Sunday, August 03, 2008

2 years ago today















On August 3rd, 2006, I got the best birthday present I've ever gotten - so much better than Dyson. Ace came home from the NICU.

On August 2nd, 2006, River Oaks "rented" a hospital room to us and let us stay overnight with him in our room, in a baby bed, just like all the "normal" parents. They told us not to sleep with him in the bed with us (liability issues, bla bla bla) but every moment I was awake, I had that little boy in my bed with me. I remember laying on my stomach, propped up on my elbows, with him snuggled right underneath my chest. I was studying every inch of his face, kissing his cheeks and nose and forehead. I barely let Drew hold him at all.

I couldn't sleep at all that night. Had to feed him every few hours - the NICU nurses were calling my milk "Ninja Turtle milk" because I had taken so much vitamin C to keep from getting sick that the milk was this weird orangey-green color. The NICU nurses came in every couple of hours to see how we were doing, then took him at 1 to weigh him (6 pounds, 6 ounces) then at 6 they took him to prep him for discharge.

I slept for about an hour then got dressed and went to the NICU. After lots of paperwork, lots of crying, and lots of explanations, I walked out the front door, and the sun shone on my precious child's face for the first time. I drove away thinking "Good LORD they're just going to let us leave? What if we mess him up?"

June 4th is Ace's birthday. While it was, bar none, the happiest day of my life, it was also one of the most horrifying. August 3rd was moderately horrifying (okay, I'm a parent now) but the rush of sheer joy I feel when remembering the day makes it so much easier to remember than his birthday and the events leading up to it.

August 3rd, 2006:














August 2nd, 2007:














August 3rd, 2008:














I love this child. More and more every day.

10 comments:

Rhonda said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Rachel said...

i just wanted to cry a bit reading that. love you and sweet ace!

mayberry said...

Man. I hate crying on Monday mornings!

From the Doghouse said...

Happy coming-home day, Ace!

HEATHER said...

AAWWW!
That is so sweet! Happy homecoming day.

Sharon said...

Yeah, what Mayberry said!

I love the pictures. You're awesome, Stacey.

watercolordaisy said...

What a beautiful remembrance. hugs!!

Webmaster said...

Aw ... happy day to Ace!! He looks so grown up in that top picture. Love his haircut!

Katy said...

How wonderful. Those traumatic births do bring some mixed emotions. Homecomings are so much sweeter.

Sue said...

he is beautiful. best wishes with everything!