Dimly Lit

Two years ago today I had the privilege of witnessing a miracle. The birth of a child is a miracle that happens every moment of every day around the world, but to be there, in the same room watching your son be born… unless you’ve experienced it I don’t know how I could begin to explain.

Jack weighed in at a hefty 10 lbs. 9 oz. at birth and seemed to be a very healthy baby boy. Just a few hours later though a nurse came in to check his pulse and breathing. He wasn’t getting enough oxygen. His heart was beating too fast. They needed to take him to do some tests.

Jack had to spend the next few days with various wires and tubes stuck around his body in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) as his lungs apparently struggled to catch up with his size. He was a giant in a NICU full of premies that barely tipped the scales at 2 lbs.

Possibly the most difficult time during that period was the day Melissa had to go home and Jack had to stay. It wasn’t supposed to work like that - he was supposed to come home with us. He was supposed to see his room and get licked by the dog. He was supposed to come home.

After a few days, days that seemed like an eternity at the time, Jack did indeed come home with us. Now, 2 years later he’s running, laughing, jumping, and is a generally destructive force that can sometimes be slowed, but never stopped.

He has taken markers to our walls, destroyed several books, and likes to play with and occasionally eat the dog food. He climbs onto tables, pulls CDs and DVDs out of their cases calls popsicles ‘popsilaylies’.

We have to wrap duct tape around his diaper at naptime and bedtime or he’ll rip open his diaper spread urine filled little polymer beads all over the place - or worse.

He adores his big brother and big sister and tries so hard to do whatever he sees them doing.

He is healthy. He is a blessing. I am so thankful for this day.

Happy Birthday, Jack.