Due Date

beware.. this one is kind of a mushy one. 


I sit here today on Saturday, April 12th with my one month 5 day old son and my husband at Nationwide Children's Hospital. We have been here one month and 5 days. We should actually just be getting here today. We should really just be beginning this journey. Today was Knox's due date.

But we are not. We have already been through 3 hospitals, 28 hours of labor, one heart surgery, 3 heart caths, and hundreds of nurses/doctors/people in scrubs.

I have learned A LOT in the past few months. Though this is exactly the path we had in mind, obviously God brought all this on us for a reason. Sometimes it just takes time to realize why.

First and foremost, I have learned that being a mommy is the greatest gift I could ever receive. I actually can't believe what I would have done if I had to wait until today to meet my little peanut. This little guy is such a blessing, and I am so glad I get to be his mommy.

Our first meeting
Knox - one day old

I have learned that the human body is amazing. It is really hard for me to wrap my head around what all Knox has been through in the last month. He has been so strong and such a fighter. Each day he amazes me on how far he has came. He is working to prove everyone wrong about his small size. He is trying to hold his head up and roll over. He is determined to show them all wrong. Hope he gets that from me. :)

I have learned that we have the best family and friends. Since this whole roller coaster began it is amazing on the amount of support Drew and I, and now Knox have received. I know that through this we might not have been the best at returning e-mails, texts, and phone calls, but we hope that everyone knows how much we APPRECIATE each and every person, text, and phone call. Friends from near and far have reached out to us in love and support. Our family has been with us every step of the way, and every mile.

I have learned my husband is simply the best.

And supportive. And wonderful. Actually, I knew all this already, but this experience has made me look at everything again. I had been in and out of the hospital since the end of January, and he never left my side. He slept in every hospital chair and couch to be with me. He left me cry, and cry, and cry, and cry some more. He held my hand and comforted me through labor. He has held our son, prayed for him, and been the most wonderful daddy. Seeing them together for the first time melted my heart and made me love him even more.

I have seen the power of prayer. Knox has been on so many prayer lists. From Mississippi to Washington to Florida. I actually wish I had a list of every place so I could wrap my head around an actual number. People who don't even know us have prayed. People have prayed for us in the middle of the aisle at the Kentucky Beef Expo. My husband prayed for us right before they wheeled me off to have a c-section. It has wrapped around us and comforted us through scary times and happy times.

I have learned a lot about myself. Things have been downright scary at times. I have had health complications myself which is why Knox was early. No to mention having a child with a congenital heart defect. I have had my moments of down right emotional breakdowns, but then I have rallied to be strong because thats what my family needed. At the beginning of 2014 if you had thrown a situation like this at me, you would have found me in the fetal position in the corner. I am strong (with a few moments of breakdowns in it).

I have learned that life is beautiful and precious. And this is how I know.