The second littlest love of my life, Theodore David Brodie was born on Wednesday July 6, 2016, weighing 8 lbs 4 oz and made my heart burst and grow even more than I ever thought it could.
This pregnancy differed from my first in so many ways as every pregnancy does. It tested my faith, my strength, and at times made me feel so helpless. There were many ups and many downs as we navigated through all of the various appointments with different doctors, the numerous tests and monitoring, and ultimately the relocation to Philadelphia for the birth. I spent a lot of this pregnancy really excited to meet my baby boy as every pregnant mama does, but there was also a great amount of time that I spent feeling scared for his future and sad for what he would have to go through. Feeling helpless as a mom is such a painful feeling. I held onto whatever faith I had every day, praying that this little boy who I hadn't met yet but knew was going to be my greatest hero, would make his appearance and show us how unbelievably strong he was.
As the anxiety set in the last couple months before his birth, the doctors set a date for me to come in to be induced the week before my actual due date to avoid me going into labor at home and not getting to the hospital in time. They wanted to make sure the team of doctors that would monitor the baby was ready and waiting just in case Theo needed care minutes after birth. I was scheduled to be induced on the evening of Tuesday July 5, 2016.
On Tuesday evening, David and I settled into our room at the hospital after dropping Penelope off at her grandparents. The nurses started the induction process that night and told me to get some sleep.Telling a mom she would be meeting her son super soon and then telling her to get some sleep is not a good combination and I don't think that really ever works...ever. I was way too excited/nervous/anxious to sleep that night and so I tossed and turned until the morning. David snored, all night.
Wednesday July 6, I woke up to contractions and so the nurses decided to give me a round of Pitocin around noon, which would increase the intensity and timing of contractions, while David ate a cheeseburger in front of me. To be fair, I told him to eat because I knew sooner or later, I'd be squeezing the life out of him. My contractions went from somewhat strong to completely debilitating within a few hours but my stubborn self kept pacing back and forth in the room, swaying on the rocking chair, to get through each one. From about noon to 3pm, I walked around breathing through every contraction until finally at 3:30pm, I decided to ask for an epidural, not realizing that it was way too late, little boy was ready.
Around 4:10p.m. the anesthesiologist came in to give me the epidural. As he laid me down to give me a test dose of the epidural, to make sure my blood pressure would not drop too low, my water broke and then all I remember is screaming to the nurse that the baby was coming! The team of doctors scrambled to get ready for his arrival as I squeezed the life out of the nurse and David's hands. Finally they allowed me to push, and after about 3 pushes, Theodore made his way into the world! I instantly forgot about the crazy amount of pain I was in when I saw his little face and heard his little cry. I never believed women when they said that they forgot the pain when the baby arrived, but you really do in some strange, bizarre way. Theodore was an angel from the very beginning, crying only as his eyes met the world and then immediately calmed down once I held him.
He was doing so well after birth without any visible complications and so the doctors allowed me to hold him for about 10-15 minutes or so before they took him to make sure he was stable and get him ready to go to the NICU, where we could go and visit/sit with him afterwards.
Penelope came to visit her new brother that night. Having no clue that this little boy would be coming home with us in a few days, she begged to hold the baby in the NICU. It was the sweetest thing I have ever seen.
The days following the birth, Theodore spent in the NICU. He was monitored, tested, and proved to us how strong of a fighter he is, as he fed and grew each day and was able to come home after only three days. The doctors went over his current condition and how well he was doing that he wouldn't need any immediate care until his surgery around 3 months old.
Theodore came home and has been doing so well in the last two months. He has been growing and making everyone he meets fall in love with him. He is my calm in this big crazy hectic life. He is my my calm, as his sister the tornado runs through the house each day. I live to hear his little sighs each day, and to see his sister hold him and give him kisses, as he smiles and she says "He laughin at me."
As we are a month away from his surgery, we are soaking in every minute of every day with him, watching him grow, and loving every moment. My heart is so full, yet breaks a little every day knowing that his little body will have to go through so much so soon. My little fighter has completely stolen this mama's heart and will every day for the rest of my life. He has taught me more about myself than I could imagine, has given me strength in times where I didn't think I had anything else left, and has given me the greatest gift I have ever known, along with his sister, by making me their mom. He's my hero, my heart, and the littlest love of my life.
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