Firsts and Father's Day

This week marks a few firsts for our happy little family.

We welcomed our first out of town visitors, my friend Valori and her daughter Sami. It has been very nice having help and company. I think they're enjoying the visit, too.

(David cuddling with Aunt Val and Sami)

And today, the 21st, marks a few more firsts...Jeremy's first Father's Day with David, Our first Sunday morning church service with David, and David's one month birthday.

It's hard to believe it's been a month already, but on the other hand, it's impossible to remember life with out him.

Thank you Lord for our beautiful miracle.

(Daddy and David enjoying their first Father's Day together.)

My First Trip to the Doctor...by David Timothy Phelps

Today was my first appointment with my new pediatrician, Dr. LeBlanc.

When we got there I was awake and happy. Just enjoying some time with these people, I think their names are Mommy and Daddy. It was good. Then we went for a walk to a new room I've never seen. Mommy?, we'll call her that, because I don't know her by any other name, took my nice warm clothes off, but the room was warm so I didn't mind too much. Then she laid me on a hard table thing and some one told her I had gained weight. I weighed about 6lbs 12oz when I left the hospital and today I weighed 7lbs 11oz, so I almost gained a pound. The funny part came next. When I was born they told Mommy and Daddy that I was 21.5 inches long...pretty tall, maybe I'll play basketball or do something else tall. Today, even though they checked twice and Mommy helped, I am only 20.5 inches....some thing's fishy here.

Here I am on the scale... Height and weight check...

Then we went over to another very colorful room...but I still only had eyes for Mommy and Daddy...maybe in a few months when I start tracking objects that room will be more fun. This is where I actually met Dr. LeBlanc. She seems pretty nice. She gave me a thorough exam...some of it I didn't exactly enjoy, but in the end she says I am doing great. My weight is in the 25th percentile, my height is about 30th percentile, and my head circumference is in the 25th percentile.

All tired out from the busy visit with the doctor. (too tired to even turn the picture.)

Overall, my first visit to the doctor wasn't too, bad. Mommy and Daddy were very glad to hear I was gaining weight and doing everything I'm supposed to. I will make sure they keep you all posted on all the fun new things I do.

Until then, here are some pics of me:

Cuddling is one of my favorite things to do...doesn't look like Daddy minds, either.

Here I am checking out some of the cool things Mommy and Daddy bought me.

Here are some pictures from my first bath at home. The bath part wasn't too bad, but it was really cold afterwards....brrr.

Life as we know it, is no longer the same...

A lot has changed since my last post.

At that time we were waiting for test results, praying for God's hand to be on me in the final days of pregnancy and during the delivery, and wondering when we would be welcoming our new little bundle of joy.

Well, the test on Sat. came back with elevated protein (a sign that pre-eclampsia was looming on the horizon), but my blood pressure was doing fine...so the doc said we could wait until Thursday to deliver, as long as blood pressure was still ok on Monday. Baby was still breech so c-section was inevitable. Blood pressure stayed ok, so Thursday morning it was. May 21, 2009.

I was so nervous about the c-section...well, actually about the recovery from it. The recovery after Austin's birth, while not as bad or as long as some, was quite painful and difficult. And considering my weight gain since then I was concerned this one would be worse. So I started calling everyone I know asking them to pray for me and the baby and the surgery and the recovery...etc.

Guess what???

GOD LISTENED!!!

Just so you understand how amazing this is to me... I have to give highlights of the delivery and recovery with Austin.

Oh wait, I can't. I was so heavily drugged before hand I can't remember the first day and I was in such pain after the surgery I formed an unnatural bond with my morphine pump...

With David it was totally different.

We got to the hospital at 6am on Thursday, May 21, 2009.

Awake, alert, and uncannily aware that we were having a baby in a few hours. It was awesome. Jeremy & I kept looking at each other saying "Wow! we're having a baby".

My nurse, Mandy, was there. (We met Mandy at our 1st NST back in April and we hit it off. She requested to be the nurse at my delivery and was.)

Dr. Rubin got involved in delivering another baby so our "scheduled" c-section started about an hour off schedule, but it all went well.

At 9:09am they began prepping me for surgery and at 9:34am they delivered my baby boy, David Timothy.

He weighed 7lbs 4.5oz and was 21.5inches long. He is beautiful and perfect and definitely created in God's image.

Our first "family" picture.

Later this summer we'll have to get some with big sister and big brother so we'll have a complete family picture.

The rest of the time in the hospital was amazing. I was never IN PAIN...uncomfortable and a little achy, but no real "double ya over" pain.

We are home now and starting to adjust to our new life. Jeremy had to go back to work yesterday, so we will have our real test next week when David and I brave the days at home alone.

We will be welcoming friends and family over the next month to 6 weeks as they come to meet David and we'll keep everyone posted as he grows and reaches new milestones.

I want to end this post giving credit where credit is due...

God is good. He is faithful. He is always with us and never forsakes us. He hears our prayers, listens to our pleas, and when it is in accordance with His will, he grants us the desires of our hearts.

I have prayed for this baby over the last 9 years. I have pleaded with the Lord and begged. I have bargained and I have lost hope, but when I finally opened my heart to accept His divine plan and truly submitted to His perfect will, He showed me that He was there all along listening, and waiting for me. He blessed me beyond measure with my baby boy and He proved that he never forsakes me by taking care of me through this pregnancy, delivery, and recovery. Our great physician is even greater than I realized. He provided a level of care for me that was greater than I could even conceive. Not only did I not develop pre-eclampsia...Not only did I have an uneventful, and very comfortable delivery....Not only did I recover in record time...but he let me truly enjoy every second of it and I am still in blissful awe of how wonderful my life is.

Thank you Lord.

"Take delight in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart." Psalm 37:4