My sweet Elliott is 19 months old. I am in shock that I have a 19 month old. Something inside me is more sad than happy at the fact that he is this little toddler and that breaks my heart a little that he definitely is not my little baby anymore! I have never blogged about my sweet boy as I should've. I should've started when he was born 6 1/2 weeks early, but life was a whirlwind that never has stopped since. So I will do my best to tell you all about my sweet, crazy, hilarious, temperamental, loud, ridiculously adorable son.
32 weeks into my pregnancy I was put on bed rest because of high blood pressure as a complication from having Lupus. It was a crazy time of year for me to be put on bed rest. I was photographing at least 4 sessions a week and working 4 days as a graphics designer for the Packinghouse Church and Christmas was quickly approaching. So needless to say "bed rest" was kind of "taking it easy." I wasn't worried because I felt fine and my sweet boy was always fine on the weekly ultrasounds I was having.
On December 11, 2010 I was really taking it easy in Lake Arrowhead at a women's retreat with close friends and enjoying some quiet time with the Lord when I started having intense chest pains and labored breathing. As I sat trying to calm my body and relax I remembered, "Jeff is hiking on a mountain!" There was always a possibility during my pregnancy that I may deliver early, but at that moment with Jeff being out of cell phone reach and that possibility becoming a reality I was terrified! An ambulance ride and 5 hours later I was admitted to the hospital and my sweet hubby was contacted and at my side.
Four days later my sweet boy was delivered early Wednesday morning, December 15, 2010. Born at 3lbs 15 oz he was healthy, had all 10 fingers and 10 toes and Jeff and I were instant parents and in love. Reality set in quickly though and my sweet boy was off to the NICU and not into my arms. I would have to wait 24 hours until I could love on him. We were prepared to spend possibly 6 weeks with Elliott in the NICU because he was 6 weeks early. But our sweet boy had different plans. He immediately was taken off oxygen and his feeding tube was taken out the first day. He was sucking and breathing on his own like a champ! He even latched on and nursed when I got there, another little miracle we were praising Jesus for. The only little set back he had was getting Jaundice. Nine days later on Christmas Eve we got to take our little guy home. The love we were shown by family and friends blew our minds. My parents and sisters were waiting for us by the time I was out of surgery, my mother-in-law from Bakersfield was at the hospital within hours along with my sister-in-law from San Diego. They immediately headed to Target and Baby's R Us and cleaned them out of every Preemie outfit in the store and prepared our home for Elliott's arrival.
Leaving Elliott every night to go home was always the hardest. It being only days from Christmas we just had no time to get a Christmas tree and decorate our home. On a particularly hard night, we came home to find a fully decorated home and Christmas tree! My dear sister-in-law Lindsey and father-in-law John had gotten our friends together and surprised us. I thought at that moment, "who am I to deserve this kind of love?" It's truly an amazing blessing to know you have those kind of people in your life.
On Christmas Eve, 9 days after Elliott was born we got to take him home. A true miracle that we only have God to thank for! "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." John 14:27. A friend sent me this verse while I was in the hospital and I cherished it so much those 9 days.
The next 19 months have literally flown by. I have no idea where they went and don't know why it went so fast! Elliott has never been behind or delayed with any development milestones. He is still trying to catch up a little with size, but always 100% healthy. Instead of writing a million more lines of how awesome it is to be a mom of such an awesome little boy, I will let the photos speak for themselves! I will do my best to stay more up to date on Elliott instead of letting 19 months go by first!
