam is wearing 12m, 12-18m clothes but his foot is still a little small and legs short...maybe a little like his mama on that part. Overall.....I think he has done just fine.
I cherish each moment of everyday that the Lord as given me with him. I love his laugh, smile, dipples, big blue eyes, the way he screams at things when he gets excited (mainly dogs), his tongue that he turns sideways, his little hands that he reaches with, and the way he jumps with excitement when I walk in to pick him up from daycare. I know that it sounds like this little boy has my heart wrapped....this is true. I can't wait to see what he will do next that amazes me.
Heavenly Father, thank you for such a precious gift that you have trusted us with. I know that Sam is yours and I am grateful that I was chosen to be his mom and see him grow from such a tiny little baby. I pray that Sam will grow up to love and seek You daily knowing that your hand has been on his life since the day he was conceived. I pray that he knows that you have a specific purpose for his life here on earth.
Thank you to all of you that have prayed, cried, encouraged, and rejoiced with us throughout this past year.